Edith or Florence

[nwthree]

Still agonizing over names for our 3rd DC, due in a few weeks. We seem to have narrowed it down to Edith and Florence. Any thoughts on those? I think Florence is pretty but I'm not keen on the shortened versions. We both like Edith but I'm worried about the reactions from our parents who aren't familiar with the concept of 'granny chic' when it comes to baby names and will no doubt associate it with aging aunts they used to have!

Love Florence. It's a family name for us.

Florence. I find Edith very hard.

I don't like Edith. Like your parents I will always associate it with old people. I love Florence but it is very likely to be shortened as she gets older. I know a 16 yo Florence who is known to everyone as Flo. She very much suits her name.

Florence sounds much nicer.

I'm going against the grain, I prefer Edith.

My 2yo is Edith so obviously I love it! I'd say we get about 70% "what a beautiful name" to 30% "Edith? Really? Erm, how unusual..." which is clearly people realising it would be rude to say what they really think.

It's growing in popularity, not in the top 100 yet but rising fast.

I like Florence too, very pretty, it's a bit more popular especially since David Cameron called his daughter Florence and brought it to attention. But I'm Edith all the way!

A vote for Edith from me

Edith. Florence is pretty but everywhere, while Edith is cool and strong and has Edith Piaf. Edie is also a nice shortening.

My daughter is Edith / Edie and I hope it stays unusual....it'd be awful if it goes the way of Lily or Ruby and every other kid has her name!

Florence, really dislike Edith.

I know a beautiful, intelligent 30 year old Edith, so maybe this has shaped my opinion but when we first met we secondary school I thought it was an awful name but I actually really like it now :-)

Oh OP I love both of these.

DS2 was going to be Florence Agnes or the other way round... and Edith we also liked

Don't worry about granny chic for either, they are coming back in (so I read on MN) so you are swimming with the tide. Tho I have to say I know a lot of children (am a teacher and have 3 kids too) and I have come across I think 1 Florence and 2 Ediths in the last 15 years. I don't know many babies/toddlers tho.

FWIW my mum doesn't like any of my DCs' names (think WW1 era) as they sound dated to her. No doubt when my ids call their children Pamela and Sandra I will throw up my hands in horror

I really disliked Edith when I first heard it on a small child, but the more I have thought about it/heard it, I think it is absolutely lovely. I like Florence, but prefer Edith.

I dislike Forence and really dislike all the shortenings I have heard my friends DD called. So Edith gets my vote

Love Florence. Such a lovely name.

Not at all keen on Edith.

I prefer Florence as a full name but don't like any of the obvious nicknames. Flo? Nope.

So Edith gets my vote. Edie is a very cute nickname.

Ooh a mixed response. I'm still torn. Any more views, good or bad, are very welcome! It was never this hard choosing a boy's name.

I love Edie but find Edith frumpy. Florence is ok but I know several little Florences and I don't like the nicknames Flo or Floss.

So on balance I'd pick Edith but only if you call her Edie all the time.

Florence.

Edith sounds frumpy to me.

Florence has a much prettier sound.

Edith gets my vote. Edie would be a nice nickname.

Florence is too popular imo.

Florence is much nicer.

Edith is awful, sorry. I just can't picture a young Edith. In my mind, Edith is at least eighty.

I don't mind Edie.

Both beautiful although I've a slight preference for Edith.

Edith - one of my favourites but it doesn't work with my surname.

Definitely Florence. Lovely.

Edith. Edie is a lovely nn.
I like the Polish Edita too.

I find Florence twee, and Flo and Florrie are unattractive as nns imo..