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 Edith, I had a great grandmother called Edith Elizabeth & wanted to use for DD2 but DH really didn't like it.

Could I thrw into the mix Esther, nn Ettie?

Edith is horrible, I can't understand how it has become popular again. Florence is pretty, I like it

Thanks all - really helpful. Still can't decide, so going to mull it over a while and hope she's not early!

Ps. Sneepy, I already have an Esther!

My nan was called Edith and her best friend Iris. I hoped to have girl twins to name after them.

Both your names are lovely. Would you want your children to have first same initial or not? Might that help you decide?

Good point about the same initial, Chillycamper. Not sure how much of a problem that would be, other than letters addressed to 'E.Bxxxx'.

Don't think you can go wrong with either. Love both.

I have a great aunt Edith so that's a no from me. Florence is better.

Florence sounds lovely!

Florence is very very popular at the mo, I don't know whether that matters to you but I think it is likely to become a name of this generation akin to Claire's of my generation

Go Edith, at least there won't be 4 other Edith's in the class

sarahbanshee yes indeed all Ediths are cool

Nwthree, yes you are right. Not a big problem having same initial. As you say letters when they get older and maybe more likely to call then by the wrong name. Well that's my excuse with my tow with the same initial anyway...

Florence has totally had its moment. Too popular.

Edith is lovely. Very elegant. Edie is a very cute nn.

Both are fairly dire, imho.

Edith. Florence is lovely, pretty, sweet, but Edith is elegant and classy.

Both nice names. There are 2 Florences out of 60 children in my 4yo year at school though.

I LOVED Florence and really wanted to use it when pregnant with my DD almost 5 years ago now. But it rhymed with our surname so it was a no no for us. It is very popular but I still think it is such a lovely name.

We had both names on our list! We went with Edith (nn Edie) for our daughter as it is so soft and less popular... And love the nn Edie ! So Edith definitely :)

Florence = no 29 in top 100 names for England and Wales
Edith = 169

However, I can't help thinking of 'Madame Edith' in (very dated) sitcom 'Allo'Allo. But don't think this won't be an issue among children born in the past few years!!

Edith is awful. Frumpy, ugly. Do no understand why it's fairly popular.

Florence is much better. Feminine for a start.

I love them both. Edith/Edie and Florence/Flo/Flossie. Both lovely.

But if you already have an Esther, I'd probably go for Florence.

Edith is a beautiful name.

I prefer Florence.

Edith and the Kingpin - a lovely song by Joni Mitchell.

But very very popular at the moment.

I much prefer Florence, but it's becoming very popular. I agree with others who've said Edith is an old name, but I'm sure if I met a young Edith I'd warm to it.