I have a longlist and I can't cut it down

[dogdaysareover]

DD due in a matter of days (in fact I have a few twinges today) and I am stuck. I like all of the names on the long list and I just can't make a choice. DH not much help either and family all have different favourites. Can't decide on a front runner. Middle name will be Joy (after grandmother) and I already have a Frederick nn Fred. So, hoping there will be a MN clear favourite

Heidi
Francesca
Luisa
Claudia
Enid/Edith
Dorothea (DH but I like)
Iris
Aphra
Alicia
Beatrice

Edith or Dorothea.

Dorothea would be my number 1 choice from your list, followed by Claudia.

Similar names
Cornelia
Amelia
Georgina
Georgia

Francesca Joy is lovely. Dorothea Joy is also very cute.

Claudia is my favourite, closely followed by Beatrice.
Good luck

Aphra.

No contest.

All good names - I can see why you're stuck. Favourites are Alicia and Luisa.

Aphra or Iris....FAB!!

Dorothea Joy is great. Would Theodora (nn is also Thea, of course) work if DH can't manage Dorothea?

I quite strongly dislike Heidi, sorry.

Dorothea is gorgeous. Hoping for DC3 purely so I get to use it!

Oh thanks. I do love Dorothea, nn Thea, but family and DH think it's slightly pretentious...would love to see the look on MIL's face though! She isn't one for flouncy names.

Dorothea. A beautiful, but underused name.

(Dorrie another a grand nn for Dorothea / Theodora)

Beatrice. No contest.

Oooh Dorothea is lovely

Ooh ok, I think we may have similar taste in names...

I like all these but I think my favourites are Heidi, Alicia and Iris.

I think Alicia goes into Joy best.

I know a Francesca who shortens it to "Chess" (not sure how she spells the shortened version) which sounds great and she is always the only one.

Francesca would mean both kids have the same initial, which can be annoying later when post etc is addressed to F. Surname - happens more often than you might think.

Might as well drop Dorothea if DP isn't so keen and you need to shorten the list?

Have you tried picking one of the names and pretending to yourselves that you have decided on it? Sometimes that pretty quickly makes me realise whether I really wanted something or not.

Louisa Joy

Beautiful

I agree 3+ syllables is good with short surname

I love Heidi too (but not so much with Joy)

If she's that imminent I think I would wait and see which name she is when she's born :)

Dorothea Joy gives her the initials "D.J.". Just be aware...

I'd love to be able to call a DD Aphra. Aphra Behn, legend. Love, love, love. Iris, after Iris Murdoch would also work.

That's what DM said Pandora! But what if I still can't decide?!?! I have visions of her being babysurname for weeks whilst DH and I sit looking at each other saying Heidi? Luisa? Francesca? I always thought a girl's name would be so much easier than a boy's.

Ah BigFoot, you found me out...Iris Murdoch, Dorothea Middlemarch, Aphra Behn, Beatrice Much Ado,...there is a literary theme. Love Clarissa Mrs Dalloway but it has been vetoed!

Dorothea and Francesca for me

Enid
Edith
Francesca
Iris

I like Alicia, Luisa and Beatrice. Not convinced about the others.