Girls shortish list...need to make a decision, please help!

[Heatethelastrolo]

Our baby girl is due in December and we are seriously struggling to settle on a girls name that stands out as "the one". I have posted previously unsure whether I can use of these names because it is my DM's name and had some great feedback on that particular question...but i'd like opinions on these names generally please as I don't want to share with anyone in RL:

Orla
Camille
Madeline/Madalena
Saffron/Sapphira (Saffy)
April
Ariana
Arabella
Ciara

Thank you!

Orla - I'm Irish so Orla sounds really dull to my ears
Camille - like it a lot
Madeline/Madalena - I'm prejudiced against names that are more than two syllables
Saffron/Sapphira (Saffy) - LOVE Saffron
April - only if she's born in April. And only if she's born in April 1952.
Ariana - pretty
Arabella - too Pony Club for me
Ciara - same as Orla

Marianna.

Saved this name for my dd for 15 years, and then she turned up and didn't suit it!

Oops, only half the post posted...

Orla, Ciara, very Irish, very now. Orla for my money, unknown in the UK. You could go Orlagh for extra confusion.

Arabella - not unless you are a paid up member of Guards Polo Club. In which case you should disregard all other names, and be going down the Araminta route (Minty for short.)

Ariana is lovely! As is the popstar of the same name this year. Prepare for many Arianas.

April - do it. Different. If you like quirky. You definitely don't need to be an April baby. A friend of mine has an April... Nickname Apple.

Orla, Madeline or Ariana, though Ariana seems a bit plain/common (though nice) to my ears

my least favorite off your list would be Saffron and Arabella.....followed closely by Ciara

Orla or Madalena.

Other suggestions...

Instead of Camille, Callista/Callisto? Nickname Callie? Also, Cassandra is lovely.

Genevieve, nn Vivi - similar to the Madeleine vibe, but nicer nickname potential.

Aurelia
Cecily/Cicely
Melissa I love, but think some would think it outdated - I reckon it's due a comeback! Also, Vanessa in same vein.

Any good?

Oh and a big no to Ciara prn Kee-ra. I would think almost everyone would think Keira Knightley and spell it like that, or Kira.

They'd only spell it Kira if they were illiterate, surely?

How about Aurora, Ursula, Celeste?

I like Camille a lot.

Orla. It's my DD's Middle name

AWomb - au contraire, I know a Kira! Both parents highly educated... I assumed it was an accepted (if bit odd to me) spelling.

Now Ursula I reckon fits your vibe OP... love it, very marmite though. An acquaintance's DD is this, nn Sulie.

Thanks math I really like Sofia/Sophia but has lost it's appeal a little as has become quite commonly heard. Cecilia is a name I have toyed with but dp really dislikes it - definately both the right vibe though!

Thanks squoosh re April! I'm glad you like Saffy, another vote for one of my favourites!

Thanks fast i think Marianna is beautiful but have a family member with very similar so couldn't use! Have had similar reactions on this thread to Arabella so that one may be coming off!! Yes that is definately a minus for Ariana for me - all I can think of is the popstar. I do love April - that is one of mine rather than dp's.

Thanks castle some of your suggestions definately have the right vibe and have crossed my mind at one time or another. I think Vanessa is really pretty. Also love Genevieve - especially your suggestion of nn Vivi - will add that one to the list! I'm not too worried about spelling of Ciara, people wpuld get used to it! I have heard of and know of a Kira too but for some reason reminds me of a kiwi fruit spelt that way!

Thanks Lottie , none of them are my taste sorry

I have done a little count up of what people like on the thread and Madeline (or a variant spelling) is winning so far, followed by Camille, jointly by April/Orla joint 3rd. Three of them are my personal favourites as opposed to DP's. I think what this thread has helped me realise is I really love some of these names, and thankfully others seem to think theyre nice too - it's just going to be picking one me and DP agree on!

Camille- by a country mile!

I don't mind Saffy as a nickname but I just can't get on with 'Sapphira'- I quite like the sound but in black and white I just read Sapphire= stripper.

Are Saskia or Seraphina worth considering? nns Sassi/Sephi?

Thanks green really like Saskia, will suggest that to my dp, has a similar vibe to saffron/saffy for me. Think I agree, I only found Sapphira yesterday as was looking for alternatives to Saffron because DP likes Saffy but isnt keen on Saffron. Have since remembered the car called a Zafira though which sounds very similar!

Like Saffron and Saffie, also Madeline