BG two weeks already and still no name :/

[louisnz]

Hi everyone. We're really struggling with our shortlist for our not so new baby girl. Our shortlist is below and current favourites are Ciela and Isabella.

Amelia
Ciela (pronounced see-elle-la)
Clara
Claudia
Isabella
Margot
Olivia
Sienna
Sophia

Ciela is different though we're worried that no will know who to spell it.

Isabella is a worry too in that everyone will just use Izy or Bella.

Any thoughts on these two and any of the others?

Many thanks!!

My favourites on your list are Margot, Olivia and Sienna, probably in that order.

Congratulations on your new arrival too!

Ciela sounds pretty but may cause a bit of confusion on first hearing - also seeing it written down I would think it was Celia with a typo.

Having said all that however I do like it!

Clara, Claudia, Margot, Sophia all very nice.
Isabella is also pretty and classic but 'Izzy' names are rather popular at the moment, if that matters.

Olivia is a perfectly good name, but I don't like it (personal taste, that's all).

Sienna makes me think of dirty brown oil paint. Or the beautiful city, spelled wrong.

Ciela - am not very keen on made up names from film, TV, computer games. As I'm sure you know, ciel/cielo are French/Spanish for 'sky' .

Amelia - prim
Ciela - sounds a bit like a cleaning product you'd find in Aldi but I love Cece as a nickname
Clara - lovely
Claudia - really lovely
Isabella - boring
Margot - love this
Olivia - boring
Sienna - pretty
Sophia - boring

And congratulations!

Thanks all. About Ciela we've read it's Siella in Spanish, which is an easier spell. Any thoughts on this version?

We like Margot too but are worried she would end up being called Maggot at school..

I think siella is beautiful. I have a bernadette myself and if my next is a girl it will be Elizabeth. I quite like isabella too..
And alexis. Congrats on your baby. Im sure whatever you decide will be perfect for her

Prefer siella to ciela.

Was thinking the same given the spelling though have seen mixed opinions...

www.babynamegenie.com/polls/485673/results

I like Clara and Margot most. There are an awful lot of isabellas/sophias/amelias around which would put me off, though they are nice names.

I love Isabella. I know of one other. My friend has a 5 year old Isabella and she is not known by any other nickname (yet!). I know 3 Amelia's although they are in different schools. Not sure about Ciela, to be honest.

Margot is your best by far - lovely, unusual, but familiar enough to give no problems.

Ciela/Siella - sounds made up, and like so many made up style girl's names, sounds like a car or a bathroom cleaner.

I vote Sienna and Clara.

Don't like the Mar-gott, the non-French, pronunciation of Margot, and the other names are so popular already.

I like Ciela and Clara.

Have you considered Ciara (kee-ra)?

I've taught an Isabella who was just 'Isabella', no nicknames. I think it's a beautiful name. I think if you don't shorten it yourself other people are unlikely to. My MIL is a primary school head and says the name you write on the school books is the one that sticks - so just use the version of the name you like!

Not yet but Ciara is a pretty name. Personally I would be worried about how others would pronounce it. Was quite keen on Siella/Ciela until the cleaning products comments :)

I don't think they sound like cleaning products at all!

You announce the name and pronunciation. Then, tbh, people can go spin!

Our eldest is Katherine. Despite relatives trying umpteen options, she was Katherine until she decided she preferred Kathy. Now she's only Katherine (which I still prefer!!) when she's in trouble! (We also have an Aidan and a Rachel, both known by full name)

Choose what you like. All your names are pretty, acceptable, easy (even the ones you get trouble about!!). She's your beautiful daughter. Call her what resonates in your heart. This is something you can give her, and if Ciela is your choice, then use it!!

I love Isabella however there are too many! We know six in our immediate group of friends and family and it's a nightmare trying to work out which one we are talking about! They are all under four years old.

I really like Margot from your list, I know a teenage one and I have never heard anyone refer to her as Maggot.

Would Cecilia fit in with your Ciela/ Sienna style? nn can be Cece.

Love Cece as a nn. Cecilia is nice but I can't get the Simon and Garfunkel song out of my head when thinking of it.

Torn between Ciela, Margot, Isabella and some of the others... will have to sleep on it!

I like Claudia and Margot.

Mines olivia, I love Isabella, Amelia millie and Audrey too oh and I really love Beth!! Xx

I love Margot, Clara, and Claudia.
Most of the others are pretty but over-used.

No one would know how to spell or pronounce Ciela, and she would spend her life correcting people! Kind of sounds like you couldn't decide whether to call her Sienna or Ella, so merged them. Sorry, it actually sounds and looks quite pretty, but would be a problematic name in reality.

I do think ciela will be misspelled and mis pronounced & Isabella shortened, though both are pretty I would go for either Claudia, Clara or Olivia personally. Especially Claudia as its easy to spell & pronounce and is fairly unusual yet recognizable and classy!

DD is 4 and in a reception class of 20.
There are two Sophia/e's in her class, and two in the other Reception class, so 4 in total.
There are two Isabellas (not shortened), Imogen's, Jasmine's and Lily's split across the two classes.
Only 1 x Poppy and Alexandra which surprises me.

And not one Olivia, Elizabeth (or any variation of), Catherine or other traditionally popular name.

I think Margot is lovely but I hate Marg [as in the Simpson's] as a shortened version.
Ciela - I am not a fan but don't know why.
I like Cecilia / Cece, Kiera/Ciara but the latter is a familiar name to me so it looks normal iykwim.

Love Margot. It was on my shortlist for dd.

Isabella is a bit boring now as they are ten a penny, and Ciela would spend half her life saying 'no not Siena' which could get a bit tiresome.

Clara is nice. I like Claudia too, especially when shortened to Claude.