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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Effie or Ezra ?

115 replies

ClementineAndCordelia · 02/02/2015 22:33

Hi everyone - this is my first ever Mumsnet post , so please go easy Wink . DC 2 is due in a couple of months and we're down to two names for a DD . I realise Ezra is usually a boys name, but we live very rurally and there aren't any boys with this name in the area . We LOVE it for a girl . Have also always loved Effie . Middle name will be Clementine .
Which- if you had to choose- do you prefer ? Thanks Smile

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catrin · 03/02/2015 00:12

I taught an Ezara, pronounced Ezra if that helps? She was half Turkish, so was an actual name!

RolandRatRocks · 03/02/2015 00:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PiratePanda · 03/02/2015 01:20

Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job. Ezra is the name of a male prophet in the Bible. No, and a thousand times no. Would you call her Moses?

How about Esther? Gorgeous name and still relatively uncommon.

Laquila · 03/02/2015 10:37

I've always loved Alba! I think you and I have similar taste, OP. I also like Blanca.

I think it's fair to say that the two camps of people on this thread will be broadly representative of future reactions to a baby girl called Esra or Ezra - either they'll think, 'What a lovely name, who gives a flying fuck whether it's biblically/traditionally a male name', or they'll be horrified (potentially loudly horrified) and think you're an idiot/weird. That's just the way of the world :)

Laquila · 03/02/2015 10:40

FWIW, two of the only three names that we liked for a girl were technically/traditionally used for boys. But if no-one starts the trend, how can they ever be expected to become common usage for girls?! ;) little lady Ezras in 300 years' time will have pioneers like you to thank...seriously though, the only 'rules' about this kind of thing are based on usage - there's no World Auhority on The Righteousness of Baby Names. Mercifully.

thegreylady · 03/02/2015 10:49

My dgd is Turkish and her best friend is a very beautiful Esra pronounced Essra. Dgd is Serra! With a short 'e'. I also know a gorgeous Effy spelt like that. It isn't short for anyrhing. I'd go for Esra myself with the "It's Turkish" if an explanation is needed. I think both are very pretty and go well with Clementine.

thegreylady · 03/02/2015 10:51

Fwiw I know a girl called Ryan! It has only been a problem on her uni application, 'Dear Mr...'

Sophronia · 03/02/2015 13:01

How about Isra? It's Arabic and means 'nocturnal journey'

squoosh · 03/02/2015 13:08

Ezra makes me imagine some grizzly faced mountain man with a beard down to his knees. Really can't imagine it on a girl at all.

Effie is fine as a nickname, bit flimsy as a stand alone name.

squoosh · 03/02/2015 13:10

'FWIW, two of the only three names that we liked for a girl were technically/traditionally used for boys. But if no-one starts the trend, how can they ever be expected to become common usage for girls?!'

But why are you so keen for boys names to become girls name? I bet you wouldn't be leading the charge to make Emily a boys name.

invisiblecrown · 03/02/2015 13:13

Ezra is the same as calling her Steve. Don't.

How about Esma? Knew a beautiful Kuwaiti girl with this name growing up.

SunnyBaudelaire · 03/02/2015 13:13

. "We really don't see a problem with ezra for a girl as we've never met an Ezra"
I think most people would know that it is a boy's name.
it is like saying oh we don't see a problem with calling our girl Thomas because we don't know any. Bizarre.

SirChenjin · 03/02/2015 13:14

Effie is quite common up here with elderly women - short for Euphemia. I think I grew up with too many of them to see it as anything other than an old ladies name.

Ezra - would think you were a massive fan of George Ezra. Like Esra though.

atticusclaw · 03/02/2015 13:30

or Esme? that's actually a girl's name.

Pico2 · 03/02/2015 13:34

We came very close to giving DD2 a name that is given to boys and girls, but far more boys. In the end we just couldn't do it - it seemed like setting her up for a lifetime of "can I speak to Mr X" and "oh, I thought you'd be a man".

velocityofbeans · 03/02/2015 13:37

I do actually know a female Ezra, it was strange at first, but now I can't imagine her being called anything else. I think you should go with what you like, but maybe be prepared for her to change it when she is older

geebie · 03/02/2015 13:55

Esra Clementine and Effie Clementine. Adorable, love them!
Slight preference for Esra....no, actually for Effie. Aaaaggh, both, brilliant!

nauticant · 03/02/2015 14:29

Euphemia. I think I grew up with too many of them to see it as anything other than an old ladies name.

It always makes me think of euphonium so I tend it hear it with an accompanying comical sound effect.

Blahia · 03/02/2015 15:01

Siiigh.... People are just so unnecessarily rude on mumsnetters name forum!

Ezra is not awful, and Esra is not a misspelt boys' name, it's a Turkish girls' name!

Esra is great. Could be ahort for Esmeralda like someone suggested (though maybe a bit long with Clementine as the middle name!). And I like Effie too :) probably prefer Esra out of them all. :)

crazygirluk · 03/02/2015 15:05

How about Ezri? My husband likes this name and it's a woman in star trek apparently.

notarehearsal · 03/02/2015 15:17

Ooh Effie! I begged and begged my daughter to call her first born this but she produced a DS
From Skins?

squoosh · 03/02/2015 15:22

But doesn't Effie sound a bit like a sigh? It's lacking a bit of vim and vigour.

notarehearsal · 03/02/2015 15:31

Obviously not a ds from skins, that would be just weird

LaceyLee · 03/02/2015 15:48

Both pretty bad sorry, Effie sounds like effing and I agree it sounds weak! Clementine would be great as a first name IMO!

Laquila · 03/02/2015 17:15

Squoosh I'm a bit bemused by your post...I'm not leading any charge - I'm saying that our two of our favourite names for girls happened to be more traditionally used for boys. I'm not gunning for Emily to be used as a boys' name because I don't think it makes a nice boys' name, see?