Effie or Ezra ?

[ClementineAndCordelia]

Hi everyone - this is my first ever Mumsnet post , so please go easy . 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

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

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.

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 :)

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.

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.

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

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

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.

'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.

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

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

. "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.

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.

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

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".

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

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

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.

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. :)

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

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

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

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

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

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?