A good, strong Girl's name

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Hi there,

We're starting to think about names for our little girl, who is due in early October.

We have a surname which starts with a 'Cl' sound (think 'Clarke', or 'Clarence') and already have a family middle name we're going to use (which starts with an S).

We have a list of names we quite like, but none are quite right:

Blossom - too soft, but works nicely with our surname
Harriet - though we prefer the shortening 'Hattie' and 'Harrie'
Aspen
Darcey - though getting too popular
Zinnia - we love how it sounds but don't love how it looks written down
Blythe
Rose
Poppy
Clara - because she'd sound like a superhero with our surname
Emmeline - nn Emmy
Cassia - but don't like the meaning ('empty')
Camille
Laurel

We are looking for a good solid name which is pretty, rolls nicely with our surname, but is appropriate for a sensible adult with a sensible job (if she wants one).

I admit I'm always drawn to pretty flower, tree and bird names - and love French names, but we don't want to be TOO pretentious

Thanks in advance,

xx

Eloise
Elodie
Sylvie

Rowan

Zara

Eliza? Aurora? Love Clementine and Astrid, and Evelyn ;)

Gabrielle? French but fine in English, pretty but strong better than Gabrielle

Xenia? Like Zinnia, but prettier?

Don't go for Alouette - it's the French for "lark", completely batty in my view and you'd get everyone singing the song about plucking body parts at her

Cassandra (Cassie?)

Thanks all for the names! Just on hols at the mo (a 'baby moon' as a friend is calling it). But wanted to check in to say 'thanks'! There are some brilliant names in here!!

And Soviet you're entirely right about the unfortunate plucking song, poor little lark!

Frances, Tara or Ruby would be my choices. All can Be unisex (with a slight adjustment Frances to Francis) but usually female. All pretty strong.

Lois

Ruth
Maude
Georgia
Penny
Tabitha
Joy
Delia

Liesel
Nora
Saskia
Nell

Something like: Nora Laurel Elisabetta Cl....

You have all been SO GOOD - I'm so impressed that the names that have been suggested are, in lots of cases, completely up our street (and the objections to some names are the same as our concerns).

Our current working short (long) list:

Elizabeth - good sensible name, lots of good shortenings
Clara - it's just nice, though a bit rhymey with our surname
Rosa - can be shortened to Rose or Rosie - but a bit more grown-up
Alice - again, not necessarily very 'strong' but such a nice name

There are so many other lovely names here (Lois, Eloise, Aurelia etc...)

Thanks again.

for all!

Did anyone mention Cora or Rosalie? I was thinking about this thread when I just posted on another

Please do not call your child 'Blossom' it's dreadful.

Jean?

Hebe - it's a flower and rhymes with Phoebe
Rowena
Francesca

Only one I love is ellen ...ellie for a pet name.
Never met a stronger more delightfully wonderful person

Amandine
Clemency
Louisa
Vita
Venetia
Zena
Zenaida
Zita

(I like Zinnia by the way and think it would go well with your surname; Blythe is also lovely but wouldn't; the consonants would clash).

I would go with your superhero Clara Cl....

Or Clementine Cl...

Francesca

Emilia

Cora

Alexa (wish I'd taken this name for DD1)

(clearly have a thing for names ending with a)

Eleanor,
Georgia
Isabelle
Louisa
Simone
Andrea
Ruth
Alana
Vivienne
Jennifer
Nadine
Gillian

Malory

Love Harriet!

Other strong names:
Ruth
Miranda
Frances
Zara
Georgiana/Georgia
Meredith
Anne
Frederique
Rachel
Eléonore

I think Annalise is beautiful.

Great shortlist OP!

Isabelle (isobel, Isabelle, Isabella etc..)
Aurora