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Baby names

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

Original poster

Lucy or Lara?

50 replies

JunebabyT · 11/12/2016 09:45

For years I've had two favourite girls names - Lucy and Lara. Always thought I would name a first DD Lara but now I'm leaning more towards Lucy - which is nicer and what do you think of them both?

Some pros and cons I've been considering below for each...

Lucy:

  • Classic, simple, pretty name that would never cause any confusion
  • Have come up with a perfect full name for this with middle names I love and sounds great with our surname
  • Always loved it because of Narnia!
BUT
  • is it too popular or will people think it's a bit boring?

Lara:

  • Really pretty name I always imagined using
  • Less popular than Lucy, less likely to have 2 in a class
  • Works in lots of different languages and countries
BUT
  • Doesn't sound as good with our surname
  • DP's best friend just had a Clara and my best friend also wants a similar name (though isn't pregnant)

I think we will end up going for Lucy but interested to get opinions as something else to add to the mix, as we aren't telling people our ideas IRL to avoid interference.

Thanks

OP posts:
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thethoughtfox · 11/12/2016 09:48

Lucy is classic and gorgeous and actually very few about. Ask every one you know if they actually know a Lucy.

MoreCrackThanHarlem · 11/12/2016 09:48

I prefer Lara, slightly more unusual.
I like Lucy although I always feel like it is a name better suited to a child than an adult.

I love Lucinda though. One of my favourite girl's names and can be shortened to Lucy.

Enidblyton1 · 11/12/2016 09:52

Is Lucy that popular?
It's a lovely name - I'd go with that.

I only know one Lucy under the age of 5 and her mum is also a big Narnia fan Smile

IJustWantABrew · 11/12/2016 09:53

Would imagine either are that popular but I prefer Lucy :)

KnockMeDown · 11/12/2016 09:54

Lucy for me, but I am ever so slightly biased, as I have a gorgeous, crazy, 6 year old one.

Currently, however, she is telling me she wishes her name was Luciana, so would that be a possibility?

NetflixandBill · 11/12/2016 09:55

Lucy is my first choice name. Lara is beautiful too but doesn't go with my surname sadly!

Bellaposy · 11/12/2016 09:57

Lucy is actually the most popular girls name in my small baby group (I have a 6 month old) but there is also a Lara. What about Lyra if you wanted a less common alternative? I think they are both lovely names though OP.

Original poster
JunebabyT · 11/12/2016 09:59

Lucy is number 32 on the chart - perhaps that doesn't actually translate to that many of them in every school. We've definitely noticed there does seem to be a lot more variety in girls names than boys so something high on the boys list is more well used than a name of equivalent rank on the girls.

I'm not so keen on the longer versions - I think it's the simplicity of just Lucy that I like.

OP posts:
Oly5 · 11/12/2016 10:00

Lara

AutumnalLeaves38 · 11/12/2016 10:01

OP,

You could always go with Larissa, thus shortened to Lara (or Lou/ Lulu?), if/ when need arises?

Original poster
JunebabyT · 11/12/2016 10:01

Not keen on Lyra though it does go better with our surname than Lara does (we have an Ar sound in the surname, think something like Hartnett)

OP posts:
mineallmine · 11/12/2016 10:22

Both are lovely but Lucy is definitely more popular. I teach in an all girls school. I have no Lucy in my class this year but in Breakfast Club (15 children) we have 3 of them. (And we have 3 Graces too, another lovely name.) I've only ever taught one Lara.

My daughter has an unusual enough name and when she started school this year there was another on in her class! There has never been a child with this name in the school before.

So just choose what you like and don't worry about how popular it is. Either name is really lovely.

NappingRabbit · 11/12/2016 10:32

Both really lovely (unhelpful!)

Gardencentregroupie · 11/12/2016 10:34

I have a 2 year old Lucy. We go to lots of groups and classes and nursery and have friends with small DC but we haven't bumped into another small Lucy yet.

DontStopMovinToTheSClubBeat · 11/12/2016 10:46

Lucy is very pretty but I love Lara, it's my favourite girls name Grin

Sophronia · 11/12/2016 11:18

I prefer Lara

HearTheThunderRoar · 11/12/2016 12:03

I love both equally so I can see why your struggling

I probably prefer Lara slightly more as it is a bit more unusual. However I've only met a handful of Lucys over the years...

SorenaJ · 11/12/2016 12:40

I prefer Lucy

Beebeeeight · 11/12/2016 12:41

Lara

Beautiful. Classic. Underused.

Rinmybell · 11/12/2016 18:04

Love Lara. I know so many Lucy's, ranging from 60's to a 6 month old. It's still cute though.

Madbengalmum · 11/12/2016 18:08

Like Lara

Pluto30 · 11/12/2016 20:17

Lucy.

It's apparently rather popular where I live (Australia) and yet I've only ever known one (English) Lucy and she's in her 50s.

Lucy is much, much nicer than Lara.

The Lara I know gets called Larry as a joke nickname...

Corneliagoescamping · 11/12/2016 20:27

I think they're really different names. Lucy is beautiful but very simple and I have known lots of very nice Lucys, but I think Lara is a tiny bit naff. It's fine but not nearly as nice as Lucy. That is just my opinion though and I know I may be alone in that! Names are so subjective.

FourToTheFloor · 11/12/2016 20:37

Lucy is really common. One of those names that people say is classic, but actually isn't.

KlingybunFistelvase · 11/12/2016 20:51

Lara