Emma, Anna, Kate or something else?

[porterwine]

I love these names and have done for a long time. DH likes them but thinks they are a bit "dull." He grew up with a top 10 name and doesn't want his DCs to be known as " _ S" all through school. I wouldn't want that either but I feel like Emma and Kate aren't as popular as they were a few years ago and I personally know no babies called Anna.

If I like these names what else might I like? I quite like versatile, fairly strong names. I don't really like very girly-girl and am also put off by names that aren't obvious how to pronounce (my name is said differently to how you'd expect and I don't want my DD to go through a life time of correcting people!)

Oh and what do you think of Lana?? I really love it but DH said he knew a Lana at school who got teased once the kids started realising what it spelt backwards. It had never occurred to me but now I feel it's been slightly ruined and I can't think of another obvious way to spell it!

So-
Emma
Anna
Kate
Lana
Something else?

Thanks :)

I'm a Katy ! (Spelt with a y as you can see). I got talking to another mum in the park the other day who was also called Katy. Her middle name was Victoria, I thought Katy Victoria sounded lovely. She hated it but there you go

I have an 11 year old Emma. She was the only one at her primary and the only in her Year at secondary (not sure about other years).

It is a great name - she loves it too. She's often Em to me and her friends (or sometimes Emmy).

It's a strong, confident name - a name you could grow up to do anything with.

Loads of Emily's, Amelia's, Amalie's around in comparison.

Lovely names. Anna is my favourite as it's totally timeless and never shortened.

I like Kate but in my generation it is so ubiquitous that it's not useful as an identifier, you have to say "Kate L, or Kate P etc". I know it's less popular now but still the other Kate's will be around for decades confusing things in the workplace etc.

Lara is nice too. As is Nina for something more unusual but also timeless and classic. For a twist on Anna I like Anya.

I am so torn between Emma and Anna and DH loves both also. Think we will decide when she arrives!

Although its obviously way down the line and may not even happen with if we did have a second daughter, do you think we could use the other name? Or are they too similar in both being 4 letters with an A ending? They seem a bit matchy !

I adore the name Anna. I don't like Anne or Ann at all though but Anna just seem so timeless and beautiful.

I don't think Kate is as popular as it was though of course you can't go by # popularity (or only if you add up the Katherines, Katharines, Kathryns, Catherines, Kates, Katies, Katys and Cates!). I used to really hate the name Kate and Katie- probably because it seemed at the time that everyone was called that - but the name has grown on me now.

Lovely names, but not keen on Lana.
Louisa
Catherine
Elise
Faye
Cara
Jennifer
Zara
Serena
Roseanne

Kate and Anna were both on my 'girl' list (I have 3 DS's), also there were
Ruth
Zoe
Tess
Naomi
Charlotte

Emma, Kate and Anna are all such beautiful, classic names. If I had to pick a favourite it would be Emma.

All of those names have no obvious connotations, the child can grow into the name and will be able to go through life with no judgements on the name. All round win I'd say.

Anna is my favourite, but that's because I'm one! I've known a few others over the years (only one other at my secondary school and not in my year), but it's one of those names that has been in and around the top 100 for decades, but never become particularly common. I love it.

They're all lovely names but I like Anna best as I have one! She's always been the only one in her class and she's a funny, sparky, clever and sporty teen. It's still my favourite name ever.

Emma and Kate are lovely too (both were on my shortlist) but I see Emma as a bit softer than the other two.