Help - two girl names and can't decide!

[MsJuniper]

I have about 6 weeks of pregnancy left and can't decide between two quite different names:

Nora
Clio

I have always imagined a little Nora and think it's both sweet and also works for an adult. I'm drawn to Clio as it seems much cooler and interesting but less like me/us somehow.

DH is Irish and we ideally wanted a loose connection to her heritage - Nora has that through origin and association (Joyce) and Clio doesn't, but we have considered making it short for Clíona/Clíodhna.

I've seen Nora on some top baby name prediction lists for 2018 but I think that's more in the US. DS was going to be an Oscar but we changed because of its popularity and have always regretted it a bit so don't want to do the same with Nora.

Other smaller factors are that DS has quite an old-fashioned name and him + Nora could sound a bit funny together, plus he has recently developed a close friendship with a little girl called Nora at school - would that seem weird?

I'm slightly worried about the associations for both names - Nora Batty/Bloody Nora and Renault Clio but then any name could develop an association.

I know I shouldn't care what other people think but I had some negativity with DS's name and I'd love people to say "what a lovely name!" this time which I think would happen with Clio but not Nora.

We already have 2 middle names - one family name and one DS has chosen - so we can't use both first names.

Anyway I am driving myself mad going round in circles (as you can probably tell by this rambling post) so thought I'd ask MN which of the names you'd choose and why!

Oh gosh that's so long sorry!

Definitely Nora. So cute! But also could be quite cool as a teen and sensible enough for an adult. Best of luck x

Ah thank you that's the kind of decisiveness I need! Really glad you think it's cool.

Clio.

Disagree!! I'd go Clio. Nora just sounds too old, I know old names are back in but I think kids names suit their personalities and Clio - especially if she ever visits the states - is fabulous. My dd is Finlay, Fin for short. And people always remember her name if not her face! Just that little bit different IYKWIM

Nitty Nora was the nickname of a girl at my school

I love love love Nora. Def not popular here at the moment & you'd probably struggle to find any under 30's who knew who Nora Batty was.

Thank you all for the feedback - I am not expecting a consensus but hopefully some of this will make me realise which is the right name...

I adore Nora but I do expect it to become very popular, I know of two born late last year.

So tough. I love both. I think Nora just edges it for me. I also prefer cleo which can help ditch the Renault part.....

I would do Leonora... potential of Leo too.... x

DH is Irish and we ideally wanted a loose connection to her heritage - Nora has that through origin and association (Joyce) and Clio doesn't, but we have considered making it short for Clíona/Clíodhna.

Ah so hard to choose! I'm really not sure which I'd pick, I like both.

When I hear Nora I think of Norah Jones, not Nora Batty. It's a lovely name.

I love Irish Gaelic names, so if you wanted Clio I'd probably go for the longer Cliodhna and nickname Clio.

Both are beautiful choices, you could always decide when baby is here and see which you think she suits more. Or just pick one and try it out, you may decide after you've gone for one that actually you prefer the other.

Clio/Cleo!!!

Cleo (this spelling, ideally) has been one of my favourite names forever. If I had a baby girl tomorrow, I would probably name her Cleo.

Nora is okay. I don’t love the ‘nor’ sound. It doesn’t have the prettiness and lightness of Cleo (to my ear).

I have thought maybe we should wait to meet her but I am not sure whether she will look like one or the other - and I'd like to be able to tell DS straight away as he really wants to know!

I think we would definitely go with the Clio spelling (despite the car) and have the longer Irish name.

I like Leonora but it doesn't feel right somehow, none of the longer Nora names do.

Nora - it's beautiful!

It seems to me you will be happiest with Nora in the long term because it’s the name you’ve always loved. You’re much less likely to go off it! I think of the amazing character in Unless by Carol Shields (a bit more obscure maybe!) Not getting the super enthusiastic reaction on announcing a name is not necessarily a bad thing - people tend to react that way to certain types of names only. That said, I do love Clio; nothing against it at all just felt you seemed fonder of Nora.

I have a Cleo so obviously prefer that (and also have a Juniper so clearly share your superb taste in names) 😊

I like them both, Clio short for Cliodhna gives her a few more options for nicknames when older.

What about Eleanora but shortened to Nora? Again gives her some options for nn when older.

Nora

I have the most beautiful, funny and clever friend called Nora so I love the name, She is only 23 so not an old lady!

Clio

You love Nora the most so go with that!

Just wait until you see her though to finally name her - you can do it in the 30 secs after she’s born!

Never not choose a name because if popularity - you never know what names are actually like in your area. You should always just go with a name you love.

I like Nora, but you could always amalgamate the two and have Cora which is also very pretty.

Cleo (spelt that way!)

Nora. (Or Cora, as pp suggested!)

I love Nora, knew a wonderful Nora who was almost a grandmother to me as a child, kindness itself and a great, feisty role model.
Nora developed from the older Irish name Honora, which is Latin iirc.

I like the idea of using Cliodhna (no fada there afaik) with Clio as a nn, but I far prefer the Cleo spelling of this name.
Cliodhna has a schwa sound for the O (CLEE-uh-na) so it's just the spelling you would be using as the nn, not a shortening of the name.

I really like both Cleo and Nora. If I had to choose, with my own Irish roots and personal connection, I would go for Nora.