Isabella or Clarissa?

[PocketFullofMumbles]

Second girl on the way and needing some help with names! I really like classic girls’ names, ending in ‘a’ generally, but don’t want a super common one. My dd is Alexa, which feels classic, but not too out there

I love Clarissa for the same reason, but can’t decide if people will think it sounds too pretentious, or the connotations of the novel are too bleak! DH likes Isabella, and I do too, but worry there are a lot around - it doesn’t feel quite as ‘special’ as Clarissa. Any thoughts?!

I think Isabella is a beautiful name but very popular. I really like Clarissa - elegant and unusual.

Clarissa is my favourite but they are both lovely. I didn't think of Silence of the Lambs (and wasn't that Clarice?).

Isabella is my all time favourite girls name. I have DDs and another on the way and we don’t know a huge number around here.

I probably prefer Isabella as a name, but I do like Clarissa, although I'm wondering if it's a little frilly. Perhaps it's the double S. It doesn't have the simplicity of Alexa. Clara? Silence of the Lambs is Clarice, so irrelevant.

We have a Larissa and have had lots of compliments on her name.

I prefer Clarissa, I also like Claudia .

I don't like Izzy or Bella, but Clarrie is worse.

Clara is nice. I prefer it to Clarissa.

I love both. To me Isabella would be shortened to Issy or Bella, and Clarissa shortened to Clarrie.

I tried to persuade DH into Isobel shortened to Bel. We chose a different name in the end though.

Clarissa, I also like Claire and Claira. Also love the name Sheridan if that appeals.

I agree with a pp with Clara. Both Clarissa and Isabella are a bit frilly

I think Isabella is nicer but Clarissa is less common. So I'm not sure what I'd go for! Probably Isabella

Clarissa, definitely! I also like Clara.

What about Carissa without the "L"?

I think Isabella is gorgeous but hate the abbreviations Bella (I think the connotations of stunning beauty are too much burden to put on a child) and Izzie (fluffy and nothingy). Also it's pretty much the top most popular name.
Clarissa though. That is so very beautiful. Going wonderfully with Alexa. By the way, I love the use of Alexa. It's annoying it's been taken over by Amazon.

Clarissa at a push. But they are both too frilly for me tbh.

How about Marissa?

^ please don’t, hideously frumpy while still being as frilly as Clarissa

Clarissa.

I'm biased, there was a girl at my school called Clarissa who was absolutely awful and the name itself is clunky.
Isabella is beautiful, not overly unique but not so common as that there'd be 5 in a class (i think)