Keira or Alexandra

[EloisaJane]

We have been toying with various girls names for ages and currently liking these two.
We like the fact that Keira is Irish. She will be half Irish (If she is a girl) and her brother is Rory.
I love the original Ciara spelling but I just couldn't deal with the constant mis-pronunciation of it. It's the kind of thing that would drive me bananas. I think the name is so pretty though regardless of spelling.
We like all the shortenings of Alexandra so would just go with what felt right but would try to use Alexandra at first.

Of those two, Alexandra.

But of the three, I would pick Ciara!

Ciara. People know it. Otherwise Alexandra. Keira is neither one thing or the other

Keira is fine.

Not in the UK but DD had a Ciara in her year and literally no one new how to pronounce if first time round, a lot pronounced si-ara.

Alexandra is lovely, I prefer that as there is options for nicknames.

I love Keira, it was the second choice for our 7mo DD. I kind of wish we'd gone with it, it was just the spelling issue that put me off. We have Keira knightly to thank for that!

I have a niece called Aleksandra. She goes by 'Aleks' but other nicknames she sometimes goes by are 'Anna' and 'lex'. Either spelling of Alexandra are lovely.
Also know of a Kira but I don't know anyone with the Keira spelling (I assume people think its K-eye-ra a lot)

Keira Alexandra would be gorgeous

Keira is gorgeous and goes really well with Rory.

I used to babysit a little Keira, she was wonderful! The name is great.
Alexandra is also nice, but I think Keira is one you don't hear as often.

Keira Alexandra does sound lovely! Hadn't considered that.
Thanks for all the comments so far, keep 'em coming. I'm actually pleased to see quite a few people liking Keira.

They're both lovely names, but I prefer Alexandra.

Lots of Keira’s here (Scotland) don’t know a single Alexandra.

I don't like Keira. Alexandra is so much nicer.

I think both names are lovely and Keira Alexandra is a great combo. Just thought I’d mention that it’s actually meant to spelt Kiera. Keira Knightly has been quoted as saying that her parents mispelt her name.

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2927660/amp/Keira-Knightley-admits-supposed-Kiera-mother-spelt-wrong.html

I like Kiera (that spelling) and it's very nice with Rory. The original, Ciara, is even better though.

Kiera/Keira/Ciara with Alexandra as a middle name would be lovely.

Alexandra.

I prefer Keira - think its a lovely name.
Keira Alexandra sounds lovely together

I really like both names. Ciara is first choice if that was on the list! Hard to choose out of Keira and Alexandra - does either one sound better with the surname? Possibly Alexandra by a tiny margin.

I prefer Keira, on the whole. I love Alexandra but can't stand Alex, and that would put me off using it.

Keira Alexandra is the best of both worlds.

And there is nothing wrong with Keira, Kira or Kiera compared with Ciara. Keira is an accepted spelling in many cultures/countries (Australia, to name one - we have a Mt Keira, and an electoral district called Keira). Kira is reasonably common in Russian. Not all K names are misspellings of C names.

Astronica - surname is short, one syllable beginning with F and goes fine with both names.
I think I'm leaning towards Keira. I'm so surprised by the responses, I was expecting Alexandra to win by a landslide as mumsnet tends to like the classic traditional names. DH is happy with the K spelling even though he's Irish which is good. He doesn't want it continually mispronounced either. We considered Ruairi for Rory's name and although I love it, I am quite relieved now. If we were living in Ireland it would he a different matter!

Also I think Keira is more 'us'. I like the Irish link and same number of syllables as Rory, and Alexandra is quite a big name somehow.

I like both but Ciara is my fave!