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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Florence or Charlotte?

51 replies

Clownfish123 · 06/05/2019 14:16

Which is nicer? I think I probably prefer Florence but I'm worried it's a bit faddy.
I like the nicknames for both of them (Charlie, Lottie, Floss, Flo etc)
We have an F surname which makes Florence a bit of a tongue twister but not too bad I don't think.

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Original poster

Clownfish123 · 06/05/2019 20:07

Louisa? Still classic but less popular?

OP posts:

Bellaposey · 06/05/2019 20:20

Both are lovely but Charlotte is timelessly beautiful.

LizziesTwin · 06/05/2019 20:35

I’ve known children called Florence for the last 30 years, it’s hardly a fad.

muddiecuddles · 06/05/2019 20:43

Love Florence - we have an f surname and discounted f names for DD1 and DD2 - then called DD3 Phoebe! Felicity was also on our list for her. I think it sounds really strong.

Sophronia · 06/05/2019 21:01

Florence

CountFosco · 06/05/2019 21:06

We had both Charlotte and Florence on our list, but we named her Eleanor.

I love Eleanor, think it's my favourite English girl's name (my DDs have names from where I'm from). Love Frances as well. No help to the OP of course!

Passthecherrycoke · 06/05/2019 21:10

I love both. Florence has been popular for about 10 years now, but isn’t that popular- you’ll never get enough to make it a dated fad, IMO.

Charlotte is lovely but overall more common as it’s been popular for 40 years. Guess that also gives it longevity

Original poster

Clownfish123 · 06/05/2019 21:36

I think Eleanor is beautiful too but I'm not keen on Ellie and I also have a friend called Eleanor and it would feel strange to use it. I do love classic names though. Alexandra was a contender but don't like Alex or Lexi. Louisa and Marianne go on and off the list too!

OP posts:

Sybelline · 06/05/2019 21:38

Florence does seem pretty faddy to me. Also I think it's quite frumpy.

Charlotte has a bit more life to it.

Sybelline · 06/05/2019 21:38

Marianne is nicer still!

Harebel · 06/05/2019 21:45

Love your names OP.

Charlotte is a classy name to me. I love it. Lottie and Lotte are gorgeous too.

Florence is good but I'm not so keen on Flo! Alliterative names are great.

Alexandra is fantastic as is Louisa but I'm not keen on Lou.

I'm not so keen on Marianne. It just doesn't stand out like the others.

If you like timeless classics, have you considered Julia or Antonia?

RuthW · 06/05/2019 22:16

I prefer Florence as I have one who is 22. It's much more popular than Charlotte now though unfortunately than it was 22 years ago.

Lydia55y · 07/05/2019 09:15

I prefer Florence. It is popular but not too 10 so I don’t think there will be enough for it to be the Sarah/ Kelly / Laura of the 80s.

Charlotte to me is just dull. I’ve never met a Charlotte who isn’t boring and hate Charlie/Lottie.

I also don’t like Flo/Flossie as nn personally. We are considering Florence but as a middle name to avoid nicknames

daisypond · 07/05/2019 09:21

Louisa is great. I prefer it to both Florence and Charlotte. I also think Marianne is great. Julia and Antonia too, as pp suggested. You’re in Jane Austen territory so it could be worth looking at female names from the books. Elizabeth?

MercyBodle · 07/05/2019 09:58

Louisa and Marianne are lovely and either would be my preference because they are much less used than Charlotte and Florence. I really like all these names, but the popularity of Charlotte and Florence - as well as the alliteration of Florence - would put me off using them. Sometimes alliterative names do really work but I feel it's a risk since I had one and hated the way it drew attention towards me I felt.

They are all such strong traditionals with good vibes though. Marianne is an appealing Jane Austen name, and Louisa will always bring Little Women to mind. Both have good nn options too - Lou, Lulu, Lucy, Marri, Mary, Annie.

I also like suggestions of Julia, Antonia. Juliet, Claudia, Eliza, Bridget, Clementine?

JenSFP · 07/05/2019 12:07

We have a Florence which we shorten to Florrie. I love it

Original poster

Clownfish123 · 07/05/2019 12:35

Julia feels a bit too dated somehow. I would imagine someone mums age called Julia/Julie. Is it due a comeback to do you think? I quite like Juliet though! I like Antonia, but not Tony, DH isn't keen anyway. Clementine is a bit posh for us I think.
I like names that can be shortened but dont need to be.
I'm concerned Louisa will end up being called Louise which feels a bit 80's. Lulu is nice though.
It's so hard finding the perfect name!
Thanks for all the comments so far!

OP posts:

notangelinajolie · 07/05/2019 12:36

Charlotte.

Original poster

Clownfish123 · 07/05/2019 12:37

Jen - Florrie is actually my favourite shortening of Florence but it rhymes with DS's name and would be too confusing so I probably couldn't use it!

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Lllot5 · 07/05/2019 12:45

I like them both. Prefer Florence I think. I like Constance too is that a bit of both perhaps.
Love Clementine.

JenSFP · 07/05/2019 13:15

Well if it helps I also like Flossie!

hopelessatthinkingupusernames · 07/05/2019 13:16

Much prefer Charlotte!

Idratherhaveacupoftea · 07/05/2019 14:04

We have a Louisa,only one in the school.

Original poster

Clownfish123 · 07/05/2019 14:14

@idratherhaveacupoftea - does it get shortened much?

OP posts:

Harebel · 07/05/2019 19:38

What about Farrah?

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