Help us choose from these two :)

[WyncyG]

So baby due soon, we've whittled our name choices down to 2 (from the ONS 'baby names 2017' list, so essentially considered every name!) and are struggling to pick one. For years I loved Jessica and Ellie, so definitely not trying to be quirky or unusual. Jessica has become a close family member so I've gone off it and Ellie feels pretty boring now we have these news options...

1. Melody, nn Mellie.
   DH loves Melissa and I love Elodie. Tbh I've been calling her this for months now so it's pretty stuck, but I'm just worrying that it's a bit odd and she might hate it? DH is quite musical but we're not choosing it for meaning, rather that we like how it sounds.
   The other issue is the only middle name we love the flow of is Melody Olivia which would give her the initials MOP!
   
   If anyone can suggest an awesome mn for Melody then it might be all we need!

2. Cecilia, nn Cece
   When I was little I had difficulty pronouncing S's so my reservation here is probably coming from there! It's quite a mouthful anyway isn't it? Also I picture Cecilia as a willowy blonde whereas our daughter is very likely to be quite short, strong and dark. We'd quite like to decide her name soon as it's helping with bonding and babies never really "look" like a name IMO. Aaaand I keep spelling it Cecelia
   We can't think of a great middle name for Cece, something which doesn't have a S sound would work best with surname.

I'd appreciate no outright "don't like either" comments as that doesn't help in any way, with 99% certainty I know she will be Melody or Cecilia!

I prefer Cecilia. But I dislike Cece. All the Cecilias I know are known by their full name.

I actually like both! Sorry I'm no help. I keep typing in 'X slightly edges it for me' and then changing my mind and deleting it.
I'll give you some middle names:
Melody Grace
Melody Rose
Melody Jane
Melody Wren
Melody Harper
Melody Jade (I think I like this best)
Melody Lara
Melody Hope
Melody Faith

Cecilia Emma
Cecilia Ivy
Cecilia Violet
Cecilia Rae
Cecilia Mae
Cecilia Claire

I do prefer Cece over Mellie

Make a shortlist of name combinations and say them out loud with surname, and one should ring. Choose the one you could imagine calling your daughter as a newborn, toddler, child, teenager and adult x

Go with Melody. I like the way you've come up with it and Millie is a nice nickname.

Why not chose 2 middle names to save the MOP initials?

*choose

I like them both but not keen on Mellie as she might end up as Smelly Mellie at school

I don't envisage a Cecily as a blonde at all!

Cecilia is lovely. Cecilia Margot or Cecilia Emily are nice.

Melody is lovely, but not keen on mellie as a nickname.... It sounds like smelly

nn Mellie.

I would discard Melody on this basis alone. As others have said, it leads right to "smelly".

I do prefer Cecelia anyway though.

I love Melody and not that keen on Cecelia. Plus the meaning of Cecelia is "blind"!

I would never really have considered mellie as a nickname for Melody before.... I would have just thought of Mel.
Alternative nicknames could be lola or DeeDee

They are both on our shortlist too! DD likes melody because it's ariels daughter and me and dh like the dr who connection (I mean, the doctor and river song.... it's the greatest love story right?). We're a long way from being down to 2 but these are definitely strong choices imo 😀

I do prefer Celilia/Cece, I don't know why exactly. It just feels like it would fit at all stages of life.

Also, Cece is the best friend in new girl- a tall, dark and strong woman!

I don't envisage a Cecily as a blonde at all!

The OP said Cecilia but I far prefer Cecily now you've mentioned it. Or even Cecile.

I would never really have considered mellie as a nickname for Melody before.... I would have just thought of Mel.

The First Lady in scandal is Mellie, I actually quite like it but children are cruel and your child will be called smelly mellie.

I had a cat called Melody. We used to call her Melon.

I really like Melody. Why not use Jessica in the middle since you've loved it for years? Melody Jessica
Or
Melody Jessa
Melody Jessamine
Melody Jesme

Oh I love Elodie! Elodie Rose was going to be DS2 if he was a girl!

Melodie Rose? Melodie Grace? I wouldn't use Mellie as a nn personally!

How about Ophelia? Eloise? Eleanor?

I think Cecelia (cece) is cute!

I prefer Cecelia, Cece is v.cute.

Melody doesn't need shortening to Mellie.

I like Cecilia (I just spelt it Cecelia too at first then) but I love Melody soooo much more!

I’m put off Cecilia because I’ve heard people people pronounce it with a ‘w’ in the middle (ceci-w-ya) which I think is a lot less pretty.

Melody is ok but feels a bit modern - but that’s just my taste.

If you like Ellie what about Elouise nn Ellie xx

How about using both, you could have Cecilia Melody or Melody Cecilia.

Sorry I don't know how to quote or tag reply but we did immediately think of Smellie Mellie, Smelody and even Mellie the elephant, but people have said 'the bullies will always find a mean name' so tried not to worry about that one.
Mellie DEFINITELY came from Scandal - after 7 series I guess it was a normal name in our heads hahah.
Thank you to the person who reminded me of beautiful Cece in New Girl!
Many of your great suggestions are actually already in the family so at least they'll all sound good together :)
So no closer but it's definitely good to hear some new pros and cons!!