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 Melody. Maybe Melody Faye?

Melody is gorgeous and it sounds like your favourite, go for it!
I've known 2 adults Melodys. One always went by Melody and the other Melo. I always thought Melo was such a cool nn and suited her so well. She was really cool, slightly hippy.
It's a known enough name not to 'stand out' and make her life difficult but unusual enough to be a bit special and if she isn't girly at all, she can always be Mel.
The smelly thing is ridiculous and it doesn't seem to have put off all the Ellies or Kellys. People can make a silly rhyme out of any name.

St Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians so both your names are musical!

I like them both. No help at all!

@IHeartKingThistle I had noticed that - which is funny given our lack of musical skill. Her dad has 4 guitars and a passion for Sonos speakers though!

Thanks @Clownfish123 and I think you're right, Mel is a pretty safe if she doesn't like it and good for if she grows out of Mellie. I have never known an adult Melody!

I had a childhood friend named Melody (she'll be about 29/30 now). Her dad was a musician and we all thought it was really cool that he named her that! ❤️

I love Elodie. Ellie is a nicer nickname than Mellie in my opinion too. Not too keen on Cecelia. I can’t really imagine it on a baby. Cece is cute though.

I like Cece and Melodie!

Cece is my favourite tho it’s fabulous

I know an Elodie too and love that

The only Melodie I know is Mel as a nn but you could have Lolo or Lodie?

Celia is much nicer than Cecelia, and it means heaven.

I like Melody nn Mellie

Cecilia is very pretty!

I think Cecilia Melody flows beautifully.

Cecilia is lovely!

Cecilia is great - but Cecily is even better.
If you go for Melody, a shortened version could be Mella.

What about Cecily? It has a similar sound to Elodie and Melody.

Ottilie also has a similar flow.

@Lindellia I don't know why, given how much I love Cecelia, I don't like Cecily. I think it's maybe just too close to Cecil?
Her cousin due Sept is likely to be Ottilie :)

@Ellmau Under the impression we may have another girl, I'd like to keep it in reserve. I don't have an emotional attachment to either name so wouldn't worry about not getting to use it! I do think it flows nicely though

Why not just call her Melody Cecilia? Melody is a very pretty name and the nicknames will sort themselves out. If you had trouble with your saying s then there Cecilia is definitely risking it a bit. I think Melody has a timeless ring to it.

Not Elouise please. It is a perfectly nice name ruined by the addition of a letter. Louise or Eloise are both nice but Elouise just looks like you can't spell.
Melissa Elodie would make a nice name.
Melody is too much of a noun and looks a bit like Malady.
Olivia is overused, and MOP are not the best initials.

Cecelia!

Cecelia Juliet
Cecelia Phoebe
Cecelia Wren
Cecelia Violet
Cecelia Frances
Cecilia Lucy