Middle Name for Claire

[Rabbit600]

We have decided on the name Claire for our daughter, but are stuck on a middle name.

These are the potential options:

Alice
Olivia
Nancy
Maxine
Teresa
Joyce

Nancy, Maxine, Teresa and Joyce are family names (mine and husbands grandmothers names), so we would prefer to use them, but we are unsure if they go well with Claire.

I did think of shortening them, but I don't think the shortened versions work any better.

As for Alice and Olivia, they are not family names. I just like them and I think they go well with Claire. However, because they're not family names, I'm not totally sure if I've ready to commit to using either of them as the middle name.

Please help!

Claire is lovely. It's a one syllable name so I think you need a 2 or preferably 3 syllable middle name. For example Claire Joyce lacks rhythm for me.

As pp said depends on your surname Olivia no good if your surname begins with a W.
I think Teresa goes best out of your list but I do think the only middle name that truly goes with Claire is Louise!

I really like Claire Maxine, it sounds fiesty

You need a two or three syllable name to go after Claire imho.

Claire Elizabeth sounds lovely.

Another for Claire Elizabeth
Of your names I like Olivia best
I think the vowel is best to start second name following claire

Claire olivia is really lovely

I love the name Claire.

Claire Elizabeth
Claire Louisa
Claire Melissa

I know about 7 Claire Louise' however I doubt your DD will grow up with many.

Claire Louise for the full retro effect.

Yes, has to be Louise!

I thought Claire Alexandra straight away and notice a few others have too.

Another vote for Claire Louise!

In all seriousness thougb I think going with a family name for a middle name is a.lovely thing to do though, I did for both of mine and I love the family connection especially as the people they are named after arent with us anymore. It makes it very special

Claire Teresa. Or Clare, I prefer that spelling.

The other family names are quite clunky with Claire, especially Joyce.

Another 70s Claire Louise reporting for duty

I love the suggestions of Elise or Louisa, a little twist on the original.

We had 4 Clare Louises in my school year.

My friend whose name is Claire says her middle name should be “With an i” as she always says her name Claire with an i”.

I like Claire Maxine, you definitely need 2 or 3 syllables so I’d rule out Joyce.

I think giving her the middle name Joyce might set her up for some teasing. It's nice for you to use a family name but not necessarily nice for her.

Clare/Claire needs a longer middle name...

Claire Rebecca
Claire Louise
Claire Elizabeth

From your 4 family names my favourite is Claire Nancy. I think this is really sweet and appealing. From the overall list I like Claire Olivia best, but only just. I think a name beginning with a consonant works better. I'd go with Claire Nancy.

My favourites are Nancy and Olivia which I prefer to Claire. I have a close relative called Claire and she’s always disliked her name - “boring” she calls it. I wanted to use it as a middle name to honour her and she said it was “too boring even for a middle name and could she choose something she liked instead?”.

There are many 40 something women called Claire Louise!!
I always wanted it as my name!

Claire Elizabeth
Claire Roberta
Claire Louise/Louisa
Claire Eliza
Claire Amelia

Love the name Claire. I like Claire Alice or Claire Teresa. The dcs have got Claires at their secondary school

I like the Claire Elise suggestion a pp made. I think there was a St Claire in the 13th century, so it's stood the test of time

PS. I prefer Clare