Girls names - opinions on our top two

[TenThousandSpoons0]

Hi all

Just looking for some opinions really, to swing us one way or the other. I think these are our last two options but still open to something else coming up, so suggestions welcome.

Names are Carys and Alexandra.

We don’t live in Wales/have Welsh connections but I’m not bothered by that. Last name is one syllable. FWIW middle name will be single syllable starting with J, but I don’t place too much importance on middles - it’s a family name and unlikely to get used too much.

Thanks!

Carys

I prefer Carys, it's a bit more unusual but isn't difficult to say or spell.

I agree with this. I don’t associate it with any decade so it really isn’t anything like Karen or Linda. It was never as mainstream a name. It is a lovely name that is hard to shorten and it doesn’t have any ‘associations’ which makes it a winner in my eyes.

Although I like the name Alexander, Alexandra is not particularly nice and the shortening to Lexi is particularly awful. Alex is ok but the Alexandra’s I know are all called Ali.

Carys. My daughter has a similar name and I love it.

Carys is lovely

Thank you all for the replies! I wasn’t expecting such a majority vote for Carys to be honest, that’s quite Interesting :)
Agree they are quite different which probably doesn’t help me in choosing between them. I also thought it was interesting to hear Carys couldn’t have a nickname - I would definitely think she’d get Caro, Carrie, or Cass where we are.

I’ve never heard Carys or Cerys shortened.

@Sittingontheveranda, it was in the welsh-speaking parts of Wales.

Both lovely but Alexandra is my favourite

MikeUniformMike

Was it? I think many people would be completely unaware of that tbh.

Some Irish names are very popular in Ireland and are rarely if ever seen on this names board.

Cerys never really became mainstream. It is such a lovely name.

Both good but I prefer Alexandra.

Alexandra. So many options for nicknames; Alex, Ally, Lexi, Xa (pronounced Za) and I kind of think whatever you pick to start with will stick so wouldn't worry about that

@Sittingontheveranda,
Yes. It seemed that any girl who wasn't called Siân or Bethan was a Carys. It seems a name from the 1950s and 1960s, so I don't understand why it's popular on here.

When Mr and Mrs Spartacusson named their children Dylan and Carys in the early 2000s, the names seemed very dated, as these were the names of people in their 40s.

I am not very familiar with Irish names, but on a thread where someone wanted a name similar to Grace, I suggested Grainne, and it was pointed out to me that it was a middle aged woman's name. I only knew one Grainne so I had no idea it was one that had passed its peak.

Carys. Gorgeous!

Oh, and I agree that Lexi is awful. Alex, Ali, Sandy, Sasha are ok.

Er, Caz.

MikeUniformMike
I have never known anyone with any of the names Siân or Bethan or Carys. Some names take a long time to travel.

. Grannie is an ancient Irish name but not one associated with old people. There aren’t many babies named Grainne though. It fell out of favour, I guess it sounds quite harsh in comparison to names like Fiadh, Siofra, Niamh and Cara. I was so surprised to see the name Siobhan receiving a lot of love on this forum recently. It was not a popular name in Ireland even thirty years ago when I had a school friend named Siobhan and you’d be hard pushed to find many Siobhans under fifty. It too has a harsh sound. Maybe that is why.

Alex is quite popular for both sexes at my dcs school and nursery. Carys is so gorgeous Id pick that.

I love them both!

I’d probably go with Carys though

Charis is another option if you didn't particularly want the Welsh spelling.

I like Alexandra, though. Lex, Sandy, Ally all possible short forms.

In my part of the UK, the only Carys’ I know are young.

Thanks everyone for commenting - seems more in favor of Carys but I guess maybe I haven’t achieved what I was hoping for - as there’s nothing been said that has put me off either of them! Will wait and see what suits when she is born I guess. Thanks again :)

Alexandra

I'd say Siobhan was middle-aged too @Sittingontheveranda. I grew up in N. Wales. Niamh wasn't unheard of, but the welsh version, Nia, was more usual.

I went to a Welsh school and Carys was a very popular name.
Names that were very popular, as in there were several of them in a class, were Siân, Bethan, Carys, Rhian, Eleri, Nia, Sioned, Delyth and Dylan, Dewi, Rhys, Bryn, Gareth, John, Siôn, Huw. They would be in their 50s now.

Carys wasn't as popular in South Wales, but Cerys was.

A Carys younger than about 45 is likely to have a welsh connection but not be from a welsh-speaking home.

If you like the name, use it , but be prepared to get asked if there's a Welsh connection. At least, of the Welsh names, it's easy to say and spell, and is quite nice.

I'd say Siobhan was middle-aged too @Sittingontheveranda.

Typically Grainne would be considered a nicer name than Siobhan in Ireland. They aren’t the same. Siobhan would be sort of like naming a child Bridget. Grainne would be like naming a child Elizabeth

I much prefer Alexandra