Baby is here, but can’t pick name.

[Orphlids]

Baby girl is two weeks old today, and we’re a bit stuck for a name. We seem to keep coming back to these two: Gaia Delphine and Ingrid Isolde. Which do you prefer? (Please, if you hate them both, could you refrain from saying so? Thanks!)

Gaia Delphine has no particularly special meaning to us, we just like the sound. But I can’t decide if Gaia doesn’t stand out from all the other vowel-heavy names which are currently popular.

I like the alliteration of Ingrid Isolde. I like how Ingrid sounds different to the many very frilly and pretty names currently in fashion. I don’t like the sound of the name Isolde particularly, but the baby’s older sister is named after a character from opera and I’d like that little link between them.

Thanks for any feedback!

Ingrid Isolde.

very similar situation op. older dd with operatic name, cant decide on middles for second dd, 3 weeks old!

Definitely not Gaia. A lifetime of gay-uh.

Ingrid Isolde or Ingrid Delphine. I think you'll get people saying Gaya instead of Gaia.

Ingrid Isolde, definitely!

Ingrid Gaia

I'd avoid Gaia, mainly due to pronunciation issues.

I like Delphine Ingrid

Love Ingrid! It’s such a beautiful, strong, feminine name.

Ingrid Isolde

Gaia just reminds me of yoga. Delphine is nice as others face suggested

Agree with other PP - you should consider Delphine as a first name. Really beautiful

Ingrid, or can I throw Margot into the mix? It seems on a similar vein, but different.

Forget the middle names for now. You'll never use them and it is just going to confuse things. Just choose your favourite first name. Personally I would avoid any name which your DD is going to need to spell aloud every day to people who won't get it, will mis-spell it, assume parents are hippy eco warriors etc. For those reasons I would not choose Gaia.

I agree with pps saying just pick the name you like best and don't worry about middle name. If she has one it will probably never be used except to add to the tedium of form filling.
As an aside, I like Delphine best of your choices.

I love the strength of Ingrid Isolde, so that gets my vote, but Delphine is a very smart name also! I wasn't sure how to pronounce Gaia. I'll throw Erika Delphine into the mix too!

Ingrid.
Gaia will become gay-ah and could lead to teasing.

Ingrid Isolde.

Gaia is becoming trendy among hipster environmentalists. Nothing wrong with that but if that's your crowd there may be a fair few more baby Gaia's.

Ingrid Isolde

Gaia is a gorgeous name and I like Delphine too.

I like Isolde best, I’d pick that as her first name.

I think Gaia will spend her life being asked how to spell or say her name. I don't dislike it - just can see it being a pain.

Isolde is pretty and it is unusual but not too strange. Could lead to spelling issues but if it is a middle name then not an issue (I have a middle name that can be spelt in about 5 different ways and other than me finding it hard to learn to spell myself as a child it is used so rarely it isn't an issue. Oh and when they did my driving licence spelt wrong but ...

Ingrid is again unusual but not strange, I think it is well known enough and I can't see how anyone could struggle to say or spell it.

Delphine I like, I think it is pretty without being little girly and flowery like so many names at the moment.

Think what nicknames could arise from them, if the initials work with your surname both with and without middle initial (you would be amazed how many parents don't think about this and people end up saddled with lots of teasing potential once someone notices.

I really love Ingrid Isolde! I love everything about it - Ingrid is a beautiful, classy, strong, feminine, international name that's easy to spell and pronounce, and is not over-used. And, bonus, it is not frilly. Isolde is beautiful and evocative and makes the perfect middle with Ingrid.

Gaia Delphine is okay, but just not in the same class for me. And Gaia, though distinctive in some ways is very like the popular sounds at the moment - Maya, Maia, Lila, Aria, Isla etc etc.

Thank you all so much for your feedback. And for being so kind about our choices. I think those of you who have said there will be pronunciation issues with Gaia are right. And I think I also agree with those of you who have said Delphine might be better as a first name. I’ve passed on all your thoughts to DP, and he too agrees with what many of you have said. Ingrid Isolde seems to have got a positive reaction from many of you, which is a pleasant surprise. We’re going to spend a couple of days deciding if she’s a Delphine or an Ingrid. Thanks again, everyone, much appreciated!

@Carouselfish, how funny! Congratulations! Are you thinking of choosing another operatic name for new baby? Have fun choosing. I like Carmen, but it doesn’t go with the surname.

Defnitely Ingrid for the first name over Gaia. It's stronger, nicer and no pronunciation issues. Gaia will get Gayer, Geeyuh, Guyay, etc. It's not obvious.

Isolde or Dephine with Ingrid is great, but the alliteration edges it for me.

I love Ingrid and considered it with nn Indie