Baby girl here - help, we can't decide her name!

[Stuckneedhelp]

I'd really love your help! Our DD arrive a few days ago and we still can't agree on a name. My favourites are Leonora and Marina. DH likes Alice. Im worried Alice is too like one of our names (Alex) plus it just doesn't excite me. DH thinks Leonora isn't that elegant and she'll just end up being Leo. Open to other suggestions but looking for something elegant, classic, strong and feminine but not too frilly. Other names we have considered but aren't quite right include Genevieve, Clementine, Beatrice and Constance.

How about Lenore?
Mari (Marie?) nickname for Marina?

Or Kerina?

I'm an Eleanor. I've been Nell since I was about 6 as Mum wanted to head off the Ellie that was starting to creep in. Just putting it out there as an alternative shortening in case that's all that's holding you back on a name you otherwise love!

We've done the same with our son; started using the shortening we preferred before the one we didn't like started appearing, so it can definitely work.

Congratulations on your little one. I love Marina for a baby girl. It was my nanna’s name and I don’t think anyone ever shortened it.

I Met a family on holiday and they had a Melina, also had a little boy called Leonedas so thought worth a mention!

I think all of your names - Alice, Marina, Leonora - are quite lovely.

Nns for Marina: Mimi, Minnie, Mari, Ree, Mina, Mim, Mara, Min.

Probably already suggested, but -
Clemency (I know one with nn Clancy)
Frederica
Minerva
Georgina
Georgette
Harriet
Agatha
Rowena
Octavia
Patience
Sybil
Sybilla
Corisande
Melisande
Greta
Eugenie
Dorothea
Mathilde
Phyllida
Cressida
Marianne
Isadora
Felicity
Cosima
Beatrix

Adele or Adeline
Francesca
Yolanda
Caroline

We considered Eleonore /Eleanor but are not keen on Ellie / Elle which it would inevitably be shortened too. That is also the main reason we didn't go with Clementine as we didn't like Clemmie (we seem to have an aversion to nicknames..!)

While I think Clementine would get sometimes Clem (because it's the obvious nickname), I don't think an Eleonore would inevitably get Elle or Ellie (because the nn Nell seems nearly as trendy now!). The similar Helene could be an option, that may avoid the Ellie nn?

Other favourite French names:
Camille
Sylvie (I know it's dated in France)
Ariane
Mathilde
Coralie
Madeleine
Juliette
Emmeline
Colette
Elodie
Adeline

Georgiana
Eleanor
Penelope
Alicia
Claudia
Florence
Valentina
Vivienne
Isabelle
Louisa
Victoria

Congratulations
Elsa
Catherine
Juliette
Violet

Grace
Amelia
Alyssa
Eilidh

Emmeline? You've got some gorgeous names there. Congratulations!

Someone suggested Melina. If you're considering it please look up the medical meaning of melaena which is pronounced the same way.

Miranda.
Miriam
Melinda
Elspeth
Evangeline
Virginia
Natalia

I agree with you about Alice and love all your names. Leonora is lovely. Leo or Nora for short?

Or Lennie

Dont like Marina at all

Marina is lovely, go with that!

Melissa
Miranda

Leonora is very elegant.

Alice is super boring. Plus - you don't want it, so it's out!

Marina - no good nickname. Like it, bit super-adult, but I wouldn't use it because Rina is horrid.

Leonore/a - lovely, yes to Leo, but I actually really like that. BUT - if he hates - it's a no.

Josephina? Lots of lovely nicknames and has that old-fashioned Alice vibe? (Josie, Posy, Jojo)

My mum is a Lenore and her nickname is Leni.
I love it, very elegant!

Ooh I hope you choose Leonora. It’s such a wonderful, under-utilised name! I agree with others that you can nickname her Leonie instead of Leo, although you can just call her Leonora. Seems a shame not to use such a beautiful name. You never know, she might develop a totally unrelated nickname based on a personality trait, or her surname, or anything really. Marina is a nice name but (maybe like your husband not liking the Nora sound, I don’t love the Rina sound). Hope you go with Leonora, and best wishes for the birth!

Marina could be shortened to Minnie.

But I still prefer Leonora. And actually Leo is a lovely nickname.

You could also go with Lora as a nickname for Lenonora.

Madeline or madison! Congrats!💕🥰