First name to go with middle name Bettina?

[emmy239]

We are expecting a baby girl soon and I'm pretty set on using the middle name Bettina, as it's a family name. Unfortunately we can't use it as a first name as it would be too similar to one of her cousin's names.

Any ideas for what would work well as a first name with Bettina?

Our current favourite for a first name is Cecilia, so Cecilia Bettina, but I'm not sure if that's too difficult to say.

I also like Sylvia. We both love Ada (Ada Bettina) which sounds lovely, but I have been out off because Ada is so popular at the moment. I'd prefer a name outside the top 100 to match our first child's name (which makes it really difficult!).

Any suggestions appreciated!

Cecily Bettina or Sylvie Bettina are easier to say than both names ending in 'a'.

Is Ada really "so popular" ATM? I know 100s of Eva, Ava, Maya, Maia, Isla types but no Adas actually.

@RosesforMama According to Babycentre Ada was number 36 in 2020, and climbed 15 places, so I think it's getting more and more popular. Also in our part of London I think it's quite popular - looking on ONS website, in our neighbouring borough there was 13 Ada's born last year, 16 Ava's and 18 Olivia's (for context!). But I'm prepared to be told that I'm overthinking this!

I also think you're best off with something that doesn't end in the 'a' sound. Unless you have two middle names?

@TinyCake I agree! A first name without an "a" ending would flow much better! Unfortunately we don't have many ideas!

Some of our favourites are Cecilia, Sylvia, Ada, Leila, Theodora, Ophelia... I can't believe I've only just noticed they all end in "A", which is why they don't work that well with "Bettina".

Any suggestions for other girls names much appreciated!

Or a game of "If you had to pick a girls first name to go with Bettina, what would you pick?"

Ethel
Enid
Rachel
Mary
Poppy

Frances Bettina
Penelope Bettina
Lily Bettina
Jasmine Bettina
Alice Bettina
Evelyn Bettina

Bettina is gorgeous!

Felicity Bettina
Audrey Bettina
Juliet Bettina
Camille Bettina
Persephone Bettina
Lucille Bettina
Clara Bettina
Elizabeth Bettina
Ione Bettina
Phoebe Bettina

Adaline Bettina
Juliet Bettina
Juliana Bettina

Naomi Bettina
Seren Bettina
Xanthe Bettina
Marnie Bettina
Rosalind Bettina
Coralie Bettina
Lucy Bettina
Saffron Bettina
Pearl Bettina
Frances Bettina
Florence Bettina

Celeste
Audrey
Maeve
Jocelyn
Rosalie
Eunice

If you love a name I wouldn't worry.
You rarely announce first middle last names aloud

While a first name not ending in "a" would flow better, if you really love the beautiful Cecilia, the middle name isn't said often. I love Sylvie too though!

Adeline
Emmeline
Josephine
Madeleine
Coralie
Rosalind
Rosamund
Rosalie
Juliet
Charlotte
Caroline
Catherine
Lilian
Vivien
Evelyn
Verity
Imogen
Bryony
Jessamine

Constance Bettina (Connie)

Ivy Bettina

Adeline or Adelaide - then you could use Ada for short

I don’t think it matters too much if the names “go”, though, as long as they don’t form something unfortunate in terms of initials. How many times are people going to use the full name? So I’d worry more about getting a first name you love, rather than worrying about the flow.

Edna Bettina - Joke
Rosemary (Rosy) Bettina
Charlotte (Charlie) Bettina - Although it is quite common
Teresa

Cecilia is lovely - why don’t you just stick something in the middle eg
Cecilia Mary Bettina

Otherwise Cecily Bettina or Sylvie Bettina

Alice Bettina
Audrey Bettina
Dorothy Bettina
Daphne Bettina
Esther Bettina
Iris Bettina
Lucy Bettina
Rose Bettina
Violet Bettina
Vivienne Bettina
Zoe Bettina

Definitely Cecily, that's lovely. Ada Bettina - I heard aid and abetting! Sorry OP.

Caroline
Rosalie
Frances
Mary
Elodie
Melody

Thanks everyone for feedback and suggestions!

@IamnotwhouthinkIam @Otherplans I am very tempted just to go with Cecilia! If the baby was born tomorrow I think she would be that.

@Twisique @CrochetOrBust I do really like Adeline! Then she could be Ada. But the pronunciation - whether it should be Adeline like Caroline or Ade-leen kind of puts me off :( I like the the former but not the latter

@Firebird83 I really like both Daphne and Vivienne!

Interesting how three people suggested Juliet, which is our first daughters name :)

I always thought it rhymes with Caroline, like in the film.

Anais
Sidonie
Cosima
Claudia
Cordelia
Madeleine
Martha
Alexandra
Manon
Eleanor
Augusta
Justina
Audrey
Arden
Guinevere
Genevieve
Vanessa
Veronica
Tallulah
Tabitha

@IamnotwhouthinkIam Nearly all of the names on your list are favourites of mine. Madeleine is my absolute favourite though. You obviously have very good taste in names!

I agree with pp sylvie and cecily work. Also names ending el - isabel, annabel, mirabel, etc?