Vivien Lee or Nora Lee

[Moma1212]

Help! I love both names for my baby girl arriving soon. Both are family names. Vivien Lee or Nora Lee?

Vivien/ne is a beautiful name. If you are just going to refer to her as Vivienne then I think it doesn't matter about the Vivien Leigh association. Not that that is negative of course - she was a brilliant actress and so beautiful.

Nora seems popular now but still has a frumpy vibe in my head - Norah Batty, Nitty Nora etc. But I probably need to get with the times. There is also the lovely singer Norah Jones, of course.

I prefer Vivien Lee but I did immediately think of the actress and would wonder if you were a super fan. However, in real life after the birth announcement hardly anyone cares about middle names. So I don't think it matters much.

Nora is much nicer.

What about Vivienne Nora Lee? Nora and Lee are both short names and it breaks up the Vivien Lee part.

I think it’s a bit strange to name a child Vivian Lee, even if you and a few others hadn’t heard of Vivien Leigh previously. There’s a high likelihood that regularly when she has to give her full name people will say oh like Vivien Leigh, were your parents huge fans of the silver screen, “tomorrow is another day” “frankly my dear I don’t give a damn”. It’s just a bit odd, and sort of awkward having to explain her parents hadn’t heard of Vivien Leigh or didn’t think it was a recognisable name. Vivien is a lovely name. Vivien Nora instead?

The thing is I really can't see anyone your daughter's own age making any sort of connection. As I say, the Vivienne Lee (Lee is her surname though, not middle name) I know never had any sort of mention of this whilst we were in school. Perhaps her older relatives may have said something, I don't know. I'm in my twenties and no one my age made any sort of association, so I can't imagine anyone born today will have a clue either.

In any case, it's not a bad association! I actually know someone else who has the exact same name as a currently very famous actor, and that of course attracts comments. But he's not that bothered by it.

Lets face it, no one will use her middle name. So call her Vivienne Lee if you want to.

Valerie would go too.

I'm a millennial child and have only watched about three films in three years and I think of the actress. I'd go for Nora.

Vivien or Vivienne, it’s a lovely name.

Vivien Leigh was a stunningly beautiful woman , so conjures up a lovely image for me. OTOH, when I hear Nora, I can't help but think of Nora Batty and her creased up support stockings. Not such a good image in my head! Definitely like the look of Vivienne better.

Vivien Lee is lovely. Most people will have heard of the actress but since Lee is a middle name rather than a surname, it doesn't matter imo. I prefer the classic Vivien spelling too (unless you are French heritage).

Nora just doesn't sound nice to me - although for some reason similar Cora Lee sounds lovely (probably because I like the name Coralie!).

I’m in the minority it seems but I much prefer Nora/h!
Really dislike Vivienne and dislike the prospect of her being called ‘Viv’ even more!

@Moma1212

I know about the Actress but Lee is my middle name and I want to use it. I just don’t think I’m 2031 ppl will instantly think of a movie in 1939?

She's pretty famous for that movie though! It was my first thought. Bit middle names, meh, they're not very important in life are they? I don't even know what any of my friends' middle names are, (apart from the friends I've known since childhood).

@Tibtab

What about Vivienne Nora Lee? Nora and Lee are both short names and it breaks up the Vivien Lee part.

This ^

Vivien. Don’t spell it Vivienne. Lee is fine as a middle name. Nora is horrid

Nora Lee sounds like (N)orally to my ear.
Everyone has heard of Vivien Leigh! I'd just drop the Lee tbh. Or adapt it - Leia? Leah?

I think they are both lovely x

I find that Vivien/Vivienne is normally shortened to Vivie not Viv