Lara, Francesca or Iona

[aeyaos]

We have a little girl due in a couple of months. We’ve managed to get our shortlist down to three: Lara, Francesca (known as Frankie, or possibly Cesca) and Iona. She’ll be a sister for Xander. I love Phoebe but sadly my husband can’t get on board.

Which is your favourite? Thank you in advance!

Wish I'd thought of that name!!

Iona - but only if you’ve got Scottish connections. Not keen on the other 2.

Lara is one of my favourite names, I think it’s lovely.
The other two are fine, but Lara is the best.

@IsThePopeCatholic

Iona - but only if you’ve got Scottish connections. Not keen on the other 2.

@IsThePopeCatholic, Iona is a welsh name too, but unrelated and pronounced Yonna

Iona is by far the best IMO.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts; we’re not sharing with anyone else, so it’s really helpful to get some input!

Sometimes I think Lara is classic, beautiful and strong, and sometimes I wonder if it’s a bit boring. I also wonder if it sounds too similar to Xander with vowel sounds.

My dilemma with Francesca is that I like the nicknames more than the full name, but would want a full name on the birth certificate. We’d introduce her as Frankie and sometimes I think it’s a lovely, bright, fun name and sometimes think it’s a bit harsh...I also really don’t like Fran or Frannie, so maybe it’s just a bit risky.

We have Scottish connections and a Scottish surname (beginning Mc) so Iona could work well. I think it can be beautiful but again at times wonder if it’s clunky and if people weren’t familiar with the name then all they’d hear is ‘I own a’.. I also completely agree that it goes much better with some last names than others so could be tricky for her if she ever wants to change her last name for whatever reason.

Would love to hear more thoughts if anyone has them and in the meantime thank you again and we’ll keep mulling it over!

She might never want to change her surname @aeyaos, and you could argue that the other names might not go with every surname

All beautiful but especially Lara.

I love Iona and Francesca.

There is also Ione, if you're worried about "I own a" jokes for any reason.

Lara

Iona is the name of a cruise ship.

I love Francesca .

I was going to suggest Ione but is it eye-O-ny or EYE--uh-nee?

Anyone but Lara (sorry to all Lara’s out there).

I have a Xander too. I think Francesca works well with it.

And if you love Scottish names I would suggest Flora, Ailsa (another island, to match Iona), and Mirrin.

Francesca

I love Francesca.

How do you pronounce Iona? Like Fiona?

I would have thought people would assume Fiona a lot. I have a name which is similar to a more popular name and I get that name half the time

@Classicblunder, it's eye-OH-na

Unless it's Welsh (different name but spelled the same) in which case it's Yonna, and usually indicates a January birthday

Lara is a beautiful name.

Iona hands down.

Lara is such a boring name. Francesca’s ok, don’t like Fran though and I loathe Frankie.

Xander and Iona is fab.

I really love Iona - especially with a Scottish Mc surname. It’s moderately unusual. Goes well with Alexander.

Francesca is very nice. Getting very popular but a classic. I think Cesca and Xander is a bit much, so would think about Frankie, Chessie or Franny

Lara is a pretty name, but less weight than the other two, also it just blurs with the 17 billion Lola/Leila/Layla/Leah/Lyra/Lena/Lily/Lilas.. so I’d avoid it for that reason.

Lara is gorgeous and also works best with Xander imo if that matters (both have Greek myth/legend origins in Alexander the Great and Lara the Nymph).

I don't dislike the others but Francesca has a different style to me and Iona feels a bit trendier somehow (likely because it reminds me of Isla).

Lara is such an elegant, classic name imo. A keeper!