Ottie or Clara

[Pippinthepup]

I am six months pregnant with my first dd and am stuck between Ottie and Clara for a name. Ottie was always my first choice but I recently came across the name Clara and thought it was really pretty- my dh prefers Ottie but I think he’s warming to Clara as well- my only worry with Ottie is that people might not get the spelling straight away. Was just wondering if anyone has any opinions/experience of either names

I don't like Clara but it's a lot less awful than Ottie

I think judging by this thread Clara may be the better way to go! I knew an Ottie about 10 years ago and I always thought it was a lovely name and very unique (I've never come across another one since)- she had a very creative job and she seemed to really suit her name. I did also quite like that it reminded me of the word otter too but I realise that it may not be strong enough as a name on its own

What about Otter or Clart?

Clara. Beautiful, simple, classic.

If you like Ottie, then Ottavia/Octavia might be a suitable longer name which can be shortened? I agree with PP that Ottie doesn’t sound like a "real name" as it were, but I do rather like it!

I'm just imagining Ottie with a glottal stop

Op, choose Clara.

Clara is lovely

I really don’t think you can should someone Ottie as their actual name, it sounds like a brand of heated gloves or something. Ok as diminutive of Ottilie - or Octavia would work, as a Pp suggested.

I prefer Clara.

If you decide on Ottie, I'd go with it as a nickname with Ottilie as the full name.

Clara- beautiful underused name

Clara is beautiful, Ottie is weird.

Clara. Ottie sounds like someone who is badly spoken and asking for a hot water bottle!

@user1493494961

Clara is beautiful, Ottie is weird.

My thoughts too!

I prefer Clara. It sounds beautiful. I only know Ottie as a nickname for Ottilie which is very trendy at the moment.

Clara

Definitely Clara.

@ESGdance

Ottoline is a fabulous name - usually Ottilie is the shortened name which is pretty. The Lady Ottoline is a great pub in Bloomsbury named after an Edwardian patron of the arts.

Not sure about Ottie though personally.

Clara is also classic and cute.

Ottilie is not a shortened version of Ottoline! It's a standalone German name, mostly mispronounced in the UK as "Otterly".

As for Ottie the Hottie: no.

Clara is nice.

Clara. Lovely name. Really not keen on Ottie at all

Clara.

I like Ottie as a nickname for Ottilie or Octavia but not on its own I’m afraid.

I think Clara is quite popular actually more so than Otillie

Not keen on Ottie on its own. As a nickname for something it’s quite cute, but I wouldn’t want to be named Ottie. And it doesn’t feel that different due to the popularity of Ottilie.

Clara much nicer and a classic.

Definitely Clara!!

I have a Clara and so would obviously pick that of the two. All I would say though is that Clara is definitely becoming more popular - three in my DD’s school. So if being original is important to you then maybe Clara might be a bit mainstream (although I’d take being mainstream in a heartbeat over Ottie - sorry, but I think it is pretty dreadful)

Not a fan of Ottie at all. I don't mind Ottilie but I think it will date.

Clara is gorgeous

Clara always makes me think of Heidi's friend!

Clara deffo
Ottie will get called Oee