Thea or Phoebe?

[feb1982]

A sister for Clara, due in March. Love the meaning of both names but are they too popular? Any other similar suggestions welcome. DD1 was going to be called Astrid but not sure we like it as much this time around...

I think both are very pretty. I'd pick Thea because it's less popular than Phoebe.

They are both popular, though Thea less so. I prefer it to Phoebe, but far prefer Astrid to both of them. Here are some other short, sweet names, none of which are in the top hundred.
Anya
Elise
Greta
Odette
Runa
Stella
Vita

I like them both.
It also depends where you live and if it’s somewhere people are likely to pronounce Thea as “Fea”, which would really irritate me personally.

Thea, less popular then Phoebe and nicer.

I know loads of Theas. It's very popular in the 'naice' crowd round here. Phoebe is more classic and timeless. I like Astrid!

Both quite nice and also popular

Less popular alternatives might be Stella, Lois, Jasmine, Thora, Elsbeth, Ffion, Flora, Edith..

although I have to say I really like Astrid and it pairs nicely with Clara - they both have slightly Germanic feel

Both pretty. I'd pick Phoebe though because having two 'a' sounds at the end of both names would annoy me. Also when you get to ' shouting up the stairs' age then they won't know who you want!

Edith and Clara is gorgeous and I like Clara and Astrid too.

We have lots of Theas and Theos around here (NW UK) not so maybe Phoebes. Both lovely names though.

Many not maybe

Phoebe is lovely and I think goes better with Clara than Thea.

I love Phoebe. I do like Thea but potentially being pronounced ‘Fea’ puts me off. I do know a couple of little Thea’s and think it’s currently quite trendy. Phoebe is higher in the charts I think but I don’t know any.

Phoebe is great, goes with Clara and is a much nicer name than Thea, which to me is insubstantial and fluffy.

Astrid is wonderful, the best of the three.

I like both, but prefer Phoebe.
Clara is beautiful, and I think Phoebe compliments it well.

Dislike Phoebe.
Thea is much nicer and sits well with Clara.

Love Thea. Phoebe is a bit dated.

I think Thea is an awful name. It sounds manly.

I love Astrid

Phoebe by several miles. Phoebe and Clara sound wonderful together, and I like that the ending sounds are a point of difference.

I prefer Phoebe. I think it sounds better with Clara than Thea.

Definitely Phoebe

Clara and Thea don't sound as nice as Clara and Phoebe. I also just prefer Phoebe

Thanks so much for the comments and some great alternative suggestions, looks like Phoebe is slightly ahead so far although must say it's also making me rethink Astrid!

I like both. Phoebe is more popular around here.

What about Tessa?

As another suggestion, Eliza is always what I mentally pair with Clara, probably because of Pygmalion. I love these two together, feel very bonnety costume drama, in a good way.

I'm not a huge fan of Thea, much prefer Phoebe. Astrid is even better though.

I like Phoebe and it goes really well with Clara. Astrid is a much harsher sounding name IMHO. I don't like Thea, it sounds a bit dreary and moany to me. I prefer some of the longer names where you could have Thea as nickname.