Finding girls tricky

[Pheepa]

Feeling like there are so many pretty girls names that we like but they are all really popular and want something not over used.
We like Leia, would people agree that the pronunciation would be Lay-a? Don’t like Leah as much so wouldn’t want it mispronounced.
Hubby likes Clarabelle with Clara for short, I’m warming to it but still not completely sure, is Clarabelle a bit too much of a mouthful? I don’t mind about the cow/clown connection
Thoughts appreciated! Thanks

I love Clara but not sure about Clarabelle. It just seems a bit overpowering for me, but that's just my personal opinion.
That said I love Rosabella.

Leia (Laya) is pretty, but some may read it as Leah.

Laila is nice . I had a school friend called Laila , pronounced Lie- la . I also know a girl now called Leela .Not keen on Clarabelle , sorry . In my mind she was one of Thomas the Tank Engine’s carriages .

Ooh I like Clarabelle. Unusual but sounds real, and Clara is fab too.

Leia would definitely be Lay-ah not Lee-ah to me.

I would read Leia as Lay-a.

I dislike Clara short for Clarabelle as I pronounce the Clara in Clarabelle differently to Clara on its own (Cla-ra, short a, vs Clarh-ra).

What about Christabel rather than Clarabelle? Clarabelle makes me think of Southern US plantation owners. Or just Clara or Clara Isabel?

Yep having a young child you will soon associate Clarabelle with Thomas the Tank Engine.

Clarabelle does just conjure up a picture of a cow to me, (which you say you don't mind, but it won't be you 'wearing' the name for 90 odd years) and I'm not really sure that 'Clara' is a natural shortening, as it is said differently from Clarabelle.

The only Leia I know says it the same as 'Leah' , so I do think that could be an issue, if you really aren't keen on Leah.

I'm not keen on Leia, it's too Star Wars.

Clarabelle looks very fussy, but I don't mind Clarabel.

I like Clarabel or Claribel, but not the Clarabelle spelling.

Clarabelle is a definite no from me I know you said you don't mind the connections but you won't have to live with it your little girl will.....
If you like Clara use that as a first name or Clary/ Clarice is a possibility.
Leia I would pronounce the way you would like but I know at least 3 who pronounce it the same as Leah so that'll be an issue maybe try Layla

Leia will be called Princess Leia, and everyone will assume you're huge Star Wars fans.

There are a lot of variations on the theme of short names beginning with L and ending with A:
Lara
Lela
Lola
Layla
Lyla
Lyra
Luna
Lena

Along the same lines:
Orla
Leonie
Leonora
Elinor
Elin
Mila
Mella

And with a Belle/ Bel ending:
Isobel
Annabel
Maribel
Mirabel

I like Clara and as a family NN Clarabelle would be nice. I think it's a bit too frilly for public consumption though. I must say I always smile when I hear fathers to be suggesting uber frilly names for baby girls. It's rather endearing.

I pronounce the Clara and Clara(belle) he same (Clah-ra/Clah-ra-bell)

I pronounce the name Clara on its own and Clara/belle the same (Clah-ra/Clah-ra-bell)

Fixed that...

Leia is pretty but I would assume anyone using the name is a huge Star Wars fan because it's the only context I've ever come across that spelling and pronunciation.

Clarabelle is a bit of a mouthful and immediately makes me think of Thomas the Tank. Also not sure it naturally shortens to Clara because the 'Clara' in Clarabelle is much shorter than how I would pronounce Clara on its own (with a long 'a' in the middle).

Leah and Clara are both beautiful names and personally I would choose one of those.

I like Clara a lot. I’d pronounce Leia Laya as you say. Like that too

Thank you everyone.
we are Star Wars fans, that’s not the reason for the Leia name choice but don’t think we’d mind the connection. We also have a Hermione (Harry Potter fans but again not the reason for the choice).
Think I may prefer the Clarabel spelling too, still not completely sold on it though. I’d pronounce it clara-bel but Clah-ra too and hadn’t even considered that that might be strange!

I like Leia and would say it lay-a.

Not keen on Clarabelle, though I don't think Clara is a problematic nickname just because of the Clarra/Clahra/Clairea possibilities with Clarabelle. Kitty doesn't sound like Katherine, Maggie like Margaret or Betsy like Elizabeth but they still get used.

Alternatives that aren't overly popular, I dont think:
Lena, Lyla, Lyra, Lara, Lana, Leona, Livia, Amaya, Anaya, Daya, Faye, Faith, Inaya, Jay, Kaia, Maia, Nyah, Nia, Raya, Ria, Rae, Tia, Thea, Zia

Arielle, Christabel, Clarissa, Cassandra, Cordelia, Giselle, Isadora, Mirabelle, Pandora, Rosabelle, Saskia, Tallulah, Vanessa

Clarabel is a train carriage. It’s the only thing I think of.

Laila is a great name ... we spell it Leila.

I would write L-aya

Could you write it Laia?

Clara is nice
Clarabelle just makes me think of cows
Christabel instead?
Leila is nice
Leia just makes me think starwars

Spell it Layla and there will be no issues.

Prefer Clara alone.

Bridget
Rhiannon
Kate
Janelle
Hilary
Dyani
Catriona
Nicolette
Nina
Bethany
Xanthe
Frances
Natalia
Leona
Leannda
Narelle
Georgina
Gracie
Norah
Katya
Asha
Kiara
Sienna
Lori

I like Clarabelle. Would say Leia lay ah

Sorry Clarabelle sounds like a Disney Princess name.
I'm partial to Anna, Ava, Sienna. We considered Zoe and Scarlett.