Genevieve, Esther, Silvia, Mercy or Dorothy?

[EleanorShellstrop28]

Can you rank these names for me please? And if you have the time tell me what you like/dislike about them?

Silvia or Sylvia. A more substantial version of Sylvie which has become popular recently.

I like Esther and Sylvia (spelt this way!) I don't like the others.

Esther - Sounds really classy. A classic name.
Mercy - I'm a fan of virtue names but they are disliked on mumsnet.
Dorothy - Some nice cute nicknames like Dotty, Dolly
Silvia - I prefer Sylvia or Sylvie
Genevieve - I dislike this name. I think it's harsh sounding.

I love Dorothy (Dotty is really sweet), then Sylvia. I wouldn't use Genevieve or Esther, but they are solid names, I wouldn't think negatively of them. I really dislike Mercy and if there were any more, I have forgotten them.

It's nice to read a list that is a bit different. I like Esther best I think. Dorothy has been growing on me recently. Genevieve has a nice sound, very long though. Silvia has a nice meaning to do with woodland. I think Mercy is a noble concept and pretty name. Not sure why some are making it a feminist argument not to use it. Noone seems to come up with such arguments about the ubiquitous Grace (no criticism of the name) although it's a synonym. Or Clemency which I've seen suggested before, maybe because Clementine is "in" at the moment. I would far rather be called Mercy than Clem or Clemmie I have to say.

I’m sorry, not a fan of any of them. Especially dislike Esther and Mercy.
Actually, Genevieve is quite nice, though I feel it needs a nn to shorten it, and not sure what that would be.

Another vote for Dorothy! Love Dottie, dolly etc as shortened versions.. this would be my number 1 name for a girl!

I love Genevieve, it's on my list, Evangeline is also nice if you like that. Not that you asked for anything similar. My only worry is it would be shortened to Gen or Genna which I don't particularly like.

Esther and Dorothy are old lady names.

Genevieve Is quite nice though.

Esther is my favourite

Genevieve - best by far
Sylvia, though prefer Sylvie

not at all keen on the others
Dorothy
Esther
Mercy

I love Genevieve and Esther. Silvia is not bad.

Not keen on Dorothy, it's just so dorky sounding. Calling out "Mercy! Mercy!" in a public space would sound a bit strange!

Dorothy - makes me think of Dorothy Wordsworth, so nature and whatnot, and can be shortened to Dolly
Silvia - Sylvie is a pretty shortening and makes me think of woods and silver - prefer Sylvia though
Esther - strong name and I know a lovely teen with that name
Genevieve - like it, it’s just got a bit too many vowels for me, also not sure whether it is Gen e Veev or Gen e Vee Ev, nice shortening to Jenny
Mercy - not at all keen, sounds like a plea
,

I like Esther the best. Genevieve is too long for my tastes but it's a nice name with several good nickname options. Both of these names are a refreshing change to the vowel heavy ones dominating the charts at the moment.

I like Sylvie more than Sylvia but I think it's a name that could grow on me.

Hate Dorothy and Mercy, sorry.

I think it depends completely on your heritage and where you are raising your daughter.

I'm Jewish and in North London so Esther is quite normal and I think it's a pretty but quite standard name.

Dorothy is dated ime.

Silvia, I would assume you or your partner were Italian. Genevieve, French. Mercy, I think is very unusual outside Black Caribbean communities.

Are you willing to share your/your partner's family background/heritage?

I hate Mercy. I have visions of a downtrodden woman crying for Mercy. Genevieve is georgious.

Silvia
Esther
Dorothy
genevieve
mercy

Agree with others about Mercy
The others are fairly normal popular names where I live (east London)
I like them all.

If I had to order them
Dorothy
Ester
Genevieve
Sylvia
Mercy

Sylvia (that spelling) or Dorothy. Don't like the others.

You could use carefully chosen place names
Churston Romsey Preston Grantham Derby...

I like all the names except Esther, with a preference for Dorothy and Genevieve. Mercy is lovely quality and a nice name but the quotes that leap to mind aren't so great - 'Mercy Lewis, a fat, sly, merciless girl of 18' from The Crucible

• 'the quality of mercy is not strained, etc' from Merchant of Venice.

There's always the possibility of a tricky day in school.

My favourite is Esther. Then Sylvia. Not so keen on the others.

Only Dorothy is ok.

Dorothy
esther
sylvie
genevieve
mercy