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Baby names
Flora or Elodie?
pancakesandpepsi · 15/03/2023 17:29
Hi wise Mumsnetters
Looking for some advice for the name of our baby girl!
So far our favourites are Flora and Elodie, but we have a few reservations.
Flora - think this is a beautiful unique name but the dreaded butter/bacteria association often gets mentioned on here! Not sure how relevant this is in the current era but interested to hear thoughts?!
Elodie - also love this, with nn of Elle. Just love how it sounds and not as keen on the other El-variants such as Eloise. Unfortunately a family friend has used this name for their little one - we don’t feel it is an absolute no no but it does weigh in our minds. They do not use the nickname Elle.
Other possibilities would be Poppy and Clara.
Any thoughts welcome!
Justinripley · 15/03/2023 17:44
Flora!
I actually know two adult ones but no little un’s. I think the butter connection is harmless and I don’t think I’d ever thought of the bacteria thing before.
I personally feel like Elodie is one of those names that should be left alone unless it’s going to be pronounced in the pristine French way.
I think Clara is lovely and Poppy has been done to death over the years but it is sweet.
Jujuj · 15/03/2023 17:46
I find Elodie really frilly/saccharine.
I really like Elle as a full name.
I don’t like Flora or any of the nn she might get called - Flo, Florrie etc. It’s frumpy/frilly.
Poppy is fine, Clara is nice.
pancakesandpepsi · 15/03/2023 17:52
Thanks for the input so far guys!
I do quite like Elle as a stand alone name so interested to hear thoughts on this also :)
17caterpillars1mouse · 15/03/2023 18:02
I don't get the Elodie love myself but it seems very popular on herei really like Flora. Love Clara. Poppy is ok, nice enough, a bit childish in sound
RosieRainbow1986 · 15/03/2023 18:44
Love the name Elodie! I have an Elodie in my class and she's just super!
scrivette · 15/03/2023 18:54
I really like both.
I know a Flora and I don't think about the margarine!
LostInTheColonies · 15/03/2023 19:03
How on earth does Flora get associated with bacteria? Plants in general perhaps - and that's not a bad thing - or academic tomes, but bacteria??!! Nope.
It's a lovely name. Think Bonnie Prince Charlie. And a bit more uncommon than Elodie (which is also very nice).
DuchessOfSausage · 15/03/2023 19:10
Flora. I really like it, and think of flowers.
Elodie looks pretty but is a bit dull in a UK accent. Elle/Ellie has been so overused. I'm not keen on Eloise either, I find it a bit of a mouthful and there's the dreaded Elouise miss-spelling.
Clara - it's ok if said as Clare-a, but I think it's usually like Cara with an l now. I quite like Cara but not Clara
Poppy - I like it, and the first human Poppy I met was an adult, but I'd already met 2 canine Poppys.
Ophelia55 · 15/03/2023 19:14
I’m a little biased (we have a young Flora) but I would highly recommend the name. It’s a wonderful classic name that works for a little one and an adult, with tons of fantastic history that hugely predates the margarine (which was named after a person, by the way).
Flora was the name of the Roman goddess of Spring and flowers, has been the subject of masters like Botticelli and Titian, and is also the name of a 14th century saint (St. Flora is Patron of the abandoned, of converts, single laywomen, and victims of betrayal—a connection I think is lovely). If you have any Scottish connection, there’s also the link to Flora McDonald, who aided the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Flora is also easy to spell and travels well across countries/languages. If you love it, go for it. We have never regretted it, and never had anything but positive feedback about our daughter’s name. A beautiful and underrated classic!
squishee · 15/03/2023 19:21
I find Flora a bit twee and Elodie a bit odd in an English accent. Lovely in French though.
Lola?
Mona?
Ramona?
Paloma? (No autocorrect, not palomino!)
Posy?
ourflagmeansdeath · 15/03/2023 19:25
Elle would be lovely on it's own especially with the family member that uses Elodie (same name might cause confusion). And I like Flora, I actually don't think the butter thing matters as much. Clara's really lovely too actually quite underused. Poppy's okay I suppose, not my favourite.
My vote would probably be for Elle and if not then Clara.
ouchmyteeth · 15/03/2023 19:30
Elle as a stand-alone name is beautiful and by far the best of the options! Classy, classic, not dated but not becoming too trendy, and ages very well from little girl to woman.
Clara is also lovely.
BlueSpark · 15/03/2023 19:36
Elodie! First time I heard it, I read it on a Mumsnet thread and the OP entered her kids name by accident. I remember thinking "what a shit name" but honestly, after a few minutes I thought more about it and now I would definitely use if I had another.
Luredbyapomegranate · 15/03/2023 19:37
Flora is my favourite - goddess of spring - it’s always been quite popular so I would worry about margarine
Clara also very nice but Flora more unusual right now
I don’t mind Elodie, but there are approximately 27 million girls called or nicknamed Ellie/Ella/Elle/Nell so I just wouldn’t.
Poppy is wet (sorry!)
MrsMaudeLebowski · 15/03/2023 19:47
Love Clara and Flora, both favourites!
Elora could be another alternative with Elle as nn?
Longdarkcloud · 15/03/2023 20:06
I think Flora is a classic.
I find Eloise strange and prefer Melody but even that is not a favourite.
I agree with a previous poster in preferring Clara with a soft C. Pronounced as Klara I find it very harsh sounding.
Poppy is a sweet name for a cat or a small child but in my view doesn’t suit an adult.
So I don’t think you can go wrong with Flora, a name for all ages
shoopshoopdedoo · 15/03/2023 20:17
I like Flora and Clara.
Personally, I’m not a fan of Elodie or Elle.
Poppy is OK.
Wotsitsname · 15/03/2023 21:43
How about Florina or Laura. It sounds like you like flower names, how about Rosa or Aster.
You could put them together for Elora.
unfortunately for me I still have the Flora margarine memories.
pancakesandpepsi · 15/03/2023 21:55
Thank you so much for all your responses and suggestions, great to see all the Flora positivity, really reassuring. Seems I was probably worrying about nothing!
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