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Opinions please on baby girl names

21 replies

Ryn23 · 11/09/2023 23:48

I have really struggled to come up with baby names, but I have two names that I am considering:

Nora James
Nova Lane

Could I have some honest opinions on them please.

OP posts:
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unvillage · 11/09/2023 23:51

Both flow nicely! I don't like Lane particularly - Laine maybe? Nora and Nova are both lovely names. Prefer Nova Laine. Nora Lane sounds too much like a word. Noralane? Like a medicine.

Yellowcakestand · 11/09/2023 23:53

I prefer Nova but don't like either middle name. Having Lane sounds like a place/street.

Whataretheodds · 11/09/2023 23:54

Is that first name and middle name?

Much prefer Nora to Nova, which means 'doesn't go' in Spanish, I believe.

TWOTWT · 11/09/2023 23:56

I’m not a massive fan of either but Nova Lane sounds like a place name rather than a person. So that’s a hard no for me.

TWOTWT · 11/09/2023 23:57

Infact I just googled Nova Lane and it’s a road in Yorkshire, so definitely not that name!

MariePaperRoses · 12/09/2023 00:18

Nova Lane sounds like a writer of racy novels.

I like Nova, just not paired with Lane.

Notsuredontknow · 12/09/2023 00:21

Not keen on either, sorry. Prefer Nora James. Nova always sounds medical to me.

cherryassam · 12/09/2023 01:02

I personally don’t love either Nova James or Nova Lane - I agree with PPs that Nova can sound quite medical in some combos.

But I do think Nova is pretty and that it flows nicely into a one syllable middle, depending on your surname.

Both Nova James and Nova Lane feel quite unisex and American-leaning to me whilst still being quite classic sounds.

Based on those vibes, I like:

Nova Blair
Nova Blake
Nova Blythe
Nova Brooke
Nova Drew
Nova Gray / Grey
Nova Greer
Nova Jade
Nova Joss
Nova Jude
Nova Paige
Nova Rae
Nova Sage
Nova Scout
Nova Skye
Nova Sloane
Nova Tate
Nova Teal
Nova Tess
Nova Wynne

CallieQ · 12/09/2023 01:03

James is a boys name
Nova lane is an address

DramaAlpaca · 12/09/2023 01:07

I quite like Nova, strongly dislike Nora.

James is for boys. Lane, not good.

Jane as an alternative? Nova Jane, mixes quirky and classic.

Just be aware that 'no va' means 'it doesn't go' in Spanish.

TheCraicDealer · 12/09/2023 01:20

Nora is infinitely nicer than Nova imho. This may be influenced by the fact my uncle used to illegally drive a rusty Vauxhall Nova after he got a driving ban. The fuel cap had fallen off and he had to stuff a dirty rag in to stop the rain getting into the fuel tank.

James for a girl is so, so trendy right now. I feel like in twenty years we will be sitting going “remember when people kept calling baby girls ‘James’? Crazy times”. It’s lovely name- for a boy.

Both Nova Lane and Nora Lane sound very like Novocain, which is a brand name painkiller in the US and a Kings of Leon song. If you like either of these things I suppose that may be a plus point.

Cherry has some nice alternatives listed above for middle names, but I am firmly team Nora!

CurlewKate · 12/09/2023 08:04

Both middle names aren't great. And Nova is a car.

MooseBreath · 12/09/2023 08:07

I like Nova and I like Lane, but it definitely sounds like a street name. Maybe Nova Jane? Nova Faye?

WaltzingWaters · 12/09/2023 08:15

I love both Nora and Nova (Nora takes the win).

But not keen on either middle name. Lane would sound like it were an extension of a surname I think (but then I have a few friends with Lane as a surname). Or as others have said, sounds like a place.
And James is fine for a boy. Don’t love it for a girl.

ab03 · 12/09/2023 08:41

I think Nora James is sweet, I would definitely go for that. (Personally prefer Norah spelling)
Agree with others that Nova Lane sounds like a street to me. Although she probably wouldn't usually be referred to by her first and middle names without the surname I suppose!

LastNightAPandaSavedMyLife · 12/09/2023 08:45

Both middle names just sound like last names. Not a fan of either first name.

FoodFann · 12/09/2023 08:54

Nora is okay
The rest are not my taste/not girls’ names

Vexxa · 12/09/2023 08:55

Nora Jane would be lovely.

Havanalily1806 · 12/09/2023 12:50

Hi OP

Both names are ones I am/was considering

Nova for me I just feel like something is missing, I also can't hear it shortened which although isn't a big deal, most people do get shortened to a syllable in general conversation e.g Soph/ Sophie, Cal/Callum, Jen/Jennie, Rube/Ruby, Hayd/Hayden etc etc, the only shortened version of Nova to me is No, or Nov, neither of which are nice or flow or work, it could be a regional thing but definitely where I am names are shortened.

Nora I like, I had it suggested yesterday with an alternate spelling of Norah which I liked more. My OH however says it reminds him of norovirus and he can't see past it, and tbh not sure I can now either.

As for middle names, James I don't mind, Lane doesn't really work with the two names ending in A it just reads like it flows as all one word.

JanesBlond · 12/09/2023 13:04

James is a male name. I quite like Nora. Don’t like Lane or Nova. Nova just means new which is a bit rubbish as a name imo. Lane makes me think of Gilmore Girls and she went on about how Lane was a rubbish name.
If you like names starting with N what about Natalia, Nina, Niamh, Nadia?
Middle names Jane, Jade, June, Eleanor (not with Nora obviously), Kate, Grace, Faith, Lynn?

shoopshoopdedoo · 12/09/2023 19:29

I love Nora, dislike Nova. I don’t like either middle name, though I think they are fine if being used to honour someone.

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