Would love thoughts on girls names!

[ECK23]

Hi everyone,

Adding to the thousands of threads on baby names...

We're expecting a little girl in August (coming soon hence the mildly laced panic post), and we're stuck on choosing a name. It was so easy with our little boy. I thought it would be the same for a girl, but no - ten times harder!

Considering Bonnie, Evelyn, Emmeline or Adeline. I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially with potential nickname ideas - Evie for Evelyn, Emmy for Emmeline, and Addie for Adeline is what I would assume. Bonnie already sounds like a nickname, but I've always loved it and I certainly think it's a name in its own right. However, my husband isn't so keen and would need some convincing on that one. His favorite is Evelyn, but I'm concerned she'll get lost in a sea of Evies, although I don't personally know any. I do like Evelyn, but feel it's not a solid 'yes' for me at the moment.

I don't want anything massively popular, but still classy and sweet.

We loved Mabel (although now husband saying he wasn't hugely won over by it which was news to me as I thought we were settled on that!) but in the past two weeks, I've met three people with dogs named Mabel, and every animal going in my little boy's books seems to be called Mabel! Plus, someone we're mildly acquainted with (our son goes to nursery with their daughter and they play together), had another little girl in January named... Mabel! So I feel that's off the table as everywhere I turn there seems to be another -1 for Mabel, although I will always love it.

Many thanks for any advice or suggestions!

Bonnie - nice. Constance/Connie is better.
Evelyn/Evie - don't like Evelyn. Evie is pretty but far too popular
Emmeline/Emmy - great
Adeline/Addie - don't like either

Constance Mabel is nice.

I would usually think Ada for Adeline tbh.

All your names are lovely, I haven’t heard that many people or pets called Mabel but I can imagine it getting old fast.

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.

We always liked Clara.

Adeline or Emmeline, with a preference for the former.

I liked Ada for a girl and you could potentially use that as a nickname for Adeline

I don’t like Evelyn and Evie is just soooo overused. Especially if you just pair it with Rose/Grace/May like every Evie under the sun. I quite like Bonnie, the only Emmeline I know hates her name.

I'm not keen on Bonnie, but its just not to my taste.
My favorite out of your list is Emmeline - but I feel that this name could be mispronounced. Are you bothered by that?
Not keen on Adeline, Ada and variation seem to be trending recently, it's variations are popular in shows, games, and among kids, but may be popular only a few years down the line, not immediately.
Evelyn is fine, but I prefer Emmeline.

How about Vivienne? It's so beautiful, I think very similar to names you are already considering, and it's not overused.

Evelyn nn Evie is by far my favourite. The others aren't to my taste.

I love Emma, but find Emmeline too fussy. Bonnie is very twee, but I do like the similar sounding Connie.

Of your choices my personal preference would be for Evelyn , although I like more classic Eve much better still. If you are wary of the Ev names being too trendy then my second choice would be Emmeline - great namesake and nn Emme is cute.

I’m personally less keen on the sound of Adeline than the other two and I always think Bonnie looks like a nickname which isn’t my cup of tea. Mabel is too retro cool for me although I like simple classic May.

Caroline nn Caro or Carrie or Callie?
Josephine nn Josie or Effie/Sephie or Posy?
Madeleine nn Maddie or Lainey?

I like Emmeline best from your list. Emmy is a nice nn.

I'm not keen on Adeline or Evelyn.

Bonnie is sweet, but I think maybe a little bit twee.

Bonnie would be my choice!

Bonnie is my favourite. I love Mabel too but it’s definitely having a moment - so many baby Mabel’s! Evelyn is OK but I prefer Eve.

I’m not keen on Emmeline, though the famous namesake is a good one. I prefer Emma and Emily. Really dislike Adeline.

Obviously you should ignore all of that and just pick your fave though!

Beautiful names. I love Adeline and Emmeline.

Have you considered Adelaide or Madeleine?

Bonnie - I know one human Bonnie and about five canine Bonnies.

Emmeline - lovely. Emmy is nice too.

Adaline - lovely, but I don’t like Addie.

Evelyn - lovely but very popular, and Evies are everywhere.

Evelyn is my favourite, but there are a lot of Evie / Ava type names around at the moment, so it depends how much that matters to you?

I also really like Adeline. I know a lovely teen called Adeline who goes by Addie with her friends. Adeline is unusual enough without being too out there, and works for all ages and personalities with the lovely nn Addie, plus the options of Dell or Ada too.

Emmeline is great, and Emmy is just gorgeous. I wonder with the full name if people would mishear it as Emily?

Bonnie sounds too childish / nicknamey for my personal taste.

Ideas -
Rosaline nn Rosie
Josephine nn Josie / Jonie
Vivienne
Gabrielle nn Gabby / Brie
Caroline nn Callie / Carrie
Coralie nn Cora / Lina
Jocelyn nn Joss / Josie / Jonie
Rosemary nn Romy
Clara
Alice
Lucy
Elodie

Audrey

Emmeline is gorgeous. I know one who shortens to Milly, as an alternative to Emmy (I prefer Emmy though).

I really love Emmeline. Nn’s Emmy, Lina, Em? Really like Milly from newrubylane

Not too keen on others.

Other ideas - Christabel, Constance, Patience, Cora, Thalia?

Like Emmeline the best
my childhood friend Emmeline was Lina for short - v cute

From your list Adeline

Other ideas
Florence nn Florrie
Esmeralda nn Esme
Penelope nn Penny
Beatrice nn Bea
Arabella nn Bella

Bonnie is the kind of name that you could get away with using as a short form for something quite different, in an old fashioned kind of way! Like Peggy for Margaret.

I looked it up and apparently it can be a diminutive for Elizabeth. There’s also Barbara which is on the way back-!! I quite like Barbara!

If I loved Bonnie, my choice would be Beatrice and I’d front it out and have Beatrice but go with Bonnie as a nn from the start.

Out of your options I’d go for Bonnie. Less around than Emmy and Evie, you’re right, all sort of mix in! Other ideas…

Edith/ Eden/ edie
evelina/ evangeline
madeleine
clementine
annabelle
beatrice
hallie
connie
callie
cassie
josephine
juliet
katherine
maeve
clara

Thank you everyone! Amazingly helpful, really appreciate the response. Very insightful! I've tallied up the responses 😀 I also love Millie as a nn for Emmeline. I forgot to mention that a nn for Adeline would be Addie OR Ada - preference for the latter as husband likes Adeline, but not Addie. I've just finished reading a book where the main character is called Addie and I'm fond of her, so I'm softened to it, but I can see it does sound a little harsh!

To the Connie suggestions, also love this, but husband has an ex called Connie, so that's a no! Granted from about 20 years ago, but I never forget haha.

I also love Madeleine, but my best friend used that for her little girl last July. That was on my number 1 spot for years!

My pick is Adeline, then Bonnie, though all are sweet.
I love Adele.

Emma I prefer to Emmeline.
Evelyn is too popular and quite dated.

Do you like Magdalen - Maggie
Alanna - Lannie
Gabrielle - Gabby, Ella

Tbh I love Bonnie. It’s just different for this time. If you love it, do it. it doesn’t matter what anyone else says if you love it.
Bon Bon is a cute nickname for Bonnie. Or Bo. Or just B. I like B.

I love Bonnie and Emmeline.

How about -
Hazel
Sadie
Estelle
Maeve
Edith
Ivy
Laurel
Annabel
Eva