Girls name shortlist - help!

[BromptonBay]

DD is due next month and DH and I are still arguing over names.. all of these are life long favourites of mine - I just can’t choose!!

Isabel (Izzy/Ella)
Beatrice
Maeve
Pippa
Lara

Not overly fussed re: popularity or meanings, just want options on the names themselves.

Emma is lovely.
Amber is unusual these days so that's lovely too
DS1 has a friend called Amber. She is 30

Maeve would flow as a middle name too, if you wanted that

Maeve is my favourite from your list.

Lara and Sasha are my least favourites.

Lara is my favourite - strong but pretty
Followed by Maeve which is also great

Both of these you're far more likely to get the full name.

Pippa is nice but doesn't have a very special meaning (lover of horses) and people will assume short for Philippa - doesn't feel as strong as the others as it sounds like a nickname.

Isabel is lovely but they will be almost exclusively Izzie / Izzy and the spellings are always confused.

Beatrice will have the same issue - lovely name but will be forever Bea, but if you love either nickname that probably doesn't matter, you'll just rarely hear the full thing!

I’m an equestrian and fingers crossed this little one will be too so Pippa and its meaning would probably be quite fitting for us! 🙈

I really like Eloise - DH doesn’t agree as he thinks it’s too similar to Louise..

Ahh, interesting!! I’m in London and had never met a Maeve until about two years ago. There are now multiple at my kids’ nursery and every baby group we go to! I can understand the appeal though, it’s a lovely name - was on my list too.

Edited to include feedback on your other choices:-

Lara is one of my favourite girls names. Simple, feminine, and not overused.

Isabel would be my next choice. I like this less frilly spelling (or Isobel) much better than Isabelle. Izzy feels like a more natural shortening than Ella. I would assume Isabella if she's known as Ella. Despite what some say about it being too popular, all the spellings of the name are falling down the charts. It's nowhere near as popular as it was in the 00s.

I find Beatrice quite plain, although Bea is sweet.

Pippa is a bit no for me, as it really doesn't translate well internationally. I has quite a rude meaning in many countries. Could be an embarrassing name for her when she grows up, if she chooses to travel.

Maeve is very 'now'. I don't get the appeal, personally. It's Dave with an M.

Emma is a timeless classic. Suits all ages, doesn't date. Lovely.

Sasha sounds dated to me.

Amber too is very 00s. I wasn't keen, even back then.

Lara, Emma or Isabel for me!

I'm the same, popularity doesn't bother me at all if a name is a timeless classic, or if a name is historically popular for 20+ years after an initially steady rise. I would avoid the names of the moment which rocket out of nowhere though, as they tend to feel faddy. It's all Maeve, Margot, Ivy, Lyra, Aria, Luna, Mila right now. Will they still be popular in 20 years time? Somehow I can't see it. They are all at risk of being very "20s names", in the way we look back now on typical 80s or 90s names which have long since died off.

Although if OP is in Northern Ireland that does change things in terms of Maeve being faddy. It is obviously going to be seen as more classic over there. In England though, it's a current major trend so definitely one to avoid imo.

From your list my favourite is Isabel (personally would spell it Isobel), it's just a timeless classic.

Also like Maeve and Pippa

Ooh yes Emma is the best yet!

Isabel (Izzy/Ella) - all of them overused. I prefer this spelling.
Beatrice - nice, definitely the best on your list ⭐
Maeve - dislike
Pippa - ok but prefer Philippa
Lara - ok but it's a bit nothingy

Emma - best one 🌟
Sasha - ok
Amber - I like it

As I said, I’m in NI and Maeve is a very classic Irish name - not a fad whatsoever here and common amongst all ages. Obviously I can’t speak for the rest of the UK though

Which, as you'll see in my next post, I did agree with.

Names are perceived differently in different places. In Ireland it's obviously going to be more classic, given that it's an Irish name. In England, currently, it's a major fad.

I didn't see that part until after my faddy comment, given that it wasn't mentioned in your opening post. I did acknowledge as soon as I saw it that it would be perceived differently where you live. 🤷‍♀️

Not that that changes my own personal opinion of the name, as I dislike the sound whether it's faddy or not, but at least you don't need to worry about choosing the current name of the moment.

Emma is a wonderful classic
Amber sounds classic but is a lot less common
Sasha sounds a bit harsher to me and would be hard with a lisp!

Won't go wrong with one of the following IMO - all lovely and with all you'll get the full name more often than a nickname
Emma
Amber
Lara
Maeve

Isabel (Izzy/Ella) - Like this but likely to be popular, she'll be one of many
Beatrice - Pretty and like the nickname Bea, similar Isabel in that you have the longer name and a nickname for every day but won't be as common
Maeve - Not my cup of tea but nothing nice enough
Pippa - my favourite but biased because I have a Pippa, mine is Philippa on BC but only ever Pippa.
Lara - Nice enough feels a bit boring compared to some of the others
Emma - classic, easy to say easy to spell can't go wrong
Sasha - Feels 90's to me for some reason
Amber - OK