Girls names: Honora, Seraphina, Leonora - too unusual?

[scotscorner]

Hi! Expecting number 2 and looking for a girl’s name (to go with Alexandra aka ‘Alex’ big sister). Husband quite keen for it to also be Greek in origin…

I like names which are elegant, not too common and have a nice shortening option.

I think top choice at the moment is ‘Honora’ which we would shorten to ‘Nora’ day to day. Also like Seraphina (to be shortened to ‘Nina’ probably) and Leonora (aka Nora) but worry they’re too ‘frilly’ especially as the child will have the misfortune of a long surname.

Thoughts on these names and any other ideas?

I really like Seraphina

I know a Seraphina (nn Sera) and think it's lovely. Anastasia (nn Ana) would also go nicely with Alexandra, as would Evangelia* *(nn Eva) and Kassandra (nn Kassie)

Seraphina is lovely. Unusual and a bit of a mouthful but pretty.

I love them all. I know several girls (and women) called Seraphina and Leonora (and an Eleonora and Leonie) so they aren’t that unusual but I’ve never met an Honora, only an Honor. They are a lot more unusual and frilly than Alexandra, which is more of a classic, if you want a similar vibe for this name.

Lovely babes.

Would Honora be pronounced Onora or Honora (ie with H sound)?

Don't like any of them, but if I had to decide Leonora, shortened to Leo.

I love Leonora (Nora)! Seraphina nn Nina is so lovely too (Sephy is nice too).

Do you like -

Penelope nn Nell / Penny
Dorothea nn Thea / Dora
Cassia
Eliana
Calista nn Callie
Helena nn Nell
Philippa nn Pippa

I love Seraphina, we went to Italy when my baby was 6 months and so many Italians called her this and it sounds so lovely in their accent! I like all your nickname options too.

I like Leonora and Seraphina. I think Leonora is less heard on the street, but I think most people will be familiar to this name since it's also Spanish name. Also, Heir to throne of Spain is Princess Leonor, so it might be name of future Queen of Spain, but her father is fairly young.

if it's too unusual/frilly for you, what about Eleanor (form of Leonora), Stephanie (also Greek, meaning crowned), Laetitia/Letizia, Callista (Greek, literally meaning most beautiful), Claudia (probably meaning enclosed, not lame), Cecily/Cecilia (coming from Latin word caecus, which may mean blind, but can also mean mysterious, sacred, hidden, secret) or Lydia

and Dorothea/Dorothy means god's gift and it's Greek

I like all 3 but prefer Honor over Honora.

Helena

I really love those names! I don't think it matters how long the name is, as long as the initials don't spell out BJ or something Kids/teenagers will pick up on.

You could also go for;
Evangeline,
Genevieve,
Dorothea,
Valentina,
Astoria,
Amaryllis,
Gabrielle.

I really like Seraphina. Not so keen on the others. Also like Persephone.

Love Seraphina.
Also Celeste and Delphine.

It's Onora

I know one of each so don't know that they are super unusual.

Honora goes by full name.
Seraphina by Sephy
Leonora by Nora

I have an Alexandra and if I have another girl Seraphina is what I'd go for. Clearly I'm biased but I think that's a lovely pair.
Also really like Anastasia

Love Seraphina, Leonora and Honor. Not Honora.

Seraphina all the way also I like
Leonie
Elena

Seraphina is gorgeous

I think they are all lovely names, not too unusual at all, and so much nicer than the batshit crazy names people on here are wanting to inflict on their poor children.

Victoria
Leonie
Pandora

Dora is very cute from Pandora !!

They are all a bit frilly for my taste, though I love Alexandra and also the diminutives you suggest. I’d pick Seraphina because I love Nina. Alternatively Eleanor (Nora) or Helena (Nell).

I thought it was Onora or Honoria.