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?

Leonora could also be Leo for a diminutive, too. (Lots of DD’s friends seem to have very feminine longer names but go by a more masculine/gender neutral nickname - George, Jo, Sam etc!)

I think Theodora

I don't like the -ora sound. There are so many Theos and Theodores that Thea is uninspiring, same goes for Leo/Leonora.
Penelope is really nice.

All lovely

As your surname is long, would a shorter first name be better?

I do think about this but I just really prefer names that have a formal longer version and a shortened version generally. Appreciate it will be a pain for them on official forms but most of the time they’ll go by the shortened version. And if it really annoys them they can drop one of the surnames eventually.

Theodora is lovely too!

I go by a shortened version of the name on my birth certificate, and it's not really an issue, other than needing to remember which name I used.
I think it's more of an issue if the longer name and shorter name start with different letters, like Catherine/Kate or Isabella/Bella.

I love Nora and Seraphina

They’re all a bit overly long and fussy for me. I love Nora though. I’ll throw in Artemis and Minerva as suggestions.

There were a rash of Seraphinas after Northern Lights, so I don’t think of that as at all unusual. I’ve heard it yelled in playgrounds quite a lot.

Beautiful names OP!
not sure if you’re in need of more suggestions but here is some you may like:
Clemency- clem
Aurelia- Aura
Rosabel- Ro, Rosa etc
Evelina- Eve, Evie
Persephone- Sephy, Seph
Magnolia- Maggie
Florentina- Florrie, Flo
Cadence- Cay
Gwendolyn- Gwen
Gabriella- Gabi
Bronwyn- Bron, Bronty
Penelope- Nell, Nellie
Harmony
Calliope- Callie/ Calla
Calista- Callie, Lissy
Valentina- Tina
Olympia- Pia
Octavia- Via, Tay
Augustine- Gus
Cecilia- Cece

Love Seraphina and Valentina.

Although with a very long surname, I might reconsider.

What about Eleonora (nickname Nora)

Dorothea nn Dotty is super cute for a baby but also has grown up options.

Of the 3 Seraphina - it might be frilly but at least it has a pretty sound. Leonora is also okay but I’d stick with Lee/Leo as a nn. I’ve never understood the love for Nora unfortunately- I find the sound ugly (for some reason similar Cora or Laura aren’t as bad though 🤷‍♀️)

Alexandra is lovely and classic - I’d guess her sister to be called something like Victoria (Vita) or Helena (Nell) or maybe Lydia or Julia.

I've got a Serafina. It never occurred to me it was a "frilly" name. It means "fire" or "fiery/burning one" and mine was named after the witch queen in the Dark Materials books.

All are nice .. though I prefer Honora and Leonora.

Other options:
Helen - no shortening. Helen is smart and strong like Alexandra.
Leonor

Any update OP?

Thanks for checking in ☺️ Still no baby (39 weeks tomorrow). We have Honora and Seraphina as top two choices and will probably now decide at the birth what she looks like. Encouraged by most of the comments and accept that not everyone will like any name 🤷🏻‍♀️

@IamnotwhouthinkIam I suggested both Helena and Lydia but husband not keen!

@allfurcoatnoknickers sorry if I offended, I think it’s beautiful (and love the meaning too) - by frilly I just mean elaborate, quite feminine, and long as a style of name.

I don’t much like Seraphina and they all seem to be called Phina.

Just use Nora if that’s what you like, and your surname is very long.