Estella?

[IsItADream]

I posted a while ago asking for opinions on the name Flavia. Turns out my partner doesn't like it, nor any of the other 20ish names I suggested. So I made a new list and the only name he had a positive comment for was Estella. He actually said he had been thinking of Estella or Stella, but I immediately shot down Stella because I know my sister's immediate association will be the lager and I just can't get that out of my head.

What do people think of Estella? Still too close to Stella or does the extra E help?

I think it’s a beautiful name. Immediately I would think of Estella in Great Expectations but it still wouldn’t put me off the name.

Estella is very nice.
Though I would be very tempted by Stella Maris.
Estrella is pronounced with a y sound not an l sound so I can’t see many people making the association.
I don’t think there’s a name in the world that has only perfect associations. There will always be a Korean suppository or a Rwandan toilet cleaner brand or something with the same name. People will get over it.

Stella Artois isn’t that big in Germany so I think Stella would be fine over here - if your sister can contain herself! That said, Estella is also lovely.

As he likes Estella and Stella (he’s playing you) he’d probably like Magner, Bulmer, Jack D, Carling, Madri (boy or girl) and Malbec if you ever have a boy. Pinot & Grigio sound good for twins of either sex!

I really like Estella. Much prefer it to Stella.

I like Estella. it's beautiful and fairly unusual. Much nicer than Estelle somehow. The Great Expectations association is a touch of glamour imo, of course it doesn't mean she'll grow up to hate men!

Stella is lovely too, but people always pop up with the Stella Artois beer reference. I wish manufacturers wouldn't use girls names so much! There's also a thread about the name Octavia where somebody just said they can only think of the car (a Skoda?). Trouble is the general population are not particularly educated, so with a slightly more unusual name a product is often the only association they have, and they don't seem to be able to let it drop.

I'm not a fan of Agatha in either language. I don't like the way Germans pronounce Elisabeth, plus I have an Aunty Liz. Fiona is my cousin. Astrid was on my list but again he said no.
Gerda sounds awful, sorry. Most German names sound awful to me to be honest - Helga, Mechthild, Gisela, the German pronunciation of Iris and Ada (and the English pronunciation of Eva - I just think of Wall-E saying Ee-Va, Ee-Va!)

Actually Stella Artois isn't even available where we live and he doesn't drink crap lager anyway so he didn't even notice the association until I pointed it out.

Estella is pretty but I much prefer Flavia. Shame your DH shot it down.

Estella is great, @IsItADream . I know a young one and it makes me think of Great Expectations.

What about Estelle? I know one.

My sister definitely can't contain herself. She was determined for her best friend's child's first word to be beer or something related so kept saying to her "Say beer. Say Stella. Stel-la. Stel-la", so now that's all I hear in my head when I think of the name Stella!

Estella is gorgeous - for some reason far more elegant sounding than Estelle or Stella to me, although I can appreciate the simplicity of Stella. I also love Estella’s cute nn “Esti” for a child, although obviously you also have Essie or uber popular Ella.

Most people will probably think Great Expectations as Estella isn’t that commonplace a name - but does that really matter? As if you read the book then imo Estella was more sinned against than sinner (she was trained as a child to become the cold and manipulative person she was - and on the positive side though the character is also associated with great beauty and elegance).

What about Sylvia

@Sudename , Silvia is OK. Nowhere near as nice as Estella though.
I don't like Sylvia.

Sylvia is actually a family name on my side. I want to live it but I just don't. Partner doesn't either so it would be out anyway. I suggested Sylvette as a kind of tribute but he didn't like that either!

Estella is a lovely name though, I'd go for it

What about Elise?

I really wouldn’t worry about the Great Expectations association, it’s hardly everyone.

Estella is pretty, although people might just hear Stella if you don't pronounce the E clearly:
How about Della, which is both pretty and unusual - I knew a Della who was very pretty and very kind, so good vibes perhaps!

There are a lot of names in use in German-speaking countries (obviously these aren't all German names) that don't have those harsh sounds that English speakers aren't used to.

Anna
Lena/Leni
Romy
Maja/Maya
Lotta/Lotte
Hanna
Alina
Luise
Lara
Leonie
Livia
Lia
Pia
Anastasia
Flora
Nicole
Bianca

But Stella's been a girl's name for ever, too (think of Streetcar Named Desire) and it simply means "star" in Latin.

I like Estella. I do think Great Expectations but it doesn't put me off.

I had Estella on my list. Others were:

Adelaide
Lorna
Carlotta
Aida
Angelica
Anastasia
Belinda
Corinna / Karina
Delia
Daphne
Diana
Delphine
Elektra
Genevieve
Ginevra
Jessica
Julietta
Leda
Miranda
Natasha
Nadine
Petrova
Roberta
Zara
Louisa
Brigitta
Julissa
Roxanne
Calypso
Zelda
Zerelda

Not for me, high class hooker vibes. Sorry.

Me too. It has no beer associations and is quite a classy name.

I like Esther too.

"I'm like Estella...I like to reel it in and then spit it out...I'm frustrated by your aparthy.." that's what I think of when I hear the name. But I like it nonetheless