Twins - Bella and Clara or Charlotte and Madeleine

[Sonotforit]

DH and I have 5 day old baby girls, twins. We thought their names would come to us naturally but we haven’t found that to be the case.

We love Bella and Clara and we think these names suit them but are worried Bella feels more nicknamey than full name. We don’t like Isabelle/Isabella, Annabel or Arabella.

We also like Charlotte and Madeleine but we just aren’t as sold on either of the names, we do love Lottie and Maddie though.

We also had
Pippa
Amelie
Emma
Leonora
Adeline

On our list

Personally I love Emma and Clara together but DH is worried Emma is a little plain though he does like the name. DH is a fan of Amelie.

Any thoughts here? It’s so tricky to pick names!

Oh I just read the pp comments about the trains- I’m way far out of the Thomas tank days so forgot about Annie and Clarabel

Annabelle so you’ve got Anna but the nickname Bella? Still a bit Thomas tank tho maybe. Or Mabel and Clara and Mabel could also be Bella?

I'd go for Ella and Clara.

I wouldn't worry about the Thomas the Tank Engine names it is sort of in the past. He seemed to disappear about 10 years ago.
I can't see it making a come back. Its just too dated. Not enough balance between male / female and all the names are very 'English'.

I like all your options with Clara. Also: Stella and Clara

I have an Anna and a Clara - not twins but sisters. Obviously I love both names and get lots of complements on both. Nobody has ever made a Tank Engine connection.

I like Bella and Clara too but I think Anna, or Emma, has more substance than Bella. They are also less commonly heard than Bella nowadays.

Charlotte and Madeline is also a great combination. I would consider Madeline with Amelie on your list. Both slightly French sounding and very pretty.

Another variant--
Anya and Clara

I think they all sound nice.

I don't always love Lottie as it makes me think Clottie, but it's perfectly ok.

Clara I like. Bella is sweet but I do think much better with a longer name on the BC.

Emma I just find a bit bland.

Emma and Clara. I'm not keen on Bella.

Anna!
Beautiful classic name.
I wouldn’t have two ending in A as it seems a bit twee. I have twins and really wanted to avoid matchy sounds.
Bella is a dogs name these days. Every other dog is Bella or Luna.
All your names are fine though. I’d vote Anna and Madeleine.

My favourite names for twins, considering your list:

Clara and Amelie
Clara and Ellen
Clara and Leonor
Clara and Anna
Clara and Adele

Charlotte, Madeline, Emma and Amelie are gorgeous

I don't like the nicknames.

I wouldn’t have two names ending in A. It’s a bit twee and matchy. I do love Anna, though. Not Bella, and I’m not keen on Clara. Would you consider Caroline, the English form of Charlotte? Caroline (Carrie/Caro) and Madeleine or Anna.

I much prefer Charlotte and Madeline out of those choices. Both pretty and classic names that have multiple choices for nicknames but that will also serve them well into adulthood.

Amelie and Clara. Not too similar sounding but have a similar vibe (feminine but not overly flouncy), both modern-traditional names (not made up recently but haven’t been fashionable in the U.K. before now). Personally not a fan of Bella- I just think Twilight.

Bella and Clara - makes me think of Thomas the Tank Engine. Bella is popular for pets, and seems a bit tired now.

Emma and Clara go together better IMO. The names don't need to go together, they just need to be names you like, and not sound silly or too long together.

Charlotte and Madeleine but ... we do love Lottie and Maddie though.
Much nicer than Bella and Clara..

I only like Emma out of: Pippa, Amelie, Emma, Leonora and Adeline,
FWIW I don't like Clara.

Love Anna and Clara but it is very close to the Thomas carriages as others have said!

I don’t like Bella at all, it’s the number one name for dogs and it’s just a bit nothingy. Emma is lovely. I don’t think it’s boring with Clara. Amelie is so popular and just blends into the sea of Amelias that are everywhere.

Charlotte and Madeleine. Both have full names for BC but also nice nicknames in Lottie and Maddie.

Bella is a bit overused imo, Dd's year is small but there's so many anabel/isabella/bella combos, i cant keep track with who is who

Yes of course it matters that they go together because they will go everywhere together for quite a long time.
I do like the idea of having a long name that can be shortened because it gives them choice. One of my twins switched to her long name when she changed schools.
Love all your names btw

Amelie and Clara.

I wouldn't go for Bella. It's very of the moment and its quite nicknamie.
I love Clara so much, I also love Emma and Anna.
The Annie and Clarabel thing would bother me though I think.
Clara and Emma sound great. Both classic literary names. But if your DH isn't sold on Emma, Amelie is a lovely alternative.

Also, I personally can't get past Madeleine McCann but Madeleine and Charlotte undoubtedly go well together too.

Congratulations!

Charlotte, Madeleine and Clara are nice.

How about Isabella, Gabrielle/a or Annabella?

Anna and Charlotte ,or Anna and Madelaine would get my vote.
I think its better for twins names not to have the same ending or sound too alike
I like Bella but agree it would be better if she could have a longer name too.