Zara, Francesca or something else?

[januaryy]

Hi,

Due baby no. 2 in a few months and just found out I’m having a girl.

I have a Hugo already. I like that Hugo’s name isn’t particularly common (where I am in the UK, anyway, I appreciate it is v popular in some areas), can’t really be shortened, suits a baby or an adult but isn’t old man-ish. Everyone I meet loves his name, as do I.

I naively thought girl names would be easier but it’s providing to be just as difficult!

The current top 2 names are Zara and Francesca. Zara obviously ticks a lot of the same boxes as Hugo whereas I don’t like any of the shortened versions of Francesca so that’s a clear downside. I do like the full name but I worry it’s too long for everyday use.

I’d be really grateful to hear any other suggestions you think might “go” nicely. Surname is uneventful, two syllables and starts with “Lo….”.

Thanks in advance.

It’s really hard when you really like the 1st child so much it’s difficult to match.

I love names that are unusual ( in terms of not many people have it) but also very familiar ( you know how to spell and have heard before)
I know a colleague who’s son is Hugh and she choose Joan for her daughter
completely surprising for a baby and yet obviously not an unusual name
suits baby so well

is Marie too ordinary

congratulations btw

Zara is so perfect with Hugo - love that combination!

Ideas

Alice
Gwen
Nell
Clara
Iris
Nina
Polly
Georgia
Anna
Audrey
Martha
Cora
Lois
Louisa
Lucy
Molly
Celeste
Estelle

I love both Zara and Francesca

Hugos that I have taught have had sisters called:
Madeleine, Katherine, Imogen, Charlotte, Natasha, Eden, Arabella, Annabel, Elodie, Pippa and, funnily enough, Zara.

Hugo and Joanie
Hugo and Tilly
Hugo and Eilidh
Hugo and Aoife
Hugo and Victoria
Hugo and Nora

Hugo is quite a ‘posh’ name so either go but you’d have to accept Fran day to day potentially

If you don’t like any of the shortened versions of Francesca you’re best off with Zara

zara is a perfect sibling choice for sister to Hugo!!!

Both Zara and Francesca are great names and great with Hugo, but I understand Francesca is likely to be shortened.

Anya
Ciara
Xanthe
Flora
Patience
Maeve
Elvie
Lydia
Alice
Violet
Primrose

Thea
Connie
Astrid
Rose

Both those names were on our list but we've ended up with a Georgina and Jessica if that helps :)

Violet
florence

Love Zara and Francesca, both beautiful. I particularly love the shortening of cesca or chessy for Francesca.
if you don’t like any of the shortenings then I would 100% go with Zara as it’s perfect.

Hugo and

Thea
Felicity
Nora
Eloise
Cecilia
Clara
Esther
Annabel
Phoebe
Juliet

Francesca is shortened to Frankie, Frannie, Fran.

I love Francesca and also love Gwendoline, Georgina/Georgia, Juliette, Guinievere, Arwen, Felicity, Antonia, Adeline and Isobel. So you may like any of them! (My daughter is one of them).

Gabriella
Saskia
Allegra
Clara
Genevieve
Julia

Zara goes 100 times better with Hugo IMO, and I like it much better than Francesca.

I know three Francesca’s. One is Frankie, the other two are chess and cesca. They are all adults and those shortenings have been used throughout their lives.

I don't like the typical shortening's do Francesca but know someone who goes by Cesca (cheska pronounced) and I think it's so lovely!

Raphaella
Claudia
Antonia

I like Zara a lot. The Hugo I know has a sister called Fleur which I think is a lovely name.

Love Hugo and Zara! They sound perfect together.

I knew someone called Francesca who shortened it to Cesca, which could also be an option other than Fran.

I really like Zara

I think Zara is so perfect, why look any further 😍

I know loads of Zaras and there's the shops. The Francescas I know tend to have their names shortened so if you don't like Frankie, Cesca, Fran etc, I'd use it as a middle name.

You have months to decide.

(I dislike Thea but Saskia is lovely)

The Hugo that I know has sisters Xanthe and Sophia