Help me with a name for a girl!

[Helpwithnames]

Due baby number two in a couple of months (a girl) and like the following names but also have the following thoughts:

• Olive - favourite girls' name but the rising popularity has put me off.

• Audrey - not actually sure if I really like this name or just like it because it's not popular.

• Alma - like this name but concerned it will blend in with Ava / Ada / Eva etc.

• Clementine - like this but don't really like Clemmy which is what I'm sure she'd get called.

• Also like Nelly / Nell but don't feel like they're complete names, and the only longer version I like is Penelope but that's too popular. Also love Florence, but again way too popular.

Any thoughts to help me make up my mind? Or any other names that I might like? Son has an old man name, outside of the top 100.

I thought girls would be easier than boys but I am finding it much harder! 😩

Maeve
Edith
Agnes

I actually prefer Clementina which can be shortened to Tina.

I also like Constantina.

How about Matilda (Tilly, Mattie, Tilda).

Really like Penelope (Nell)

what about Claudia?
Heather?
Hazel?
Martha?

My favourite from your list is Alma. I don't think it will blend with Ava, Ada, Eva, but it may do with Alba which has risen in popularity of late. Neither common names though, so I think you'd be fine.

@Helpwithnames what about Nella? :-) my little girl is called Nigella and we nickname her Nella for short 🩷

I love Audrey! So pretty.

I think Helena/Eleanor/Ellen could have Nelly or Nell as a shortening.

Other ideas:

Sybil (heard this at a playgroup recently, really like it)
Sylvie/Sylvia
Genevieve
Cordelia
Philippa
Ursula
Julia
Enid
Constance

Alma will always mean Corrie to me.

Trad names outside top 100? Go medieval.

Margaret (Maggie /Peggy)
Margerey
Joan
Maud
Christine
Hilda

All top women too.

In the same vein as Audrey, how about Gladys or Sylvia

Dilys was one of my favourites.

Constance
Orla
Aurora
Marianne
Alicia
Annabelle
Anthea
Aurelia

Audrey immediately makes me think of the beaten up girlfriend in "Little Shop of Horrors".

How about Antonella nn Nell?

Mabel is nice as is Clara and maude

I also quite like Sibylla

That's the site I have been using to check popularity.

My mum said the same thing re Audrey - I can see what you mean, but I am not sure that part bothers me that much as they're a baby for the shortest time so would rather it's suitable when they're a toddler / child / adult.

Interesting you say that, as Audrey was the 355th most popular name in 2024 but I do think it will have gone up in the last year or so. As long as it's not in the top 100 I think I can deal with it (assuming I can come round to loving it!)

Ahh I think we have quite similar taste - I love Sidney but knew a girl with this name who wasn't very nice haha. Also can't use Beatrice but love it.

I hope you get your Olive (assuming this is what you want!) 🩷

They're not all universally awful though, are they? Or they wouldn't be used by anyone ever.

You mean that in your personal opinion, you think they are all awful. Which is great, because I don't want a particularly popular name so the less people that would consider using them the better.

Also, I am sure that any names you would / have chosen are ones I would never pick. Isn't it great we all have our own tastes?

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I like some of the ones suggested but for various reasons can't use them (such as Claudia and Beatrice).

So, I think this thread has confirmed to me that the name will be out of the four contenders - hopefully once baby is here it will be obvious what her name should be!

Alma's lovely, and Nell too.

For Nell, how about a different longer name if you don't like Penelope?

Helena
Fenella
Petronella
Cornelia
Nephale

I think that you just have to pick a name you love and not worry about popularity because you just can't predict this. DD1 has a name which was four hundred and something when she was born. When she was about ten years old it shot up the rankings to fifty something. No idea why. I still love her name though and I'm glad we used it. 😊

Really loving Selma at the momet!

Love Clementine, how about Minnie as a nn?

nellie is getting popular as a name on its own.

outside top 100

pearl
winnie
daphne
stella
enid
esther
dorothy
beatrix
tabitha
marigold
etta
vivienne
ida

I absolutely love Audrey and makes a refreshing change from the names ending in A. I do love Penelope but I would shorten it to Penny.