Wavering on the baby name I always thought I wanted!

[RedSheep26]

For years now I have felt quite set on Serena as the name I would give my daughter. Now I’m pregnant (due in December) I’m wavering!

For some reason it just doesn’t feel like her. I feel like it’s almost too soft for her, though that has always been one of the things I loved about it :(

I am now really liking Claudia, but DH does not like it. He likes Cleo, which I don’t hate but I feel is too nicknamey to give as her actual name.

Keen on any other ideas - not just Cl- names!! Or any experience from people who’ve gone off a name - I’m kind of hoping I’ll just know when she gets here, but increasingly fearful I won’t.

Lydia?

I prefer Chloe to Cleo (probably not much help!)

Claudia is nice and unusual. I prefer it to Cleo. If you want Cl names, how about Chloe? Or if you want names that have a similar vibe to Claudia, how about Camilla/ Cecilia/ Louisa/ Sabrina/ Victoria?

I had boy and girl names absolutely set for a decade before I had my kids. Neither of them are called those names. They are names in a similar vein I think but I knew they weren’t their names when it came to it. We were set on both their names before they arrived. Serena is a lovely name but if it doesn’t feel right then listen to that.

I also like Chloe I know that does not help you, what Clara? Im not keen on Claudia either.

You could keep Serena as a middle name if you don't think.it will suit her.as a first name.

I LOVE Serena. I don’t see it as a soft name at all

Phoebe?

Zoe, Cecily, Greta?

Serena is a lovely name.

What did you like originally about Selena?

Totally understand what you mean about it not feeling right. We have about 3 names on the shortlist and more on the long list but also hoping I’ll know when I see her.

I really like Serena and also like both Cleo and Claudia.

Sylvia? Sylvie? Celia?

Thanks for all the quick responses! I do still really like Serena as a name, I just wonder if it’s her name.

Lydia and Phoebe are lovely, though DH vetoed Phoebe early on ha. Chloe I don’t mind, but I have a friend who I’d feel like I was naming her after.

I also live in a very nicknamey part of the world (Australia) which puts me off some names a bit - eg Victoria inevitably immediately becomes Vic or Vicky. Nothing wrong with that if that’s what she chooses one day, but I ideally don’t want something that will be immediately shortened.

Let your DH decide if you’re not sure?

Aubrey?

Someone I know in Australia has just used this name for their baby and I love it. I feel like it has a similar vibe to Claudia/ Phoebe/ Lydia.

Anyway, I'd recommend waiting until the baby arrives to make a final decision.

Me and DH had a shortlist of 5 names and even when our son was born we still weren't sure. It took a few days to decide.

I LOVE Serena but my husband vetoed it. We went with Cora.

Skye is my favourite name currently

I used to work with a Remi and always loved the name.

I quite like Clarissa, Kristin, Estelle, Amelia,.

Chloe, Cleo, Clara all done to death. Same as Amelia, Emilia, Lila, Leah... blah blah blah...

Serena is nice! And not over used....

Clementine/clemmie? As a cl name?

I love Claudia and also Serena so not much help! Haha!

If you are drawn to a name beginning with Cl my suggestions are Clara, Clementine, Clover, Clodagh, Claire, Clarissa, Cleopatra, Clemence, Clea, Claudie, Clancy/Clancie.

Perhaps just shortlist a couple of other names alongside Serena and then test them out when she arrives and see what feels most natural. Don't feel pressure to pick the name prior to birth.

If I was looking for a name with a similar vibe as Serena, I'd be thinking something like Siena, Penelope, Verity, Elise or Margot.

Celeste
Carenza
Davina

Also, just wanted to add that Serena doesn't give me 'soft' vibes at all. Maybe because of the r sound. Also because I associate it with Serena Williams who I think of as powerful.

There are a lot of girls names currently popular that I would consider soft - Serena definitely isn't one of them. I like that it's a name that would suit an adult well, not just a baby/child.

I love Cora it would have been veteod as an old fashioned name when I had my Dds but ive been dropping it here and there just incase I get granddaughters 😀