Are 4 syllable names too over the top?
Depends on the name?
Does 3 help strike a balance on not too long, not too short?
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I think it depends on the name. For example, names like [name_f]Giovanna[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanora[/name_f], [name_f]Caterina[/name_f], Evalina; they’re really pretty. Slightly on the fancier, classy side but still pretty! I can’t think of any I don’t really like because of the length though
This may not be the answer you’re looking for, but I truly think this is a personal preference thing. [name_f]My[/name_f] own taste leans heavily towards one- and two-syllable names, but not because I think longer names are “over-the-top”; I just happen to like shorter ones! I do think four-syllable names tend to be quite a bit more noticeably long to me than three-syllable names, if that makes any sense? Like I’m more likely to consciously think about their length. But that’s not a bad thing by any means, just sort of a general observation.
ETA: It also depends how long the name looks visually! But again, mostly just for how much I notice the length–I don’t think it’s a problem either way.
I don’t think they’re over the top! Names like [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] are both 4 syllables and they don’t sound like “too much”. It does depends on how well-known the name is, though – something like [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] or [name_f]Serenella[/name_f] would definitely stand out more, but I still don’t think they’re “too much”.
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I typically like shorter names, but there are so many lovely names with 4+ syllables! Definitely not too much 
I don’t think four syllable names are over the top. [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] are all popular after all
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I have a 4 syllable name and don’t find it too much or frilly. The only thing that you might want to consider is a longer name is much likely to be shortened to a nickname, if that bothers you I would go with a shorter name,
Not if the syllables are necessary. If it is a name that throws on extra syllables just to be longer…then it may sound tacky.
I don’t think any 3 syllable name really does that. But there are some 4/5/6 syllable names that do sound long just so they can be long.
For example, [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] is a name that needs all of its syllables and uses them well. Something like Olivianalia (I think I made this name up) doesn’t need all the syllables, it would work best in the simplest form of [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] (which is still 4 syllables).
[name_f]My[/name_f] cousin is [name_f]Alexandria[/name_f], which is 5 syllables and not too long (she doesn’t like any nicknames). So, no, most 4 syllable names are just fine to use. [name_f]Tatiana[/name_f], [name_f]Josefina[/name_f], [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], [name_f]Genoveva[/name_f], [name_f]Katarina[/name_f], etc. They all sound great to me.
I love 3-4 syllable names, especially for girls! A few of my favorites are [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] and [name_f]Evelina[/name_f].
As others have said, some names are noticeably longer (Anastasia, [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Valentina[/name_f], etc.) but there’s nothing wrong with that. I personally think they’re all stunning! Lots of classics are four syllables as well - [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Victoria[/name_f], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], etc.
There are definitely some 4-syllable names imo that can be a bit much, like [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] or [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], but I think that has more to do with style than syllables. Overall, 3-4 syllables is actually pretty common! What kind of names do you typically like?
4 of my kids(3 girls, 1 boy) have 2 syllables.
3 (2 boys, 1 girl)have 3 syllables.
1 (boy) has 4 syllables (when we first named him I was worried it was too long and big. Its obviously fine now).
That’s my dillema again though, its between a 3 and 4 syllable name for this baby…