Please help me choose a name for my baby girl I love all these names but am having a hard time picking one. Any thoughts? I also need a middle name. (my husband is trying to make her middle name [name]Lenore[/name] (ugh!) after his mom, but I"m fighting that battle hard).
Thanks
[name]Chloe[/name] - It’s very popular, but it is pretty. IMHO it sounds a bit little-girl-ish.
[name]Zoe[/name] - Ditto [name]Chloe[/name]. Of the two, I prefer [name]Chloe[/name].
[name]Lauren[/name] - I was born in the early 90s, and to me this was a “popular girl” name. (I didn’t know any [name]Laurens[/name] and can’t think of any book or TV show with one.) It sounds all right, I’m just not thrilled with my image of the name. What about [name]Laura[/name] or [name]Laurel[/name]?
[name]Alexandra[/name] - To me, it’s a very pretty, very professional modern classic. I like it a lot, especially because it has so many nickname options.
[name]Samantha[/name] - It’s popular, but I really like it. I think it’s very similar in feel to [name]Alexandra[/name]. Of the two, I prefer [name]Alexandra[/name].
[name]Carson[/name] - Personally, I dislike [name]Carson[/name] because I don’t really like androgynous full names. It also makes me think of carcinogens.
I like [name]Alexandra[/name] the best, then [name]Samantha[/name], then [name]Chloe[/name], then [name]Zoe[/name], then [name]Lauren[/name], and then [name]Carson[/name].
Thanks for your input. My husband really doesn’t like [name]Carson[/name] much, so I think that that name if officially off the list.
[name]Chloe[/name]- sweet but very popular. It’s in the top 10, which makes it likely to become dated. However, it is a very pretty name.
[name]Zoe[/name]- I like this better than [name]Chloe[/name], mostly because it’s less popular and I love Z names! They just seem full of personality. [name]Zoe[/name] is very sweet but not overly frilly.
[name]Lauren[/name]- This name seems very 90s to me, which is probably because I know a bunch of [name]Laurens[/name] who are around my age (late teens/early twenties). The name is still pretty popular though, so maybe it’s become a new classic of sorts?
[name]Alexandra[/name]- I’ve never loved this name but it’s a perfectly nice name that has a number of sweet nicknames ([name]Alex[/name], [name]Lexi[/name], [name]Lex[/name], [name]Andy[/name], etc.)
[name]Samantha[/name]- This is probably one of my favorite popular names out there. It’s definitely a new classic. If the name weren’t so popular it’d be on my long list. Anyway, I really like this name and I think it’s very sweet and fits every girl I know with the name to a T.
[name]Carson[/name]- not a fan of boys names on girls. This one is very popular with boys and still on the rise. If you want something unisex, I’d go with [name]Alexandra[/name] or [name]Samantha[/name] and use a gender neutral nickname like [name]Alex[/name] or [name]Sam[/name].
I hope that helps! My favorites from your list are [name]Samantha[/name] and [name]Zoe[/name]. If your husband really wants to use [name]Lenore[/name] but you dislike it, why not use a similar name- [name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Leni[/name], [name]Nora[/name], [name]Leora[/name] [name]Leona[/name], [name]Leonora[/name], [name]Lena[/name], [name]Nell[/name] (a nickname for [name]Eleanor[/name]/[name]Lenore[/name]), [name]Ellen[/name], etc. A combo like [name]Samantha[/name] [name]Leni[/name], [name]Samantha[/name] [name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Zoe[/name] [name]Leona[/name] or [name]Zoe[/name] [name]Nora[/name] would be a sweet way to honor the name without directly using it.
[name]Chloe[/name] - I think it’s cute, and I like it, but I think it’s just too popular.
[name]Zoe[/name] - Much better alternative to [name]Chloe[/name]. Still cute but it ages better and has more backbone.
[name]Lauren[/name] - Cute, but very 90’s. One of my best friends is a [name]Lauren[/name].
[name]Alexandra[/name] - Professional, classic, and a lot of nickname opportunities like [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Margaret[/name], and [name]Katherine[/name], but sounds more modern than those names.
[name]Samantha[/name] - I’ve never liked this much. Bad nicknames all around, and also a name I feel is falling.
[name]Carson[/name] - Absolutely tragically ugly on a little girl. Other than [name]Allison[/name], I can’t think of any -son name that looks good on a girl. It’s like giving your daughter a king name. It’s just sad really. There are plenty of beautiful and strong female names out there, like the rest of your list.
I would say my favorite is [name]Zoe[/name], and the [name]Alexandra[/name]. Also [name]Zoe[/name] [name]Alexandra[/name] or [name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Zoe[/name] make a good combo is you don’t have a middle already.
Congrats! I think you have some great name choices!
[name]Chloe[/name]: I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Chloe[/name]. I have always loved [name]Chloe[/name]. Sadly, [name]Chloe[/name] has been popularized and thus maybe not the best name anymore, unless you don’t mind running into 3 other little Chloes in pre-school.
[name]Zoe[/name]: a good alternative to [name]Chloe[/name]. [name]Zoe[/name] is less popular, but still very pretty.
[name]Lauren[/name]: I think [name]Lauren[/name] is almost refreshing to hear now. When I was in school, there were always tons of Lauras (my name) and [name]Laurens[/name], and I always wished my mom had named me [name]Lauren[/name] instead of [name]Laura[/name]. Nowadays, though, I don’t think you really hear either very often on small children.
[name]Alexandra[/name]: Very pretty, although depending in your last name, it may be a mouthful. Very classic, though.
[name]Samantha[/name]: another great name, with nickname options galore.
[name]Lenore[/name]: would your husband be open to “[name]Nora[/name]” instead of [name]Lenore[/name]? I think [name]Nora[/name] is very pretty and would make a great middle name.
Overall, I would rank them [name]Zoe[/name], [name]Lauren[/name], [name]Samantha[/name], [name]Chloe[/name], [name]Alexandra[/name].
I would use [name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Lauren[/name] or [name]Samantha[/name] [name]Chloe[/name], becuase their are a lot of nn’s for the names. [name]Alexandra[/name] her nicknames could be [name]Alex[/name], [name]Alexa[/name], [name]Andy[/name], Dra, [name]Lauren[/name], or just [name]Alexandra[/name]. And with [name]Samantha[/name] she could be [name]Sam[/name], [name]Sammie[/name], [name]Ann[/name], [name]Manie[/name], Chole, or just [name]Samantha[/name].
I’m glad to hear [name]Carson[/name] is off the list, that is my least favorite. [name]Lenore[/name]
[name]Chloe[/name]- I kind of think this name sounds like a cough. That might just be me though. But it’s not bad.
[name]Zoe[/name]- less popular than [name]Chloe[/name], and doesn’t sound like a cough, but still not my favorite. But again, not bad.
[name]Lauren[/name]- very 90’s and a little boring to me, but yet again, not at all bad.
[name]Alexandra[/name]- my favorite from your list. It’s so classy and elegant. It’ll always be in style and keep its sophistication and grace. Plus there’s tons of nickname options ([name]Xan[/name] is my personal favorite)
[name]Samantha[/name]- very 90’s and dated, but I see the appeal. It’s a very nice name.
As for [name]Lenore[/name], you could also use something that sounds like it, like [name]Lena[/name], [name]Nora[/name], or [name]Leona[/name]. It’s etymologically a form of [name]Eleanor[/name], so you can use that or any of the related names, like [name]Nell[/name], [name]Eleanora[/name], [name]Lorena[/name], or [name]Loretta[/name]. [name]Lauren[/name] would even work because it sounds alike and has the same initial. They all honor [name]Lenore[/name], but draw inspiration from her name rather than using the name itself.
I really like [name]Alexandra[/name].
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Lena[/name] (instead of [name]Lenore[/name])
[name]Lenore[/name] means light, so here are some mn’s you can use that mean light.
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Elaine[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Lucia[/name], [name]Lucetta[/name], [name]Lucinda[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Svetlana[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Zia[/name]
Thank you all so much for your opinions. You have really given me a lot to think about. After reading all of your opinions and talking with my hubby again, we have ruled out [name]Carson[/name] and [name]Lauren[/name]. [name]Samantha[/name] is hanging by a thread. I think our short list may be down to [name]Zoe[/name], [name]Chloe[/name] and [name]Alexandra[/name].
Whoops, my name got nixed! Ha! No, I don’t take it personally. I wouldn’t use it today, either…
Okay, so it is [name]Zoe[/name], [name]Chloe[/name], and [name]Alexandra[/name]? I vote [name]Zoe[/name], I think. [name]Chloe[/name] just doesn’t sound so fun to me anymore, or maybe it sounds too fun? I can’t really put my finger on it, and everyone seems to be naming their female puppies [name]Chloe[/name] nowadays. Not that there are not dogs named [name]Zoe[/name], because there are! Okay, silly point. I think [name]Alexandra[/name], a classic that really seemed to be common in my high school class, could sound refreshing now, and its plentiful nicknames provide variety for a little girl - we’ve got [name]Alex[/name] and [name]Andy[/name] for the tomboy and [name]Ali[/name] and [name]Lexi[/name] for the spunky girly-girl! And, then there’s [name]Zoe[/name], which isn’t as popular as [name]Chloe[/name] but still has that funky, playful vibe going on. All of its spelling variations irk me to no end, but [name]Zoe[/name] is clean, crisp, and cool. I like it! Either name is a winner…
As for [name]Lenore[/name], you could always use another name meaning “light,” such as the classic [name]Lucy[/name] and [name]Helen[/name], or even the glamorous [name]Helena[/name]! Or, as another person suggested, you could use [name]Lauren[/name] to honor [name]Lenore[/name], though it is a bit more of a stretch. Or, [name]Lena[/name] is sweet. I think [name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Lenore[/name], [name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Lucy[/name], and [name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Helen[/name] are all nice, and [name]Zoe[/name] [name]Lenore[/name] and [name]Zoe[/name] [name]Helena[/name] (my pick!) are fantastic, too!
[name]Lemon[/name] 
Thanks all for your suggestions! After much debate, my husband and I have decided on [name]Alexandra[/name]. The name is just a timeless, classic, elegant and beautiful name. Now we just need a middle name:)
[name]Chloe[/name]- Cute, but perhaps a little too cute. I dont think this name has staying power and it might become the [name]Jennifer[/name] of yesterday.
[name]Zoe[/name]- Same as above, but I prefer [name]Zoe[/name] over [name]Chloe[/name].
[name]Lauren[/name]- Verys 80s/90s to me.
[name]Alexandra[/name]- [name]Lovely[/name], plus is has a wealth of nn options. [name]Ali[/name] is my favorite.
[name]Samantha[/name]- Totally 80s. I cant count the number of Samanthas I grew up with.
[name]Carson[/name]- [name]WAY[/name] to masculine for a little girl.
Off your list I like [name]Alexandra[/name] the best, followed by [name]Zoe[/name].
A few others you might like: [name]Harper[/name], [name]Lily[/name], [name]Natalie[/name], [name]Quinn[/name], [name]Sophie[/name], [name]Sadie[/name], [name]Aubrey[/name], [name]Adeline[/name], [name]Lila[/name], [name]Elaina[/name], [name]Julia[/name], [name]Charlotte[/name], [name]Cassidy[/name].
Some combos:
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Lauren[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Eve[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Harper[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Lily[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Violet[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Kate[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Elise[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Quinn[/name]
[name]Chloe[/name]-I like it. Its pretty yet in the now, not like some pretty name like [name]Maryanne[/name] that was popular in another century.
[name]Zoe[/name]-I really like it, but I like [name]Zoey[/name] better.
[name]Lauren[/name]-[name]Lovely[/name], but really boring.
[name]Alexandra[/name]-I love it, its very pretty.
[name]Samantha[/name]-I like [name]Sami[/name] for a nickname, and [name]Samantha[/name] is half bad.
[name]Carson[/name]-More for a boy, but ok.
My favourite name in the world is [name]Brigette[/name].
First off, a wonderful decision. [name]Alexandra[/name] is so classic, not too popular, offers good nickname options and will age very well.
Well, I adore [name]Lenore[/name], and I think [name]Alexandra[/name] [name]Lenore[/name] sounds fantastic, but if you are not too keen then perhaps another way to honour his mother [name]Lenore[/name]? [name]Eleanor/name and [name]Nora/name are related to [name]Lenore[/name], and [name]Honora[/name], [name]Annora[/name], [name]Honorine[/name] and [name]Honoria[/name] could all also be taken as a nod to her, as could [name]Helen/name.
Good luck! [name]Auburn[/name]