Clara, Norah or Elisa

Hello!

The clock is ticking and we still don’t have a finalized name for our daughter who will arrive in about 8 weeks.

Until last weekend, I thought she would be called [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f], except last night someone we know had a girl and called her [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Iris[/name_f]. My husband reckons we should still use this name if we want to, but I wouldn’t like anyone to think we ‘stole the name’.

So back to the drawing board!

We like the following 3 names:

[name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f] ( E-lisa, the only issue with this name is that we feel it is more suited for a brunette girl, and if this baby is anything like her brother she will be very blonde with blue eyes.)

[name_f]Norah[/name_f] [name_f]Valentina[/name_f] (We like [name_f]Norah[/name_f] but I don’t think we love it as much as [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] or [name_f]Clara[/name_f]. Maybe I’m concerned it sounds plain and boring?)

[name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] (another contender was [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Elyse[/name_f].)

We live in Switzerland and need a name that works in English and [name_m]German[/name_m].
Which one of these names sounds better for a blonde/blue eyed daughter. Brother is [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m].

Thank you
[name_f]Amanda[/name_f]

While you probably can’t avoid some people thinking you “stole” the name (though it’s a well-known name that’s often used nowadays), I think you should go with [name_f]Clara[/name_f], regardless of the unfortunate timing, because it sounds like that’s what you would’ve went with had this other child been named something different.

I agree with @stellarevolution.

Also, I don’t think [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] is a brunette name. I don’t think any name is more or less suited to someone with a certain hair color honestly. If you are too uncomfortable using [name_f]Clara[/name_f] and like [name_f]Elisa[/name_f], then use [name_f]Elisa[/name_f]. You will get used to [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] on a blonde girl if you daughter is blonde. The only [name_f]Clara[/name_f] I’ve ever seen was a TV show character and she had very dark hair, so I associate that name with a brunette, but I still don’t think [name_f]Clara[/name_f] can’t be used for a blonde too.

I agree with the previous posters - I’d use [name_f]Clara[/name_f] anyway. Name stealing is something I’ve never understood, so I would go ahead and use it anyway unless they were a close relative where it would cause confusion (for example, I love the name [name_f]Makayla[/name_f], but can’t/wouldn’t use it because my sister is [name_f]Mikayla[/name_f]).

I think my second favourite after [name_f]Clara[/name_f] would be [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f]. I like [name_f]Norah[/name_f] as well, but I don’t know if I’d pair it with [name_f]Valentina[/name_f]. I don’t really match names with hair colours unless the name means “red haired” or “fair haired” or something. I know blonde Elisas, and brunette Claras; I also know a redheaded [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] though, their names fit them well regardless!

[name_f]Norah[/name_f] is anything but plain and boring in my eyes! That would be my first choice.

My second choice is [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f] and I think it would suit a blonde haired girl very well.

I can understand not wanting to use [name_f]Clara[/name_f] now, even if you weren’t ‘stealing’ the name you might associate it with that baby now and not your own baby as much anymore.

Good luck!

I really like the name [name_f]Nora[/name_f]. I think it sounds both spunky and classic.

I say still use [name_f]Clara[/name_f]. I always think of [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] as blond. The only one I’ve come across was a character in a book, and she was blond. You have three lovely choices, but seems like [name_f]Clara[/name_f] or [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] is the way to go.

I like [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f]! But agree you can still use [name_f]Clara[/name_f] unless they are very close friends.

I absolutely adore [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f].

We are all allowed to choose the name(s) we love and adore, as long as the name fits the law where you live. I could never give up a name I actually feel is The One just because someone else used it. I would end up regretting not using it the rest of my life. If the name can be easily given up, than I do not believe it was ever The One.

I like all three. However, I think my favorite combo as a whole is [name_f]Norah[/name_f] [name_f]Valentina[/name_f]. So pretty.

[name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f] is also very nice & would be my second favorite.

[name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] gives me a tad different vibe than the other two & is my least favorite but still nice.

I like [name_f]Norah[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] the best!

[name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f] is my favorite; upon reading it, my literal first thought was that it sounds like a name for a blonde haired, blue eyed baby. [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] is lovely, too, but I definitely see your concern.

[name_u]Eloise[/name_u] [name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Eloisa[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Annelise[/name_f] [name_f]Clara[/name_f]

I agree, that it’s ok to still use [name_f]Clara[/name_f]. If you don’t feel comfortable with it, I like [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f].

[name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f] is lovely. I don’t think it sounds like a brunette’s name necessarily, I actually think of a fair girl with long plaits when I hear [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] :slight_smile:

Not sure whether I would use [name_f]Clara[/name_f] if a friend had named their child it…depends on the situation, if it’s a v close friend you know you will be in contact with for the rest of your life, whose daughter will play with yours and go to the same school etc etc then regretfully I’d probably use a different name. Same as if a family member had used it (happened to me with my nephew :frowning: )

But if it’s a friend who isn’t a best friend, who is likely to move away & who you probably won’t be close to forever, then stick with your guns and use [name_f]Clara[/name_f].

Good luck!