My husband and I are both fans of names that are “formal” and then have a two and one-syllable nickname option. We prefer nothing too popular, but prefer it not to be too far outside the norm either. Middle names are always a family name that we decide based on flow after choosing a first name.
Our first daughter is named [name_f]Elena[/name_f], nicknamed [name_u]Laney[/name_u]. We are looking at names for our second daughter. We both really like [name_f]Nella[/name_f], [name_f]Nellie[/name_f] as a nickname. However, we realize that letter wise this is super similar to [name_f]Elena[/name_f]. Now, they don’t really sound the same - but they obviously share a lot of similarities.
Any thoughts as to how these two fit together for sisters? Also open to other recommendations
I’m guessing you pronounce [name_f]Elena[/name_f] as uh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh, but I say it [name_f]EL[/name_f]-en-uh. So how I say it, [name_f]Nella[/name_f], and [name_f]Elena[/name_f] are almost exactly the same. I think you would run into others who would have the same confusion. If that doesn’t bother you, than I think it’s fine. [name_f]Nella[/name_f] is nice, I personally love [name_f]Nell[/name_f], so [name_f]Nella[/name_f] is pretty, too.
I can’t decide if they sound too close. But I don’t think it’s necessarily undoable. I would make sure whatever full name you use for [name_f]Nella[/name_f] doesn’t sound too close, like [name_f]Elena[/name_f] and [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] might seem too matchy.
Options for full names for [name_f]Nella[/name_f]:
[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]
[name_f]Antonella[/name_f]
[name_f]Cornelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Janelle[/name_f]/a
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
Ornella
[name_f]Hannelore[/name_f]
I’m Italian and I can tell you that nella around here is always a nickname, and an old fashioned hardly heard one.
there is also a famous blogger (kelle [name_m]Hampton[/name_m]) who has daughter laney and nella, so I would avoid it.
I think with elena you could pair a more formal name than nella. cornelia could be a nell, as well as many other names.
I would probably use [name_f]Nell[/name_f] or [name_f]Nella[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Elena[/name_f] if I had a daughter named [name_f]Elena[/name_f], so I would say they are too close…
I like the idea of using [name_f]Nella[/name_f] or [name_f]Nellie[/name_f] as a nickname for a longer name, [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] or [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] would fit nicely with [name_f]Elena[/name_f], as would [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
Other suggestions:
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] nn [name_u]Lou[/name_u] or [name_f]Lulu[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mae[/name_f] or [name_f]Bel[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelie[/name_f] nn [name_u]Mel[/name_u] or [name_f]Mellie[/name_f]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]/[name_f]Adela[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ada[/name_f] or [name_u]Dell[/name_u]
[name_f]Theresa[/name_f]/[name_f]Tessa[/name_f] nn [name_f]Tess[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] nn [name_f]Edie[/name_f]
I agree that they seem rather too close. They’re letter jumbles of each other.
Here’s a few with a sort of similar feel:
[name_f]Netta[/name_f] - [name_f]Annette[/name_f], [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]
[name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Bella[/name_f]
[name_f]Della[/name_f]
[name_f]Marla[/name_f]
[name_f]Pearla[/name_f]
[name_f]Paula[/name_f]
[name_f]Rilla[/name_f] - [name_f]Marilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Naomi[/name_f]
[name_f]Norah[/name_f]
[name_f]Nova[/name_f]
