Eliza (and some other crushes)

Girl Names
1

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]'s been a long-time favorite of mine (ever since I can remember liking names, actually), but I dropped it shortly after I joined Nameberry because I was worried about the popularity. It was in the 300-range then, and (of course!) now it ranks 200. I’m sure it’ll be even higher when the SSA list comes out in [name_f]May[/name_f]. However, I can’t get it out of my head and I’m starting to wonder if it’s time to reconsider my stance on [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. Since I, in general, care very little about popularity, it seemed significant here. When, if ever, do you Berries decide to ignore popularity in favor of a very deep love? I mean, in reality, I could use [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] for one child and [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] for the next and really not care about the difference in popularity one bit, but [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]'s popularity always gave me concern. I figure that there’s probably an underlying reason for that, but I’ve not been able to figure out what it is. Anyway. Thoughts on [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]? Would you let the popularity keep you away from it?

And while we’re at it, wdyt of this rather lengthy list of crushes?

[name_f]Anouk[/name_f]
[name_f]Ani[/name_f] (would you use a longer name? Like [name_f]Anouk[/name_f], [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f], or [name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]/[name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Maria[/name_f]? [name_m]Said[/name_m] [name_m]AH[/name_m]-nee)
[name_f]Leina[/name_f]/[name_f]Lena[/name_f] (not sure how it’s generally spelled. I came across [name_f]Leina[/name_f] in the [name_m]French[/name_m] version of the SSA list, and assumed it was [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nah, which is the sound I’m crushing on. [name_f]Layna[/name_f]/[name_f]Laina[/name_f] seem almost too trendy to me, but I’m not sure how else you’d spell it? The Francophile in me is drawn to [name_f]Leina[/name_f] for that reason, but I love the simplicity of [name_f]Lena[/name_f], too.)
[name_f]Maddalena[/name_f]
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f]

Thanks, Berries!

2

[name_f]Anouk[/name_f]-Very, very cute.
[name_f]Ani[/name_f]- Nope I wouldn’t. I love the simplicity and it reminds me of [name_f]Princess[/name_f] Anidori Kiladra Talianna Isilee [Isn’t that just beautiful?!] from [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] [name_m]Hayle[/name_m]'s ‘The Goose Girl’. Her nickname was [name_f]Ani[/name_f] and I would love to see a little [name_f]Ani[/name_f].
[name_f]Leina[/name_f]/[name_f]Lena[/name_f]-I prefer [name_f]Lena[/name_f] but it doesn’t really matter. Maybe you could use this as a nn for [name_f]Eleni[/name_f] [or [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f]] as they are all similar. I suppose it doesn’t matter at the moment because you have a while to decide between them all.
[name_f]Maddalena[/name_f]-YES, YES, YES! I love this so much!
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f]-Not that keen. It seems sharp and spiteful. I like the [name_f]Lina[/name_f] bit but the whole name just gives me the shivers.

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]- Yes! Popularity is just a number. it cannot dictate your love for a name. I used to discard any ‘popular’ name but I a finally learning to move past that and allow myself to love names like [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [oh the deeper meaning!] Fashions will change as well, pretty quickly.

3

I love [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]! Personally, I would only discard names from my list if they were in the top 15 in my country. In 2014 the #1 names were only given to 1,4 %, which equals around 430 children (for each gender). I want my kids to have more unique names, which is why I steer clear of the most popular ones. If I lived in the US, I might’ve raised it to top 100. However, I would be willing to choose a super-popular name if it had lots of personal significance to me or SO.

Anyways, I think you should keep [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] on your list if you like it so much. Top 200 is not that high, is it? :slight_smile:

[name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f].
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f] – Not a fan.
[name_f]Lena[/name_f] – Very pretty!
[name_f]Ani[/name_f] – [name_f]Ani[/name_f] is my nn! It’s short for [name_f]Anne[/name_f] (a-NEH), and I feel it’s a bit nickname-y on its own, but I’m obviously biased :slight_smile:
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] – I like it, but prefer [name_f]Caterina[/name_f] slightly more.

4

I love, love, love [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. :slight_smile: It’s been a long-time favorite of mine. I had a cat named [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], which I think is the only reason my husband doesn’t like it for our (possible) daughter. :frowning: I prefer it as a nickname to [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], though.

I wouldn’t let the popularity bother you. For me a name is too popular when it’s in the top 20 or so. But, even then, I wouldn’t let that stop me if I truly loved it. (I’m looking at you, [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]Lucas[/name_m].) As you know, the real-life prevalence of names is different on the top list these days. Not nearly as many children are named the top names as they were in years past, so even in a world where [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] was the number one name, I don’t think she would meet nearly as many other [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]'s as the generation of [name_u]Ashley[/name_u]'s and [name_f]Emily[/name_f]'s and [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f]'s before her did.

[name_f]Anouk[/name_f] – [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t like it at all. :confused:
[name_f]Ani[/name_f] – I would certainly use a longer version. I love [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]. But [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] would also be a great name too since it’s already on your list. Two birds, right?
[name_f]Leina[/name_f]/[name_f]Lena[/name_f] - THIS IS MY [name_m]FAVORITE[/name_m] SOUND IN THE WORLD! I like the [name_f]Leina[/name_f] spelling, but it may be kind of confusing. I really hate [name_f]Lena[/name_f] as I simply cannot wrap my brain around pronouncing it as [name_m]LAY[/name_m] instead of [name_u]LEE[/name_u]. That’s what prevents me from really committing to the spelling of [name_f]Elena[/name_f], which is my husband’s favorite name and our top choice for a daughter. He wants to spell it [name_f]Elaina[/name_f] (which kind of makes me twitch) but I have such a hard time with the different pronunciations of [name_f]Elena[/name_f] to argue.
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] - I like the sound, but it’s all salad dressing to me. :stuck_out_tongue: I do like Caterina though.
[name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] - LOOOOOOVE. Since we are on the save wave-length of loving the “lay-nuh” sound, I really like this one too. I don’t particularly like the spelling since all I see is “mad”, but that’s the problem with all of these types of names, like [name_f]Madeline[/name_f], etc. But I love the sound. :slight_smile: It’s fun to say.

5

Well, I love [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. It is my favorite name. It replaced [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] for me, and I couldn’t see popularity bothering me enough to cut it off the list. But, then again, I’m not too concerned with popularity. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] for me is a timeless, elegant name. I’ve only actually ever met one, in her late 20s now. I think [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] feels more like [name_f]Violet[/name_f] and [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] in the fusty old lady chic category, yet she also blends with the [name_f]Ella[/name_f] and [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] names that are coming into such vogue these days. I don’t think [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] replaces a [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] or [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], however, because those both feel perhaps more vibrant and girlish to me than [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. (This is painting a negative view of [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], which isn’t at all the case for me - I think [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] is smart and sophisticated, subtle and feminine without trying too hard. I don’t like overly fusty, I don’t like overly flouncy, and I don’t like overly new-age, so [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] fits the bill.)

[name_f]Anouk[/name_f] - It seems harsh to me. I’m troubled by K’s this way. I do like [name_f]Anais[/name_f], though.
[name_f]Ani[/name_f] - No, it seems insubstantial on its own. I like [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] a great deal, but I pronounce it with an [name_f]ANNE[/name_f], so AHN-ee seems like an odd nickname. [name_f]Antonia[/name_f] feels rich and vibrant and perky with [name_f]Ani[/name_f] as a short form.
[name_f]Leina[/name_f]/[name_f]Lena[/name_f] - I much prefer the look of [name_f]Lena[/name_f], but pronounce it like [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-na, as in [name_f]Lena[/name_f] [name_m]Dunham[/name_m]. I think [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-na is an absolutely legitimate pronunciation. I like [name_f]Lena[/name_f] standalone, but also as a short version of [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f].
[name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] - I’m just so much more in love with simple [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]. I’m a little over Mad names, to be totally honest. I’d go for similar [name_f]Margaretta[/name_f] in a hot second. So much fun.
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] - Eh, island-y, huh? It’s not my first choice, but I’m not opposed. I prefer [name_f]Caledonia[/name_f].

6

@lemon, I blame you! lol. I thought I had safely gotten rid of my [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] longings, and then I see [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u], and it’s all for naught. :frowning: I’m not really a fan of [name_f]Antonia[/name_f] at all, although I do love [name_f]Antonella[/name_f], and [name_f]Antonina[/name_f] intrigues me (as does [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]. Although I’ve disliked having the MN [name_f]Marie[/name_f] because of [name_f]Marie[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f], so I’m not sure [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] is the best idea for that reason). I was really starting to seriously consider [name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ani[/name_f]. It seems really Spanish, but I like its sleek feel much more than [name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]. And I agree completely–I loved the balance of spunk and femininity, the sweetness and vintageness, the coolness but funkiness of [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. I’ve sung her praises many times, but I don’t know. She just shot up in popularity pretty fast, and I fell in love with her when I thought nobody loved her. I thought I had found this gem that nobody knew about, and now it ends up everybody loves her. She just didn’t feel as special anymore. If I do add her, I think I’ll need a new combo, though. I’m not as fond of the ones I had liked most when she was last on my list ([name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]). I’m most fond of [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] and [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], but I’m not really thrilled with them with [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. I was thinking about [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f], but it sort of seems to be missing something. I’d either say the American heh-LEEN or the [name_m]French[/name_m] ay-[name_m]LEN[/name_m]. I do like [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nah, too, but I’m not sure I like that more than [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nah? If I did [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nah, it’d probably be short for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. Or maybe as a standalone. I like [name_f]Lena[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] a lot, and with that I’m not as fond of the [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nah pronunciation.

@fanciful - agreed. I am honestly the last name nerd to care about popularity, lol. I was a shy kid with an uber popular name, and it made me feel like I fit in. While I have disliked the boringness of my name, I never disliked its popularity. And I know that names are much less used than they used to be. As I was saying to @lemon, though, I fell for [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] when she felt like my own personal sweet literary discovery, and now it turns out she’s everybody’s love. She just didn’t feel special anymore, I think. But I went off of [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] and she won back my heart, so I’m wondering if [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] will do the same. She’s just such a darling. And for [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], ha! I have just fallen for the sound and look of it; I had forgotten the salad dressing association, honestly. I like the sound of [name_f]Caterina[/name_f], but I don’t think I could ever go for that spelling. The restaurant I work for has a fairly large catering arm, and now I just see “catering” when I see [name_f]Caterina[/name_f], lol. Still a nice name, but I like [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] more. haha. [name_f]Elaina[/name_f]'s okay, but I’m with you–I vastly prefer [name_f]Elena[/name_f]! So streamlined and elegant. My cousin has an [name_f]Alaina[/name_f] and everytime I see her name written down I cringe. :frowning: [name_f]Elena[/name_f]'s gorgeous, but I dislike her other spellings!

@[name_u]Josie[/name_u] - so right! I tell that to people all the time when they’re doubting [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f], which are much more popular than [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. :frowning: Or rather, “there may be a million Jacks out there, but he’ll be the only [name_m]Jack[/name_m] you care about, because he’s the [name_m]Jack[/name_m] that won your heart. He’s the [name_m]Jack[/name_m] you’ll read stories to and rock to sleep after nightmares and wait for with baited breath after piano recitals and baseball games. He’s the [name_m]Jack[/name_m] whose wedding you’ll cry through, and babies you’ll spoil. He’s the only [name_m]Jack[/name_m] that really matters.” I guess it’s time I swallowed my own medicine. :slight_smile: I’m still not sure, but your advice definitely hit a soft spot in my heart, and I think I’ll be giving [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] a honest shot to win back a spot in my heart. If I do, though, I’ll have an [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] vs. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] conundrum…

7

Ha, I happily blamed, then. I mean, I get what you’re saying about rankings, but that doesn’t mean there are suddenly a billion [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]'s everywhere. Look at the numbers. My issue is [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] getting lost in a sea of [name_f]Ella[/name_f]'s. My cousin even has an [name_f]Ella[/name_f]! But I think I could get over it, especially since she would be [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], not [name_f]Ella[/name_f] or [name_f]Ellie[/name_f].

I think [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] is so pretty. I love the look of [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f], but it does seem slightly lacking. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Mathilde[/name_f], perhaps? Or are you secretly looking for an [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]? :wink:

[name_f]Lena[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is fun! [name_f]Antonella[/name_f] is lovely, too. I actually think [name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] is gorgeous, prettier than [name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Sophia[/name_f].

8

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]- [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] is beautiful! I have noticed hearing the name more, but I’ve only known 3 Elizas. I don’t think it is too popular and it is a great choice. I prefer [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] myself, but [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] is really stunning.
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f]- Not really a fan. The sound and the look of the name do nothing for me.
[name_f]Ani[/name_f] (would you use a longer name? Like [name_f]Anouk[/name_f], [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f], or [name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]/[name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Maria[/name_f]? [name_m]Said[/name_m] [name_m]AH[/name_m]-nee)- Yes, I would use a longer name, just because I think it is too short and because I believe it would be pronounced [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. I’d probably use [name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Maria[/name_f] out of the ones you listed but it could work with a lot of names.
[name_f]Leina[/name_f]/[name_f]Lena[/name_f]- I prefer [name_f]Lena[/name_f], but I also pronounce it [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-nuh. I think for the [name_m]Lay[/name_m]-na pronunciation, I’d go with [name_f]Leina[/name_f] or [name_f]Laina[/name_f] or [name_f]Layna[/name_f] (even though that spelling looks super trendy in my eyes). [name_f]Lena[/name_f] has too many possible pronunciations for my taste. I have a difficult to pronounce name and I always hated it so I’m super sensitive to that.
[name_f]Maddalena[/name_f]- I really like this name. [name_m]Just[/name_m] curious, are you pronouncing it Mad-uh-lehn-uh or Mad-uh-lee-nuh or Mad-uh-lay-nuh. I like the first two best. As with [name_f]Lena[/name_f], the pronunciation thing bothers me so I’d keep it as a middle. It is really pretty and a fresh take on the [name_f]Maddie[/name_f] names.
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f]- [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] is beautiful! It is not popular but not unheard of. It is familiar and recognizable but truly a standout. I great choice if you want to avoid the popular [name_f]Catherine[/name_f].

Here is my take on popularity. I’ve pretty much thrown popularity out of my decisions (because how could I cope with popularity when I’m hopelessly in love with the number two most popular name in the USA: [name_f]Emma[/name_f]):
Popularity is not an issue. Choose a name you love. [name_m]Just[/name_m] because a lot of other people love a name, doesn’t make it a bad choice. There is often a reason a name is popular, it’s probably a beautiful name. Your child will be much happier that you chose a name with meaning and a name you loved than choosing a name that wasn’t popular. It doesn’t matter if the name is rank 1 or not ranked. It just matters that you love it.

Honestly, I’d use my favorite names even if they were rank one. Assuming I don’t become tired of hearing said name. My names each mean something to me, which I believe is more important than its rank.

9

@lemon - true. When I started doubting [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], though, I had a cyber friend who had an [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], and she talked about how she picked it because she loved the British feel of it, and the fact that it felt so fresh and unused, and then by the time she had her second daughter, it was in the three hundred range, and she met Elizas all the time. It wasn’t so much the higher ranking, but just how it started feeling less special, less like my “special name”. And I know I don’t get to own names, but yeah. It just felt sort of my own, and then I realized it wasn’t, haha.

Yeah, something about [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] looks and feels perfect to me, yet seems to be missing that je ne sais quoi. I’m also sort of tossing around [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f]? Maybe [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], too. I sort of feel that [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] needs a longer MN, even though it is already three syllables. And maybe you’re right. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]'s just darling! But [name_u]Wren[/name_u]'s a family name, so I had actually already thought about [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] ____ [name_u]Wren[/name_u] or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] ____. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]/[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] [name_f]Helene[/name_f]? I sort of like [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]. But I don’t want to step on any toes. :frowning:

I know an adorable little [name_f]Antonella[/name_f], so I’m not sure I could actually go for it, but she does make me love [name_f]Antonella[/name_f] all the more!

@[name_f]Eleni[/name_f] - I say mad-uh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nah. I think that’s how it’s said in Italian, too? I’m also tossing around [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f], so she’s got hope for my list. I love [name_f]Eve[/name_f] [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f], but I don’t think I can give up [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Madelief. :frowning:

10

Hm. I totally get that seeing YOUR (child’s) name everyone on everyone else’s child (or, God forbid, pet) is a little bit of a blow to the special factor. But the fact that I loved the name and loved saying the name when referencing my child could get me over that, personally. I think that’s just a choice you’ll have to make for yourself.

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] doesn’t have a great flow for me. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] is so pretty to look at! [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]? Hm. So, someone has already used [name_u]Wren[/name_u], or how would you step on toes? [name_u]Wren[/name_u] works so well after an -a name, but two -a names in a row don’t sit well with me. Maybe a -ie sound name? [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Clemency[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]? Eh, I’m not sold.

I think if I did a second middle with [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] (like [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Marietta[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]), I might use [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f].

11

ha, no, lol, because it’s already your combo, in your signature. I’m know we don’t have patents to the names we love, but I wouldn’t want to just take another [name_u]Berry[/name_u]'s combo because I liked it. There was a combo I liked, once upon a time, and had forgotten, or maybe not even realized, that it’d been on another [name_u]Berry[/name_u]'s signature for quite some time, and I guess she misunderstood something I’d said, or I don’t even really remember completely at this point, but for a while there, she seemed quite upset that I had stumbled upon her combo, and I didn’t want to just outright take yours. I certainly have other family names I can use. :slight_smile:

Yeah, I agree about the flow of [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]. I’m thinking about [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], too, but [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_u]Wren[/name_u] together seems a bit much. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]? [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]? [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]? [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]? [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]? [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]? I’m not sure how I feel about the whole EFG thing. :slight_smile: I do love [name_f]Grace[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] together, but more as sisters than in the same combo, I’m thinking.

12

Oh, ha, that was dense of me! Well, I don’t want to lay claim to [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u], as I suppose I may never use it, but that’s very kind of you, considering its my favorite.

I love [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]! I was going to say [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u], but I think [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] is gorgeous, or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], actually. Agreed that [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is better as a sibling name. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t make me want to put [name_f]Grace[/name_f] back on my own list! I think something like [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] have a pretty sound.

13

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]'s sweet, but I generally don’t care about it. I don’t think I know anyone with this name (or maybe I just forget?), only a bunch of Elizabeths and one [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f].

[name_f]Anouk[/name_f] - [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] is pretty, but I prefer other [name_f]Anna[/name_f] variants.
[name_f]Ani[/name_f] - see above. I prefer it as a nickname, maybe for [name_f]Annika[/name_f].
[name_f]Leina[/name_f]/[name_f]Lena[/name_f] - [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is so pretty. :slight_smile: I prefer [name_f]Elena[/name_f] or [name_f]Helena[/name_f] though.
[name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] - lovely. I think [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] definitely fits on your list, whether as a first or a middle name.
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Catalina[/name_f]. [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] is elegant, delicate, unusual and sort of princessy, imo. I recently added it to my own short list (though I haven’t found a second mn I like with it). It’s my favourite variant of [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], so maybe I’m biased, lol.

14

@lemon - lol, I think turn about is fair play. :slight_smile: Then again, [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is my grandma’s middle name, so besides just thinking it’s gorgeous, it has a lot of meaning for me, too. I just recently gave in and added it to my FN list, and I’ve not been sorry! Of course, that means I should probably change my [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] combo (which has had [name_f]Grace[/name_f] as the family name in it for just about forever), but I’m not sure I can stand to split [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] up. :frowning: I used to like [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], actually! But I’m pretty sure I got put off by the fact that they’re both forms of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].

@c@29 - yes! Another [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] lover. There’s just something about her! I used to quite strongly dislike her, but over the past year or two she’s just been solidly growing on me, and now I adore her. If I didn’t already have an [name_f]Evie[/name_f] combo, I’d probably consider [name_f]Eve[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] or [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f]. (Same with [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f]! I love [name_f]Eve[/name_f] [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f], but I can’t see giving up my [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Madelief combo.) I suppose I could do [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Madelief [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], but it just seems to be too much.

15

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] is one if my all time favorites!

16

I don’t know any Elizas, and I am in Europe where we are supposed to use such names. :slight_smile: I would like to point out that there is a big range of numbers of births between #1 and #200 on the list, so [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] is probably not as popular as you think.
From your list, I really like [name_f]Catalina[/name_f]. I’ve been crushing in it for a long time, it has two of my favorite sounds: “cat” and “lina”. I adore [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f], and since it’s the most popular version of this name, [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] seems a bit strange to me. Still lovely though.

17

@handsallover - Oh, that’s very true, and I agree completely. I think my concern is more how many spots it’s climbed, and how close to the top it’s already gotten, compared to what it was, say 10 years ago. It’s definitely in-trend now, and I realistically don’t know how high to expect it to go. It’s certainly not popular yet, but it’ll get there soon, I’m sure.

I’m still thinking about combos? [name_f]Every[/name_f] time I think about [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] now, I love it more and more, but even though I rather like [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f], and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], none of them give me that “I’m it” feeling.

18

@ashthedreamer

I hear you about feeling like [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] was your undiscovered gem that everyone promptly discovered. That was exactly how I felt about [name_m]Henry[/name_m], and I was devastated when I started on name forums and realized that everyone else on the planet loved [name_m]Henry[/name_m] as much as I did. Now he’s, oh I don’t know, in the Top 50 and I want to die. :stuck_out_tongue: I used to be mad that [name_m]Henry[/name_m] was so popular, and mad at the fact that by the time I was able to express my love for it there was already a well-worn path of adoration for him. It was so disheartening. But I had to remind myself that every other girl my age, while dreaming of their futures and children, had the same thoughts and feelings that I did that made me choose [name_m]Henry[/name_m].

Something that brought me a little bit of solace was something I read in a baby name book about this very topic – realizing that the name you thought was yours alone is actually everyone else’s diamond in the rough too. You’re a twenty-something, and so am I. We grew up hearing the names of our parents’s generations, and those were pretty awful. Our grandparent’s generation was more exciting, and our great grandparent’s even more so. We found these old treasures in our attics or books, and we thought they were so perfect and unique when we fell in love with them. We didn’t think of them as “vintage” or “trendy” – they were just special. But… that’s the same way every other person in our age group felt about these names in their formative, name-discovering years. :stuck_out_tongue: So when I get bummed, I just remind myself that all of my peers came of age in the same time and culture that I did, and they were influenced by all the same names and feelings that I was, so it makes perfect sense that they liked the same names that I thought were uniquely mine.