I’m new to Nameberry (well, I have been reading here lots for the last few months but new to posting!). We are expecting our first baby in two weeks, a little girl. We have been umming and aahing about names for months and I always thought it was going to get easier the closer we got to the big day - but it hasn’t! We have our general list of favourites: [name]Eva[/name], [name]Ottilie[/name], [name]Phoebe[/name], [name]Juliet[/name] and [name]Olive[/name], but as yet haven’t managed to pin it down on one name. I love the suggestions on here and it would be great to see what you all think. Currently, the two biggest contenders are:
[name]Etta[/name] [name]Valencia[/name] (she would officially be [name]Juliet[/name], but known as [name]Etta[/name]. [name]Valencia[/name] has special meaning as it is where I met my partner many years ago, and I love the meaning ‘brave/strong’)
or
[name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Clementine[/name] (again, I love the meaning of both names, and think that the name has a really lovely ‘happy’ sort of vibe.)
My partner prefers [name]Etta[/name] [name]Valencia[/name] but he is quite flexible. I’d love to hear other combinations that you think would work well, as well as which you prefer out of those two options!
Oh and we have a very traditional surname - begins with C, two syllables.
Beautiful names! I do like [name]Juliet[/name] [name]Valencia[/name] “[name]Connor[/name]” JVC … [name]Etta[/name] is adorable… I lie it because the names have a rhythmatic flow and [name]Etta[/name] feels at home with a 2 syllable last name… congrats
Of these two combo’s I am leaning more towards [name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Clementine[/name] because I like [name]Phoebe[/name] and I love [name]Clementine[/name]. Whereas, in the first combo I love [name]Etta[/name] but I really don’t like [name]Valencia[/name] (although, the meaning behind it is sweet).
I’ve only just read that [name]Etta[/name] will actually be [name]Juliet[/name] so that pushes me more towards [name]Phoebe[/name] again. I was going to suggest [name]Etta[/name] [name]Clementine[/name] as it looks and sounds adorable but then if you say it quickly it sounds like “ate a [name]Clementine[/name]” so I guess that idea is out.
My favourite of the names on your list is definitely [name]Ottilie[/name], it’s so beautiful and underused. [name]Ottilie[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] or [name]Ottilie[/name] [name]Clementine[/name] would be adorable. [name]Ottilie[/name] [name]Valencia[/name] works too and I prefer this to [name]Juliet[/name] [name]Valencia[/name].
[name]Eva[/name] [name]Ottilie[/name] would be adorable too.
[name]Both[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] [name]Valencia[/name] and [name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Clementine[/name] are lovely so you really can’t go wrong. You could just go with whichever one you think she looks like once she arrives!
I love, love, love [name]Pheobe[/name] [name]Clementine[/name]. It’s just so sweet. [name]Etta[/name] is ok. I don’t love it and I really dislike [name]Juliet[/name].
Thanks for such great advice everyone, I really do love this website! I’m thinking we’re leaning more towards [name]Phoebe[/name], but will hold other options in reserve in case she just doesn’t look like a [name]Phoebe[/name]! We’ve wondered over the last few days if [name]Etta[/name] is a harsh sound that won’t wear well on a baby or little girl? It was just something that my mum mentioned that got me thinking.
We’re thinking of pairing [name]Phoebe[/name] with [name]Valencia[/name] - this is a bit of a hard one for me, I love the meaning and symbolism but the name itself wouldn’t be one of my favourites. My mum (again!) said she thought it could sound a bit ‘celebrity’ - what do people think about that? I know what she means, and she referred to Posh and Becks and [name]Brooklyn[/name]! I must note though, this is not conception location! But where we met… We have had a long distance relationship with me now living in Aus so it means a lot to us. Does meaning have more weight that like-ability though? [name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Valencia[/name]… It does also give her the initials PVC, not great, but I suppose not a deal breaker. I think you can’t beat [name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Clementine[/name] for the way it sounds, but as both names have been ‘conjured’ recently, it doesn’t feel like a lot of meaning is there - you know?
I agree it sounds like a bubbly happy name. I do like the link with [name]Valencia[/name] though- I think of [name]Valencia[/name] oranges- which are citrus… clementines are a citrus too. So in a round about way [name]Clementine[/name] is like Valancia without the PVC initials.
I also like the visual balance of the name.
I hadn’t thought about the connection between [name]Valencia[/name] and [name]Clementine[/name]… Thanks for the suggestion, it makes me feel better about using [name]Clementine[/name] if that’s what we choose!
I love [name]Etta[/name] [name]Valencia[/name] and I really can’t see it being hard to wear. I love the name [name]Phoebe[/name] too, but I really dislike [name]Clementine[/name].
