We are looking for a short (2 syllable) girls name which is unlikely to be shortened and isn’t too popular/commonly used. We like names that are strong, feminine (but not too girly) and I seem to favour soft sounding L or E names!
So far we have shortlisted
Lila
Lola
Esme (ez-may)
What do you think of these? Can you think of any others??
I think all three names are lovely with my favourite being [name_f]Esme[/name_f]! They are not overly popular but still most likely universally in the top 150 of popularity charts making them recognisable. [name_f]Lila[/name_f] is a happy upbeat name and that has a nice vintage charm. [name_f]Lola[/name_f] feels ethereal and spirited. [name_f]Esme[/name_f] being my favourite is just feminine and delicate however she is definitely the most popular option.
Some other ideas
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_u]Billie[/name_u]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Bria[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]
[name_f]Gracie[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_u]Haven[/name_u]
[name_f]Calla[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsie[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f]
[name_f]Eira[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Lois[/name_f]
[name_f]Lottie[/name_f]
[name_u]Aspen[/name_u]
[name_u]Lotus[/name_u]
[name_f]Evie[/name_f]
[name_u]Louise[/name_u]
[name_f]Lumi[/name_f]
[name_f]Etta[/name_f]
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Eva[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_u]Piper[/name_u]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f]
[name_f]Orla[/name_f]
[name_f]Carys[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Poppy[/name_f]
[name_u]Ember[/name_u]
[name_f]Jewel[/name_f]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_u]Winter[/name_u]
[name_u]Tatum[/name_u]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Winnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_u]Fable[/name_u]
[name_f]Lacey[/name_f]
[name_f]Kaia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lara[/name_f]
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_u]Willow[/name_u]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_u]Nova[/name_u]
[name_f]Zadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_u]Remi[/name_u]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Yasmin[/name_f]
From my long list some standouts that I think you’ll like are [name_f]Lyra[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Luna[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_f]Evie[/name_f] as you really like l & e names with these names being similar to the ones on your list already
Thank you so so much!! Amazing suggestions too. I like [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Cleo[/name_f], [name_f]Freya[/name_f] but husband isn’t keen. [name_f]Luna[/name_f] is gorgeous but a bit too popular now. We were originally going for [name_f]Lily[/name_f] but wanted something “stronger”.
[name_f]Esme[/name_f] is my favourite from your list. You might also like [name_f]Edie[/name_f] which fits your criteria of short, E/L names, not easily nicknamed.
I love all three, [name_f]Lola[/name_f] especially.
[name_f]Nina[/name_f], [name_f]Mira[/name_f], [name_f]Vera[/name_f], [name_f]Juno[/name_f], [name_f]Iris[/name_f], [name_f]Luna[/name_f], [name_f]Thea[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_f]Cora[/name_f] came to mind
I love all three!
[name_f]Lila[/name_f] is my favourite out of the three but it would probably change in a week 
Some other options are:
Lora/Lori
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
[name_u]Kaya[/name_u]
[name_f]Lara[/name_f]
Edie/Evie
[name_f]Nina[/name_f]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Tina[/name_f]
Emmy/Emmie
[name_f]Layla[/name_f]
[name_f]Glad[/name_f] you like the suggestions!
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] is so pretty she also has lovely variants my daughter is [name_f]Lilia[/name_f]. Have you thought of [name_f]Lilith[/name_f]? She’s two syllables, is relatively short and feels strong. She’s feminine but not overly girly like [name_f]Lily[/name_f].
[name_f]Welcome[/name_f] to NB! You have a lovely list 
[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite is Lila–such a happy-sounding name! The first suggestion that came to mind based on your description was [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], which I absolutely adore. Gentle and sweet but has plenty of substance (and a lovely meaning!). You’ve gotten tons of other great suggestions already, so I’ll also second [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Eva[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], [name_f]Edie[/name_f], and [name_f]Iris[/name_f]. Good luck!!
[name_f]Lula[/name_f]?
How about [name_f]Estee[/name_f]?
[name_f]Lila[/name_f] is my favorite.
[name_f]Mila[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Leah[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Posy[/name_f]
[name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_u]Adel[/name_u]
[name_f]Emmy[/name_f]
[name_f]Lulah[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyla[/name_f]
[name_f]Lula[/name_f]
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps!
love Lola! some of these might have already been suggested, but how about:
Alice
April
Daisy
Daphne
Etta
Estelle
Frances
Helen
Ida
Irene
Lina
Lula
Mabel (might get shortened to May?)
Mary (nicknames possible but avoidable)
Opal
Sally
Willa
[name_f]Esme[/name_f] is beautiful! That’s my favorite on your list.
[name_f]Amy[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellie[/name_f]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_u]Ainsley[/name_u]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Jana[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Bria[/name_f]
[name_u]Ari[/name_u]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Dixie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallie[/name_f]
[name_u]Sandy[/name_u]
[name_f]Trina[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilou[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Leni[/name_f]
[name_f]Elva[/name_f]
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]
[name_f]Elin[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
[name_u]Lisa[/name_u]
[name_f]Lyla[/name_f]
i love all your names so much!! some others i could suggest are:
ada
cora
eden
iris
nova
sage
tess
wren
mae
The first name that I thought of was [name_f]Ida[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Ida[/name_f] is such a beautiful, sweet & short, underused gem.