We’re expecting our first child in September and so far we haven’t found the right name. We have several names which are great contenders, but I keep hopping back and forth and looking for other options. Which has your preference? Top of the list right now in no particular order: Nena, Stella, Lola or Flora.
Our journey has been a long one and we always had Nena as our go to name during each try. Now that it’s finally real it almost feels too easy to choose this name. And not special enough.
Stella is a favorite of my partners. I can’t get behind this name 100% for some reason, but he love it so for now it’s staying on the list. I do love the name for an adult and think it has a certain strength to it. But is it becoming too popular?
Lola - o I love love love Lola. But here in the Netherlands this name has a negative connotation for some reason. Something to do with the songs I’m guessing. Or Lolo Ferrari. Then there’s also the ‘problem’ that I can see Lola on a child. But maybe not on an adult? I know it’s a classic name and has been around for ages.
Flora is a recent addition to the short list - I love this name as well. But our baby is very active in the womb - almost attaining rocket status - and a Flora feels like a calm child somehow. Part of the reason Flora is a top choice is that she was also one of the goddesses of fertility in ancient Rome.
Basically, I would love to find a name which is happy and energetic, works well for a child but also for a professional and has a story behind it.
[name_f]Vela[/name_f] would fit well with your choices.
It’s end sound is like that of [name_f]Lola[/name_f], but I think it has the longevity to grow with a child.
Also, while it means coast or shore in Sanskrit, it also has a space tie-in as well – making it fit with [name_f]Stella[/name_f] (in associations and end sound). [name_f]Vela[/name_f] is 1 of 3 constellations in the [name_m]Argo[/name_m] Navis (ship) constellation. It is the sails of the ship.
All of your choices are lovely so you can’t go wrong really. I assume Nena is pronounced the same way as Nina?
If it were me I’d choose Flora. I adore this name and think it’s wonderful on a child she a grown woman. And even though your baby is an active one, I don’t see why that makes using a name that seems calm to you (it does to me too) a no go. She may very well be a calm baby/child after all despite her activity inside your belly!
Lola and Stella are lovely names too, just not my absolute favourites (I really like them though). I think they’re both fantastic choices - Lola is such a pretty name without feeling too frilly (except I do know what you mean about seeing it more on a child than an adult) and Stella is strong and, due to an Australian writer/literary prize, has a feminist/literary vibe to it that really strengthens it for me.
Here are some other names you may like:
Astrid
Freya
Lyra
Anouk
Thea
Allegra
Kaia
Margot
Orla
Saskia
Phoebe
Ottilie
Ada
Clementine
Beatrix
Matilda
Liv
Matilda
Paloma
Maya
Araminta
Clara
June
Della
Eloise
Clementine
Anaïs
Eleanor
Chiara
Amelie
Fiora
Giselle
Etta
Iris
Juno
Luella
Ivy
Marlowe
Olive
Frankie
Noa
Primrose
Aurora
Sakura
Marigold
Willa
Xanthe
Florence
Zola
Clover
Isobel
Uma
Alice
Billie
Svea
Tallulah
Pearl
I absolutely adore [name_f]Lola[/name_f]! I’m from Belgium and I get why you say [name_f]Lola[/name_f] has a negative connotation, but I feel like that shouldn’t stand in your way!
[name_f]Lola[/name_f] is spunky and fun, but also classy and timeless, imo. I would definitely pick this name for my own daughter!
I feel like [name_f]Stella[/name_f] is getting a little popular, even though it’s a lovely name. [name_f]Nena[/name_f] is really unique to me, but sound a lot like [name_f]Nina[/name_f] (which I love tho!). [name_f]Flora[/name_f] is beautiful and I had it on my top 10 list for a looong time, but sadly I can’t use it because it sounds a lot like the name from a school bully!
I would go with [name_f]Flora[/name_f] or [name_f]Nena[/name_f]. If you don’t go with a first name with the “a” sound at the end then I would suggest using [name_f]Nena[/name_f] as a middle to honour your journey.
[name_f]Nena[/name_f]: [name_f]Nena[/name_f] is nice, but for me too, it does not feel special enough.
[name_f]Stella[/name_f] is massively overused in the US. Not sure elsewhere. It is my granddaughter’s name but sadly I am already tired of it.
L-O-L-A, [name_f]Lola[/name_f]. Yep.
Of your choices, I love [name_f]Lola[/name_f]. Who knows? Maybe an active child would benefit for a calming name? [name_f]Flora[/name_f] is fresh and alive and lovely.
All of your choices are beautiful so I can see why it’s hard to pick the one!
I really like [name_f]Nena[/name_f] and [name_f]Flora[/name_f] for you as they both hold a lot of significance
[name_f]Stella[/name_f] is gorgeous but feels a little popular
[name_f]Lola[/name_f] makes me think of the song and the wine
If your looking for suggestions
[name_f]Meena[/name_f]
[name_f]Fern[/name_f]
[name_f]Selma[/name_f]
[name_f]Alba[/name_f]
Congratulations! We are expecting in [name_u]October[/name_u] and [name_f]Lola[/name_f] and [name_f]Flora[/name_f] are on our list, as well! So, I love your choices.
You have some lovely suggestions already, but here are some two-syllable names ending in -a that I think sound happy, yet profesh:
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_u]Nova[/name_u] (this is honestly my fave for you! It’s becoming popular in the US, but I’m not sure in the Netherlands)
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Lena[/name_f] (lay-na)
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] (lee-na)
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] (Mee-na)
[name_f]Delta[/name_f]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Mila[/name_f]
[name_u]Luca[/name_u] (I know this name is more common for boys but is becoming more popular for girls in the US and I think it’s lovely!)
I absolutely adore Lola & Flora for you Nena is quite nice too, it’s my aunts nickname actually! I’ve never heard it outside of the Latin/Hispanic community, it’s a form of endearment
Other suggestions for you:
Alina / Elina
Nina
Nova (“New”)
Vida (Life)
Viva (Life)
Alba (means Sunrise or Dawn in Spanish )
Alma (Soul)
Luella
Ella
Vaila
Esme
Elara
Selena
Luna (Moon)
Luz (Light)
I personally really like [name_f]Nena[/name_f], but if it isn’t the right fit then it isn’t the right fit for this baby.
I think I can agree, [name_f]Stella[/name_f] is beautiful but becoming very popular as of late.
Personally [name_f]Flora[/name_f] is energetic to me, especially with the nickname [name_f]Florrie[/name_f], [name_f]Effie[/name_f], or [name_f]Lulu[/name_f].
And if you are uncomfortable with the [name_f]Lola[/name_f] associations than you shouldn’t use it because even if it isn’t overwhelmingly negative, they will always be there and brought up by people.
I love [name_f]Flora[/name_f]! I like [name_f]Nena[/name_f] the least, is it pronounced as [name_f]Nina[/name_f] or differently? [name_f]My[/name_f] rank is [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], and [name_f]Nena[/name_f]
[name_u]Nova[/name_u] has the long O in [name_f]Lola[/name_f] and some of the vibe of [name_f]Stella[/name_f]. I can see it on an adult because it feels a bit powerful but unsure how other people feel.
I think [name_f]Flora[/name_f] could be full of energy, but maybe you like [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] or [name_f]Fia[/name_f]?
If you’ve loved [name_f]Nena[/name_f] for a long time, there’s a reason for it! [name_m]Just[/name_m] because it’s easy, doesn’t mean it’s the wrong choice.
With that said, I do prefer [name_f]Lola[/name_f] and [name_f]Flora[/name_f] to [name_f]Nena[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Lola[/name_f] is a lively, endearing name that I can see suiting anyone from a cheerful child to an elegant adult. I adore [name_f]Flora[/name_f] too - I think it’s graceful and sweet.
All are beautiful names! What about [name_f]Nella[/name_f] (Nela)? That seems like it would blend your favorite names really well.
For what it’s worth, I can see [name_f]Flora[/name_f] on an energetic child and a high achieving adult. It’s a very “spring” name, which is full of life, energy and color! [name_f]Nena[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f], and [name_f]Lola[/name_f] are all really nice - I think you cannot go wrong with any of them!
[name_f]My[/name_f] personal favourite is [name_f]Flora[/name_f]. She’s so upbeat, elegant, sweet and classy. [name_f]Flora[/name_f] sounds happy. In relation to your baby being active in the womb/not suiting such a calm name I would like to say that my baby was also crazily active in the womb so much so if there was ever a moment of calm I would panic rushing down to the hospital to check she was okay. [name_f]My[/name_f] daughter is now approaching 4 months old and is relatively calm little soul so I wouldn’t worry about [name_f]Flora[/name_f] being to calm for your baby that’s active in the womb I don’t think that’s a true reflection of who they are once born.
Concerning your other choices [name_f]Nena[/name_f] feels special to me and it’s nice that she’s a longtime favourite but I think there could be confusion with [name_f]Nina[/name_f] which may prove difficult for her in the future.
[name_f]Stella[/name_f] is popular and it’s understandable why she’s a cool starry name but she may like that specialness you want due to her popularity.
[name_f]Lola[/name_f] is a lovely ethereal almost majestic sounding name she has a cool witchy vibe I’m not sure what negative connotations there are for [name_f]Lola[/name_f] but i think you’d need to decide if they are worth it for [name_f]Lola[/name_f] or not. Is your love for [name_f]Lola[/name_f] stronger than the negative connotations? Personally I wouldn’t want to use a name with strong negative connotations.
Thank you! I love your suggestions - especially [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Margot[/name_f] and [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]. We have a few more weeks to mull everything over but I’m starting to feel like we’re getting close with finding the perfect name!
Thank you! And good to hear that our little one could still be calm once she decides to join us.
Concerning your thoughts about the names - those are exactly my thoughts on [name_f]Flora[/name_f] as well. I love the vintage feeling it has while also being incredibly international, classy, sweet yet cool. [name_f]Nena[/name_f] is still very much a contender, but yes - I wouldn’t want people to think it’s a ‘rip-off’ from [name_f]Nina[/name_f]. [name_f]Lola[/name_f], at least here in the Netherlands, seems to really polarize people. I just see a happy bubbly name, but a lot of people associate it with sex/sexiness. I think it’s because of [name_f]Lolo[/name_f] Ferrari.
Nena is quite nice too, it’s my aunts nickname actually! I’ve never heard it outside of the Latin/Hispanic community, it’s a form of endearment 