I’m currently 28 weeks and I’ve spent this whole pregnancy agonising over these two names… one day I’m completely sold on [name]Marguerite[/name], the next day it simply must be [name]Flora[/name] (We don’t know the sex and boys are even harder!). I absolutely adore both names - they are the clear front runners if this baby turns out to be another girl. I guess the hardest part is leaving one of them behind. It doesn’t help that my husband doesn’t have a clear favourite, either (although I think he might be leaning towards the simpler [name]Flora[/name]).
So… which one do I let go??
I love the chic sophistication of [name]Marguerite[/name] and I enjoy (but don’t [name]LOVE[/name]) the nn options of [name]Margot[/name] and [name]Maggie[/name]. I feel like this name is such an elegant, underused classic. The downside is that it’s quite long and would most likely be shorted to a nn most of the time. (The combination of [name]Marguerite[/name] [name]Edith[/name] is pretty set in stone as [name]Edith[/name] is a family name. I know the flow isn’t perfect, but I’m not too concerned about it.)
[name]Flora[/name] I love for it’s simple and sweet nature, yet there’s substance and history to back it up. I can’t imagine the need to shorten this to anything… it seems so wearable and rolls off the tongue. I love the imagery… but will it age well? Is it as striking as [name]Marguerite[/name]? ([name]Flora[/name] [name]Edith[/name] or [name]Flora[/name] [name]Winifred[/name] are possible combos here).
[name]Flora[/name] is my favorite it of the two. Like you said, it’s sweet but it has substantial history. [name]Marguerite[/name], while still very pretty, is also very heavy. [name]Marguerite[/name] [name]Edith[/name] seems like a weighty name. [name]Flora[/name] [name]Edith[/name] or [name]Flora[/name] [name]Winifred[/name] has a nice balance between the sweet and soft and the beautiful and sturdy.
[name]Hope[/name] that helps and the best of luck!
I really like both! [name]Marguerite[/name] has nn options of [name]Maisie[/name], [name]Daisy[/name], [name]Rita[/name], [name]Margie[/name] to name a few… I wouldn’t let the nn thing be a reason not to choose it! With the middle names in the mix I would lean toward [name]Flora[/name] as she flows better with both [name]Edith[/name] and [name]Winifred[/name]! My vote goes to [name]Flora[/name] [name]Winifred[/name] by an inch though I really like [name]Flora[/name] [name]Edith[/name] too… I think [name]Edie[/name] and [name]Winnie[/name] are too of the most adorable nn’s going if you were willing to consider either up front!
I agree, [name]Flora[/name] is just soft and sweet. [name]Marguerite[/name] is pretty but it can be shortened and it is just a very strong name. I vote for [name]Flora[/name]! I think it will age well too!
What a dilemma! They are both lovely lovely names! And both sound good with either [name]Edith[/name] or [name]Winifred[/name]…
I’ve had to think hard about it but my vote goes to [name]Marguerite[/name]… it is just a little bit more intriguing than the simple but sweet [name]Flora[/name].
For [name]Marguerite[/name] I imagine a serious artist with velvet ribbons in her unruly hair… [name]Flora[/name] I see a windswept free-spirit wearing a floaty dress and gumboots.
I’d probably find myself calling her [name]Mara[/name], [name]Mari[/name], [name]Margo[/name] or [name]Rita[/name] for short… I suppose [name]Flora[/name] may get [name]Flo[/name], which is also cute… (Aunt [name]Flo[/name] aside!)
It’s a tough call because they’re both so gorgeous!
Does one sound better than the other with your surname? As [name]IMO[/name] the flow of the first and last name more important than that of the middle names, as they are the ones which get used in daily life…
The nn options for [name]Marguerite[/name] are not as obvious as other names, so even though it’s a bit longer, I wouldn’t automatically assume people would shorten it. I think you’d have to tell them the nn first. I personally like [name]Meg[/name] for it, so I would wait to see what the parents said before shortening it. [name]Flora[/name] doesn’t have any good nn’s in my opinion, and I would hate the possibility of someone calling her [name]Flo[/name], so I would choose [name]Marguerite[/name] in this case. Also because, like you said, it’s an underused classic, with a French vibe and feminine spunk. I’ve also seen it spelled Margherite/a.
I love [name]Rita[/name] as a nn for [name]Marguerite[/name] but my husband can’t be convinced. [name]Daisy[/name] and [name]Maisie[/name] rhyme too much with my other daughters nn unfortunately. I have considered [name]May[/name]/[name]Mae[/name] but it’s such a stretch.
I have considered [name]Winifred[/name] up front but I feel it lacks the feminine elegance that I think [name]Marguerite[/name] and [name]Flora[/name] have. I do love it though and [name]Winnie[/name] is rather adorable. [name]Edith[/name], though lovely, isn’t the best fit stylistically with my daughters name… and I just don’t seem to love it as much.
@ slave bracelets Thanks so much for your in depth response. [name]Both[/name] sound pretty good with our surname so it doesn’t make the decision any easier! I love the descriptions you gave… I agree, there is much more mystery with [name]Marguerite[/name] which I love… and probably suits a larger variety of personalities than [name]Flora[/name]…?
@theclocktowerofjoy - Couldn’t agree more. Why isn’t [name]Flora[/name] super popular?!? Crazy! (I really do see this one catching on soon though!)
@christinamariane - I’m glad you think I could get away with just using [name]Marguerite[/name] in full. [name]Meg[/name] is cute! Also… I kinda like [name]Flo[/name]! heh!
I don’t envy your situation. Those two names are absolutely amazing choices! [name]Marguerite[/name] was on my list with my last babe but went with another flower name instead. [name]Flora[/name] is so sweet and familiar but not over used. My vote goes to [name]Flora[/name]!
[name]Both[/name] are beautiful names, but for me [name]Flora[/name] has the edge over [name]Marguerite[/name]. Its just a sweet, delicate name and it ages well.
I vote for [name]Marguerite[/name] hands down. It has a vintage charm and I love the saintly and royal history of the name. It sounds substantial but friendly, strong but feminine and more grown-up than [name]Flora[/name] ever could. Sorry but I’m not the biggest fan of [name]Flora[/name]. It pales in comparison and sounds flighty and flimsy next to [name]Marguerite[/name]. [name]Marguerite[/name] [name]Edith[/name] isn’t the best as far as flow is concerned but these two names have so much depth that I would be willing to overlook that fact.
[name]Both[/name] are so lovely and vintage.
I had a great aunt [name]Marguerite[/name]. I don’t care for any of it’s nicknames, so I would put [name]Marguerite[/name] in the middle. My great aunt wasn’t called anything other than [name]Marguerite[/name], as far as I know.
I love [name]Flora[/name] though! It is even more vintage and exotic than [name]Marguerite[/name]. It has a bit more spunk!
I would go with [name]Flora[/name].
