Baby girl #2 is coming soon. We love the name Cecilia! Want to make sure the name goes with big sister Isla and flows ok enough with our last name (similar to Christiansen, the “Chris” has a "K sound not a “C” sound).
Which do you like best?
Cecilia
Emilia (or Amelia)
Lena
Thank you!
If your last name also starts with a C, I would say [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] C- might be too much alliteration, however, I love [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]!
[name_f][/name_f]I think Emilia/Amelia (personally I prefer Amelia) goes best with your daughter’s name and last name!
Thanks so much!! The C in our last name is actually a “K” sound–does that make a difference?
I love [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]!
[name_f][/name_f]It’s one of my favourites. The repeated ‘s’ and long ‘e’ sounds in it create such a musical effect I haven’t found in many other names. Interestingly, the exact same sounds which make [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] feel so delicate and pretty also make her feel fierce and bold [name_f][/name_f]- there’s just something about it. That makes it a perfect name [name_f][/name_f]- one with flair, history, strength and feminity.
[name_f][/name_f]It’s also one of those names everyone has heard, but I’ve only really seen it used in books [name_f][/name_f]- I would probably struggle to name any real people I know of, famous or otherwise, who are called [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] 
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] and [name_f]Isla[/name_f] are nice names for sisters! Obviously they are different styles, but they go together, I can totally see the appeal of both. They are sweet and lovely names; [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] is classic and [name_f]Isla[/name_f] is more modern/on-trend, but [name_f]Isla[/name_f] is well-established enough (and the whole Isla/island thing makes it different from a lot of other popular names, imo) and [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] fits in with the top names of today, so it doesn’t feel strange at all. I kind of like that both names end in ‘a’ [name_f][/name_f]- it sounds nice when you say it aloud [name_f][/name_f]- and I’m loving the contrast of [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] being longer and [name_f]Isla[/name_f] being shorter. When you put these two names together, the set has a real sunny vibe. I think of beaches and the ocean.
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_m]Christiansen[/name_m] (or similar) would be a genuinely cool name to have. I like that it’s technically alliteration, but in fact the ‘c’ makes a different sound in the first name and surname. It reminds of [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], a combo which I’ve seen being thrown around on Nameberry [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_m]Christiansen[/name_m] also just looks nice and kind of balanced (soft name vs sharp surname) on paper.
[name_f]Lena[/name_f] strikes me as a bit incomplete, and a name like [name_f]Lena[/name_f] [name_m]Christiansen[/name_m] only heightens the difference [name_f][/name_f]- you’ve got a long and formal-ish surname and a first name that pales by comparison. [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] is fine, elegant and pretty in theory, but I’ve never actually liked the sound of it, or of [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]. I’ve seen [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] being described as ‘sticky’, and that about sums it up [name_f][/name_f]- there aren’t enough strong sounds to balance out the softness, so it just doesn’t sound memorable to me.
[name_f][/name_f]This post got away from me a bit, but, yes [name_f][/name_f]- use [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f].
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] is my favorite! It’s beautiful, I like the alliteration with your last name.
I adore [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]! [name_f][/name_f] I think it pairs brilliantly with [name_f]Isla[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]My[/name_f] hesitation with your surname is not the repeated C’s—but it is a lot of syllables? [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] flows similarly, so I don’t know that that makes me want to pick it over [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f], but it is pretty! [name_f][/name_f] I think I like [name_f]Lena[/name_f] best in terms of flow, but I like [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] best overall! [name_f][/name_f] All your options are lovely, though, and would be lovely with your daughter’s name.
[name_f][/name_f]Good luck!
Thank you so much for your thoughts and helpful response!! This is all so helpful, especially hearing that the flow of the first and last name work to you! I love hearing that [name_f]Isla[/name_f] and [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] fit well and especially that you think they have a sunny, beachy, ocean vibe–we love the beach and [name_f]Hawaii[/name_f] 
[name_f][/name_f] Thank you!
Thanks so much! I agree, it’s a long name when you put [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] with our last name–I wish it was shorter like [name_f]Isla[/name_f] is but still love it (and my full name is long, which I married into the last name, but it’s been ok to say aloud I suppose).
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] or [name_f]Emilia[/name_f], I’d say
I like [name_f]Lena[/name_f]! International, sweet and bright.
[name_f]Love[/name_f] [name_f]Lena[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- I think it’s so pretty and classy
I prefer [name_f]Lena[/name_f] with [name_f]Isla[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] Both are bright and sunny, I like your other choices but feel [name_f]Lena[/name_f] goes best with [name_f]Isla[/name_f].
I say go for the name you love! [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] is gorgeous!
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]My[/name_f] first and last name are alliterative (and I wouldn’t even say potential Cecilia’s name would be) and I’ve been told it sounds like a superhero, a reporter, a star … not all the rules we’re told to avoid in naming are negative things!
I think [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] and [name_f]Isla[/name_f] are beautiful together! And since your last name starts with a K sound I think it’s totally fine.
Thank you all for your thoughts! I meant to add that we would likely use [name_f]Cece[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]. Does this help at all in terms of length of the name?
[name_f]Isla[/name_f] and…
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Esme[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite for you is [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] As suggested, I would consider using a middle name beginning with a C, perhaps………
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] C.hristiansen
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] certainly works with [name_f]Isla[/name_f] as a sister set, and I think it’s fine with your last name. If that’s the name you love, you should go for it.
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]My[/name_f] personal favorite from your list is [name_f]Lena[/name_f]. I think it’s perfect with [name_f]Isla[/name_f].
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] for sure! It seems like your favorite, and I think it pairs great with your K last name, and feels like a natural sister name for [name_f]Isla[/name_f]!
Thank you all!! Does Cece as a nickname sound good with the last name/work with sister Isla also? I think Cece is adorable and know that a longer name like Cecilia might need a nickname. Thank you! @ashthedreamer @rosajune @Evergreeninrain @ajo @LibelluleClaire @diane921 @ellerbea @Greyblue @Avonleamusings @GinnyPotter