Need help on baby girl names

I’m just a couple, short weeks from finding out whether my first is a boy or a girl. While I’ve always been a name fanatic, I just can’t find any names that I’m completely in love with, despite a mile long list of favorites i have had for years before I got pregnant! Now, nothing seems “good enough”. So, I’m looking for help on girls’ names that I keep coming back to. I’m open to suggestions on names that have similar feels to the ones I’ve listed.

First names:
[name]Alaya[/name] or [name]Alaia[/name]
[name]Ella[/name]
[name]Eliana[/name]

[name]Ella[/name] is SO’s choice and while I like it a lot, he wants to use the middle name [name]Denise[/name] after his deceased mom. Obviously, I respect the fact that he wants to honor her, but I am also not a huge fan of the name. I have no idea how to get around this other than to use two middle names, which I’m not sure he would go for. Since [name]Ella[/name] is so common, I would prefer to give her a middle name that is more unique. Thoughts, suggestions, and comments are welcome!

Thank you!

I love [name]Ella[/name] and while you may not like [name]Ella[/name] [name]Denise[/name] I kind of like it. It sounds charming to me. I also like [name]Eliana[/name] [name]Denise[/name] too! But if [name]Denise[/name] is going to be the middle spot and you are not a fan of [name]Ella[/name] [name]Denise[/name] or [name]Eliana[/name] [name]Denise[/name] what about,

[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Ava[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Sophie[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Sophia[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Marisol[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Vivian[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Anastasia[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Elle[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Emilia[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Evangeline[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Emmaline[/name] [name]Denise[/name]

Not sure if this is your style but I figured I would give it a try anyway!

I think [name]Ella[/name] is my favorite of the three, but I agree with you that [name]Denise[/name] isn’t one of those names that people day dream about. What was his mom’s middle name or maiden name? Were either of those more unique and/or useable? Or what about using a shortened version like [name]Dena[/name] or [name]Denny[/name]?

I also like the PP’s idea of using a longer [name]Ella[/name]-like name. You could even use [name]Ella[/name] as a nickname.

Thanks for your responses and suggestions. Unfortunately, his mom went by her middle name. Her first name was [name]Judith[/name] after her mother, which is definitely the worst of the 2, in my opinion. Her maiden name was [name]German[/name] and definitely would be an odd middle name for a boy or girl. I’ve thought about using two middle names, like [name]Ella[/name] _ [name]Denise[/name]. Doubtful my SO would go for it, but I feel like it would be my only chance to get a middle name I like, too. Unfortunately, I don’t know what middle name I would use with [name]Ella[/name], even if he would go for it. I would prefer something a little more unique than traditional MN’s like [name]Marie[/name], [name]Grace[/name], [name]Kate[/name], [name]Rose[/name], etc. Suggestions are welcome for that, too. Thanks again!

I only like [name]Alaia[/name]. It’s so pretty.

What about
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Eve[/name] [name]Denise[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name] (so many great nn options) [name]Denise[/name]

[name]How[/name] about another D name instead of [name]Denise[/name]?

[name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Danae[/name]
[name]Diana[/name]
[name]Dorothy[/name]

[name]Love[/name] [name]Alaia[/name]!

[name]How[/name] about a “D” name with a “[name]Denise[/name]” sounding middle name ie.

FN:
[name]Daniella[/name] (has the [name]Den[/name]/dan sound=[name]Denise[/name])
[name]Delilah[/name]
[name]Dahlia[/name]
Dalira
[name]Dalina[/name]
[name]Delaney[/name]
[name]Dahliana[/name]
There is even the options of [name]Dalella[/name] or [name]Danayla[/name] if you want names similar to the ones you already like ([name]Danayla[/name] would be best fitting if you want the '[name]DEN[/name]'ise sound)

MN:
[name]Elise[/name]
[name]Clarise[/name]
[name]Anise[/name]
[name]Chenise[/name]
[name]Venice[/name]

Something else you could do is simply change the last letter of her name to an ‘a’ and you have a “Denica” as a variation to [name]Danica[/name] (or just use [name]Danica[/name] itself!)

Ooh, great names, love [name]Eliana[/name]. Some vaguely similar ones:

[name]Elena[/name]
[name]Elara[/name]
[name]Liana[/name]
[name]Helena[/name]
[name]Alessa[/name]
[name]Amalia[/name]
[name]Della[/name]
[name]Nell[/name]

Best of luck!

I like [name]Eliana[/name] the best of yours. Not the biggest fan of [name]Ella[/name] or [name]Alaya[/name]. Try these similar suggestions!

[name]Acacia[/name]
[name]Adelia[/name]
[name]Amadea[/name]
[name]Amara[/name]
[name]Atarah[/name]
[name]Aurelia[/name]
[name]Bryony[/name]
[name]Cassia[/name]
[name]Elara[/name]
[name]Eleni[/name]
[name]India[/name]
[name]Isannah[/name]
[name]Italia[/name]
[name]Linnea[/name]
[name]Marina[/name]
[name]Mattea[/name]
[name]Olympia[/name]
[name]Oriana[/name]
[name]Rosalia[/name]
[name]Talia[/name]
[name]Viviana[/name]