See the results of this poll: Which would you choose?
Respondents: 76 (This poll is closed)
- Emily (“Em”) : 47 (62%)
- Erica: 29 (38%)
Tough call! I like [name]Emily[/name] a lot but I would have the same concern that [name]Emily[/name] and [name]Lily[/name] sound a bit too similar. It’s enough that it would make me pick [name]Erica[/name] over [name]Emily[/name], I think. [name]Erica[/name] is a pretty name which has the added bonus of not being as popular as [name]Emily[/name]. It’s a little dated, but I don’t know that this is necessarily a bad thing. But I’m not sure if [name]Emily[/name]'s popularity and similarity to [name]Lillian[/name] are enough reasons to let go of a name that you really love. You probably can’t go wrong with either but I am leaning slightly towards [name]Erica[/name] for the reasons mentioned.
[name]Even[/name] though [name]Emily[/name] Is verty cute, there is the popularity issue, so I chose [name]Erica[/name]. I once new an [name]Erica[/name]-she was really sweet. We were friends in Kindergarden and then I never saw her again… 
I think that if their full names are [name]Emily[/name] and [name]Lillian[/name] that those aren’t that close and nn of [name]Em[/name] and [name]Lily[/name] are very sweet together. As long as you aren’t planning on calling her [name]Emily[/name] all the time while using [name]Lily[/name] for the other one I think you are fine, especially if you love the name!
I prefer [name]Erica[/name] as it does sound more individual and is less common.
Thanks for the feedback!
[name]Emily[/name]. [name]Erica[/name] is too dated and [name]Lillian[/name] and [name]Emily[/name] sound lovely together.
I went with [name]Emily[/name]. Ordinarily I’d pick whichever was least popular, but [name]Emily[/name] is just so much more likeable than [name]Erica[/name]. It feels like a mean-girl name to me, and I haven’t even encountered any mean Ericas.
So tired of little emily’s
You could also consider [name]Emma[/name] or browse other [name]Em[/name]- starting names? [name]Erica[/name]'s very 70s and there been quite a lot of [name]Emily[/name]'s since both [name]Emma[/name] and [name]Emily[/name] were close to the top of the list.
As tired as I am of hearing [name]Emily[/name], I think I would go with that. I just don’t see [name]Lillian[/name] and [name]Erica[/name] together. [name]Erica[/name] is very dated. [name]How[/name] about instead:
[name]Emilia[/name]
[name]Elise[/name]
[name]Ella[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name]
I chose [name]Emily[/name] but I agree with picking another [name]Em[/name]- name. [name]Emma[/name], [name]Emilia[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name] (in which case you could spell [name]Em[/name] ‘[name]Emme[/name]’), or at the very least, [name]Emilie[/name]. I don’t like the idea of two names ending in - ily, even if one’s a nickname.
I think [name]Emily[/name] and [name]Lily[/name] are too close, however [name]Emily[/name] and [name]Lillian[/name] “go” better together than [name]Lillian[/name] and [name]Erica[/name] do. [name]Erica[/name] vs. [name]Emily[/name] though, I’m voting for [name]Emily[/name]. It’s a lovely classic…which is why it’s so popular!
I also like a pp’s suggestion of [name]Emma[/name].
My DH’s sister is [name]Emma[/name], so that’s out. I like [name]Emilie[/name], but my DH worries it would just be misspelled as [name]Amelie[/name] all the time. Unfortunately I don’t love [name]Emmeline[/name]- it feels made up to me.
I can’t think of any other [name]Em[/name] names! Any suggestions?
I dislike the harsh, dated sound of Erica. If you’re considered about the Emily/Lily similarity (I wouldn’t be), you could always opt for something similar to Emily. I originally thought of Emma or Emmeline, but since those are nixed I found some other Em- names:
Emilia
Emmy
Emmett
Emmanuelle
Emelia
Emiliana
Emlyn
Emerson
Emery
Emina
Ember
Emerald
There’s also a few that are similar but lack the Em- prefix:
Amelia (Amy?)
Imogen
Amabel
Melinda
Amalthea
Odelia
Melina
Melia
Well, I’m an [name]Erica[/name], so I’m biased. 
I absolutely love my name. I’ve only ever met, oh, maybe 5 other [name]Erica[/name]'s, and most spelled it with a ‘k’-- not that spelling matters as it sounds the same. There aren’t many nicknames, but people have called me [name]Eri[/name], [name]Ric[/name]/ki, and [name]Larka[/name] throughout my life. I mostly go by my full name though. The few [name]Erica[/name]'s I’ve met have been pretty similar to me, which is odd, but hey, it’s true! We’re athletic, funny, confident, creative and sweet. Did I mention confident? 
I adore [name]Emily[/name], though I don’t think it ages quite as well as [name]Erica[/name]. It feels very young. If her auntie is named [name]Emma[/name], and her big sister is called [name]Lily[/name], I find it much too close to both names. Personally, I wouldn’t go with another [name]Em[/name] name.
If [name]Erica[/name] doesn’t feel quite right, you might want to consider [name]Annika[/name]. [name]Love[/name] it myself, but feel it’s too close to my own name to ever use it. [name]Annika[/name] feels a little fresher than [name]Erica[/name], at least in the US (not sure where you are). There’s also [name]Danica[/name].
I know far too many Emilys. [name]Erica[/name] feels a bit fresher.
I’ve met a couple of lovely Ericas and too many Emilys, even though they were mostly lovely, I even have a favourite book character of the same name.
[name]Erica[/name] is a delightful name, though it doesn’t have the softness of [name]Emily[/name]…but [name]Emily[/name] seems to be the new [name]Sarah[/name] (or even the new [name]Emily[/name]), it’s all a bit relentless.
[name]How[/name] about [name]Elspeth[/name]?
I don’t think [name]Emilie[/name] will be misspelled as [name]Amelie[/name] (different name/different pronunciation), but I do think it will be misspelled as [name]Emily[/name] since this is the more common spelling. Of course whether it’s spelled with a -y or an -ie, it’s still slightly confusing to me as the nicknames [name]Em[/name] + [name]Lily[/name] sounds very similar to [name]Emily[/name], and [name]Lily[/name] + [name]Em[/name] sounds very similar to [name]Lillian[/name].
The only others I can think of are [name]Emmalyn[/name], [name]Emery[/name], or [name]Esme[/name]. But if [name]Emily[/name] nn [name]Em[/name] and [name]Lillian[/name] nn [name]Lily[/name] doesn’t bother you, go for it!