Two names starting with "CL" too much??

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2005
Two names starting with "CL" too much??
12
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 3:41am

Hi there,

I have a beautiful two year old girl called Claudia and am due in January.

I don't know what I'm having but if it is a girl I have a penchant for names starting with C, in particular Claire and Clarice.

Do you think it's strange having two names starting with CL??

The other name combination I love is "Ava Grace" but my husband prefers "Eve Grace". Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Gordana
Mum to Claudia
Due 1/26/07

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 3:59am

Claudia and Clarice/Claire are extremely matchy, to the point that it takes away from the beauty of each individual name. When people hear them together, it's much harder to appreciate each name on its own, because they're so similar it sounds like you chose them for that exact purpose. Kind of like you used a name you loved for the first, then the closest thing to it for the second, either because you thought it would be "cute" or because you couldn't come up with anything as good for the second child. They just blend together into a cutesy mess, KWIM?

You don't have to abandon the names altogether if you truly love them, but I'd reserve them for the middle name slot and give this dd a name as good as the first (without nearly giving her THE name of the first). You might also like some names with similar sounds that aren't as similar -- Laurice, Blair, Lara, Maren, etc.

As to Ava Grace, keep in mind that this exact name, first and middle, is a overwhelmingly popular combination. If it doesn't bother you that she will likely meet other little girls with her name in full -- probably even have another Ava Grace in her class -- it's a nice name. Much more common than Claudia, however.

Eve isn't quite as popular, but all the "Eve" names seem to be following right behind Ava as less-common alternatives. Eve Grace, however, doesn't flow well at all. Since both names are only one syllable, the combination sounds very abrupt.

HTH

~Kelli




Edited 11/6/2006 9:05 am ET by mommyagain6124

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 6:30am

I love C names, too. On my list are Caroline, Cordelia, Clara, Cora, Camilla, Clare, Charlotte, and Claudia. Clearly, I'd never be able to use all of them, since people would assume that I chose the names only because they match and not because of my love for each one individually. Claudia is quite matchy with the names that you have picked out (Clarice and Claire), but I hesitate to say that you absolutely shouldn't use one, since I know how you feel.

If you're planning more children after this one, though, that's where it becomes a problem. I've known several women in your shoes, and after having two children whose names "match," they feel that the next ones have to match, too. This is true even if they hate the trend of matchy names, and never would have foreseen themselves using them. Somehow, they feel shoe-horned into giving the third child a matchy name because they "don't want him/her to feel left out," and then when the fourth or fifth comes along, they feel the same pressure. A woman on this board just said exactly the same thing about her new daughter's name (she has daughters already, and all their names start with A. She doesn't really like any A name but feels pressure to use an A name anyway).

There are other names that have a similar feel to the names on your list (my personal favorite would be Blair instead of Claire. I think Blair has a bit more of a timeless quality anyway, and it's not seen as often as Claire).

As for Ava Grace, I think it looks a little off next to Claudia. Claudia is gorgeous and graceful and strong, while Ava Grace just seems overused. I, personally, can think of 5 little girls with this exact name, not to mention all the other little girls named Ava and Grace, or Eva Grace, or Emma Grace, or Ellie Grace. I'd step away from Ava and Eve...both are SOOOOO popular right now.

Avatar for bradleyteach
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2001
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 8:15am

I wouldn't match the 2 CL names together as first names, but since you like Ava, I'd suggest maybe doing Ava Claire - or Eva Claire (I'm not a big Eve fan)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2003
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 2:01pm
I think those 2 names would sound nice w/ Claudia. While I do like the name Ava/Eve, they are becoming quite popular so I think you should go w/ one of the "Cl" names.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2006
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 5:00pm

Oh my gosh!

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-24-2006
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 8:24pm
I think Claudia and Claire are fine because the rimes are different. I like Ava, but not Eve. Eve has an old sound to it while Ava is youthful and "today." Ava Grace is a lovely combination.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2006
Tue, 11-07-2006 - 11:35am
I think that it's perfectly fine. The names you've chosen are very cute, and I love your daughter's name.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2005
Tue, 11-07-2006 - 3:42pm

Hi ladies,

Thank you so much for your fabulous and honest responses - You have given me a lot of food for thought!

How bizarre Annette that we are both due on the same day and both have Claudia's ... ! I don't know about you, but I have this 'feeling' that I am going to go into labour as much as 3 weeks early (I was a week early with Claudia). Would love to hear how things go with you!

Regards,
Gordana

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Tue, 11-07-2006 - 9:43pm

I would DEFINATELY avoid another C name, especially another Cl name. Claudia is so beautiful and using another C name would take away from that. Ava is way too popular, I definately prefer Eve, but Eve Grace is choppy and very short next to Claudia. How about:

Marina

Karina

Fiona

Sarah

Rebekah

Aurora

Paloma

Adeline/Adelaine/Adelaide/Addie

Bronwen

Delilah

Delia

Dahlia

Mara

Felicia/Felicity

Theresa/Tessa

Amelia

Nicola

HTH
-Nikki


                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2001
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 12:19pm

I don't think that two daughters with names starting with "Cl" is too much, but I would think it too much if you chose a name for one daughter that had both a fn and mn that started with CL. So, for example, Claudia Clementine seems like a bit much, but Claudia AND Clementine (2 daughters) doesn't. :-)

I like Clarice- it's a nice name and not overused.

As far as Eve Grace goes, I'm not really a fan. I think the name sounds a little "choppy" and doesn't really flow all that well. Both of the names are nice on their own, or paired with another name that has a lilting, flowing quality to it, but this name sounds very...the best way I can describe it is-- "abrupt"...

Best of luck!

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