Ella/Ellie is getting popular as a given name and a nn, but it's not up with the Emma/Emilys, I don't think. I think it's very pretty and a solid, stand-alone name.
I think Calla would be a very good choice for you since you both like the nn Callie. I think Calla sounds a little more sophisticated if she chooses to use it when she's older. I also once knew a cat named Callie, so it's a little hard for me to get past that. :-)
I didn't like Cora for a long time, but it's really been growing on me, and I think it's nice b/c it's slightly different, but not "out there."
Other names you might like: Cara, Caroline, Carolyn, Carissa, Carrie/Kari.
Also, what about Elizabeth with the nn Ellie, Lizzie, or Libby?
For mns, I like to use family names, but Callie Kathryn sounds a little too sing-songy for my tastes. JMO, though.
If our baby was a girl I was trying desperately to convince DH to name her Callie, only we would have spelled it different (Cali) and it would have been short for California! LOL! Can you tell I miss it there? LOL!
Anyway, of all the names you listed I think Callie is beautiful and would sound lovely when you're screaming at both kids! (Avery and Callie get your butts to your room!) Tee hee!
personally I like Calla, I can't really say why - I guess it sounds classic and different at the same time. I like that.
I think that Callie is also good. That would be my second choice. I guess it could get old telling people that it isnt short for anything but I think that would happen less after she is born. Before the baby arrives everyone seems to feel the right to criticize and ask questions. After the fact, I think you would still get people asking - and she probably would be asked to some extent her whole life - but less so than now. If you introduce her as Callie most people would just go with that.
Ella - I love! but it is too popular for me.
Cora - I agree with DH, dont really know why I dont like it, I just dont.
Hi Jen!!! Love your name choices!! Sorry you're having such a hard time deciding. It is a difficult decision.
Ella-I love this one but it is too popular for my tastes. When I was in high school there were tons of Melissa's, so I hate overly popular names as well.
Cora-I've already said how much I love this one. Maybe it will grow on dh?
Calla & Callie- I think these are both beautiful!!! If it will bother you so much with everyone thinking Callie is a nn, go with Calla nn Callie. Then she will have the option using either as she grows up. DH can stick with Callie if he likes it more than Calla. Do you like Callista nn Callie?
I don't really like any of these names with the mn Kathryn (except for Ella) due to them all starting with the same sound. Sorry! :) GL!
Melissa TTC#1
C11, Taking a break from Clomid after 3 cycles
Dealing with Male factor issues-low count, motility, & morphology
I really like the name Calla, but it's also my favorite flower (Calla Lilly). I like the name Callie, but you might as well go with Calla then. :) Ella is very pretty, but like you said, it's getting to be very popular. You could use it as a middle name...Callie Ella. (hhmmmm, not so sure) I think Kathryn would go with any of those names. Very pretty!
Good luck in your decision. Hope I could be of some help. You should do one of those polls that gives you a chart.
As an Annie who is constantly asked what my "real" name is, my two cents is to suggest that you go with a more formal given name for the nickname you want.
I like the suggestion of Calista. Do you like Callis? Callas is the last name of a famous opera dive, Maria Callas, but I think it could be pretty as a first name, but prefer the Callis spelling.
Since Callie is my favorite of the possibilities, here are some longer forms that might work as a given name...
As the mom of an Ella, I can tell you it is getting VERY popular. My Ella was born in 1997 & is an Eleanor, nn Ella. when we named her Ella was LESS popular than Eleanor..can you believe it?!?! She has yet to meet an Eleanor/Ella her age but there are a slew of them that are 5 & under. Of your choices I like Cora the best...it is fresher than Ella. Cora works alone or you could go with the more formal Cordelia. What about Eleanor nn Nora? I sometimes wish we would have gone with nora as her nn-tho' now it's hard to think of her as anything BUT Ella. Other names with the same feel: Violet Viola Lucy Mae Alice Frances Hazel Ada Beatrice Georgia Hattie Genevieve
HTH Andi mom to: Eleanor Katherine(05-97) Joseph Patrick(08-99) Henry Thomas(02-02) Lucy Elizabeth(05-05)
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My favorites off your list are Ella and Calla.
Ella/Ellie is getting popular as a given name and a nn, but it's not up with the Emma/Emilys, I don't think. I think it's very pretty and a solid, stand-alone name.
I think Calla would be a very good choice for you since you both like the nn Callie. I think Calla sounds a little more sophisticated if she chooses to use it when she's older. I also once knew a cat named Callie, so it's a little hard for me to get past that. :-)
I didn't like Cora for a long time, but it's really been growing on me, and I think it's nice b/c it's slightly different, but not "out there."
Other names you might like: Cara, Caroline, Carolyn, Carissa, Carrie/Kari.
Also, what about Elizabeth with the nn Ellie, Lizzie, or Libby?
For mns, I like to use family names, but Callie Kathryn sounds a little too sing-songy for my tastes. JMO, though.
Good luck making a decision!
Stephanie
Fancy meeting you here, girl!
I happen to LOVE LOVE LOVE the name Callie!
If our baby was a girl I was trying desperately to convince DH to name her Callie, only we would have spelled it different (Cali) and it would have been short for California! LOL! Can you tell I miss it there? LOL!
Anyway, of all the names you listed I think Callie is beautiful and would sound lovely when you're screaming at both kids! (Avery and Callie get your butts to your room!) Tee hee!
~Denise~
personally I like Calla, I can't really say why - I guess it sounds classic and different at the same time. I like that.
I think that Callie is also good. That would be my second choice. I guess it could get old telling people that it isnt short for anything but I think that would happen less after she is born. Before the baby arrives everyone seems to feel the right to criticize and ask questions. After the fact, I think you would still get people asking - and she probably would be asked to some extent her whole life - but less so than now. If you introduce her as Callie most people would just go with that.
Ella - I love! but it is too popular for me.
Cora - I agree with DH, dont really know why I dont like it, I just dont.
Meg
It's a GIRL!!

Hi Jen!!! Love your name choices!! Sorry you're having such a hard time deciding. It is a difficult decision.
Ella-I love this one but it is too popular for my tastes. When I was in high school there were tons of Melissa's, so I hate overly popular names as well.
Cora-I've already said how much I love this one. Maybe it will grow on dh?
Calla & Callie- I think these are both beautiful!!! If it will bother you so much with everyone thinking Callie is a nn, go with Calla nn Callie. Then she will have the option using either as she grows up. DH can stick with Callie if he likes it more than Calla. Do you like Callista nn Callie?
I don't really like any of these names with the mn Kathryn (except for Ella) due to them all starting with the same sound. Sorry! :) GL!
Melissa TTC#1
C11, Taking a break from Clomid after 3 cycles
Dealing with Male factor issues-low count, motility, & morphology
Mommy to 3 dogs (Midnight, Phoebe, Snickers), 2 cats (Bogie, Lotus),
Hey Jen!! What a dilemma!!! :) haha....
I really like the name Calla, but it's also my favorite flower (Calla Lilly). I like the name Callie, but you might as well go with Calla then. :) Ella is very pretty, but like you said, it's getting to be very popular. You could use it as a middle name...Callie Ella. (hhmmmm, not so sure) I think Kathryn would go with any of those names. Very pretty!
Good luck in your decision. Hope I could be of some help. You should do one of those polls that gives you a chart.
Amanda
First off Jen - LOVE the new siggy!
As an Annie who is constantly asked what my "real" name is, my two cents is to suggest that you go with a more formal given name for the nickname you want.
I like the suggestion of Calista. Do you like Callis? Callas is the last name of a famous opera dive, Maria Callas, but I think it could be pretty as a first name, but prefer the Callis spelling.
Since Callie is my favorite of the possibilities, here are some longer forms that might work as a given name...
Calida
Calantha
Callia
Calais
With your son Avery- I would probably choose Ella...but that is just me *wink*
Callie could be a NN for Calliope, Callis (Cah leese) or even Callahan (this one could work for Calla too)
Middle Name Ideas......
Callie or Calla -- Margot, Matisse, Monet, Renae/Renee, Rianne
Cora - Lynn, Leanne, Louise, Maquinna, Sinclair, Shannon, Tierney
Ella- Kathryn, Theresa**, Celeste, Claire, Greer, Morgan, Mirais, Maureen, Patrice, Pearl
HTH- good Luck
As the mom of an Ella, I can tell you it is getting VERY popular. My Ella was born in 1997 & is an Eleanor, nn Ella. when we named her Ella was LESS popular than Eleanor..can you believe it?!?! She has yet to meet an Eleanor/Ella her age but there are a slew of them that are 5 & under. Of your choices I like Cora the best...it is fresher than Ella. Cora works alone or you could go with the more formal Cordelia. What about Eleanor nn Nora? I sometimes wish we would have gone with nora as her nn-tho' now it's hard to think of her as anything BUT Ella. Other names with the same feel:
Violet
Viola
Lucy
Mae
Alice
Frances
Hazel
Ada
Beatrice
Georgia
Hattie
Genevieve
HTH
Andi mom to:
Eleanor Katherine(05-97)
Joseph Patrick(08-99)
Henry Thomas(02-02)
Lucy Elizabeth(05-05)
Andi
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