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HelpFrancesca or Serena
My husband and I are expecting any day now and we cannot settle on a name for our little girl.
The majority of the pregnancy we liked Madeleine as my husband is French and Maddie would be a cute NN. Too many people put us off with Madeleine McCann comparisons.
We both really like Francesca but I am also a fan of Serena. I actually love Sabrina but too many people would think, teenage Witch.
Middle name is likely to be Catrine or Margot.
We would rather avoid a name from the top 100 - we are based in the Uk
The majority of the pregnancy we liked Madeleine as my husband is French and Maddie would be a cute NN. Too many people put us off with Madeleine McCann comparisons.
We both really like Francesca but I am also a fan of Serena. I actually love Sabrina but too many people would think, teenage Witch.
Middle name is likely to be Catrine or Margot.
We would rather avoid a name from the top 100 - we are based in the Uk
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Replies
I prefer Francesca.
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I like them both about the same level but if I absolutely had to pick one I would probably go with Francesca.
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Madeleine is my favorite of your choices. I live in the UK and I know a girl named Madeleine and no one seems to think of Madeleine McCann... but maybe the association bothers you. A shame, because it really is a lovely name.
Serena Catrine and Serena Margot are lovely. Serena Catrine is light blue and head-in-the-clouds; Serena Margot is more down-to-earth and neatly balanced.
I like Francesca too, although it's quite heavy - maroon or deep purple velvet. I find it very intense. Francesca Catrine is very elegant and Francesca Margot is serious and solemn.
I would pick Serena Margot or Francesca Catrine.
Serena was #389 in England & Wales in 2021, Francesca was #110, Madeleine was #293.
Other suggestions (rank in England & Wales 2021 for first name):
Anastasia Catrine (#135)
Anastasia Margot
Annabelle Catrine (#109)
Annabelle Margot
Felicity Catrine (#123)
Felicity Margot
Hermione Catrine (#674) - too Harry Potter?
Serena Catrine and Serena Margot are lovely. Serena Catrine is light blue and head-in-the-clouds; Serena Margot is more down-to-earth and neatly balanced.
I like Francesca too, although it's quite heavy - maroon or deep purple velvet. I find it very intense. Francesca Catrine is very elegant and Francesca Margot is serious and solemn.
I would pick Serena Margot or Francesca Catrine.
Serena was #389 in England & Wales in 2021, Francesca was #110, Madeleine was #293.
Other suggestions (rank in England & Wales 2021 for first name):
Anastasia Catrine (#135)
Anastasia Margot
Annabelle Catrine (#109)
Annabelle Margot
Felicity Catrine (#123)
Felicity Margot
Hermione Catrine (#674) - too Harry Potter?
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You are very intuitive, Felicity, Anastasia and Hermione were also on the list! Felicity I still love. It feels light and airy. Hermione - my husband isn't as keen.
Annabelle is sweet but I personally feel there are too many 'Ella' and 'Bella' sounding names out there at the moment.
Catrine is after my late grandmother, but I could be tempted to adapt this to Catrina as it has a softer sound to it. Margot is also a family name. - well Margaux but I feel the spelling throws people so would opt for the simpler version.
I love your response. Thank you.
Annabelle is sweet but I personally feel there are too many 'Ella' and 'Bella' sounding names out there at the moment.
Catrine is after my late grandmother, but I could be tempted to adapt this to Catrina as it has a softer sound to it. Margot is also a family name. - well Margaux but I feel the spelling throws people so would opt for the simpler version.
I love your response. Thank you.
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Oh I would definitely use the family names as mn the Margaux spelling wouldn't matter as it would be a mn
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I don’t think Madeleine is that tied to that case anymore, but I’m in Australia not UK, it might be different over there. If you’re worried about the association, would you consider spelling it Madeline to change it slightly/make it less obvious?
The first combo I thought of out of the names listed is Francesca Margot - I think it’s quite stunning! Also maybe you could use Madeleine as a middle name? Francesca Madeleine or Serena Madeleine are very pretty. I also second a_kid’s suggestion of Serena Margot.
The first combo I thought of out of the names listed is Francesca Margot - I think it’s quite stunning! Also maybe you could use Madeleine as a middle name? Francesca Madeleine or Serena Madeleine are very pretty. I also second a_kid’s suggestion of Serena Margot.
This message was edited 12/12/2022, 10:43 PM
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I have no clue who Madeleine McCann is off the top of my head, my first association with Madeleine is the little cartoon girl and aside from that it just sounds like a name.
I like Francesca a lot, Serena too but I think Serena is likely to go out of style faster than either Madeleine or Francesca.
I don't like Sabrina as much as Serena, but I think Sabrina is fine. I've met plenty of people named Sabrina who aren't overwhelmed by teenage witch comments, plus Serena also has Serena Williams as a famous example. It's almost impossible to find a name with no well-known associations at all.
I'd like these:
Madeleine Catrine
Francesca Margot
Francesca Catrine
Serena Margot --- this is what I'd pick if I had to use one right now. I prefer Francesca but I'd be afraid of the nickname "Frankie" so I'd pick Serena if I had to choose one of these for my own baby.
Sabrina Margot
I think Catrine is better than Margot in general but Margot is good too and it sounds better with most of these names. Serena and Sabrina have that "reen" sound which is too repetitive with Catrine. Francesca also seems to flow better with Margot.
I like Francesca a lot, Serena too but I think Serena is likely to go out of style faster than either Madeleine or Francesca.
I don't like Sabrina as much as Serena, but I think Sabrina is fine. I've met plenty of people named Sabrina who aren't overwhelmed by teenage witch comments, plus Serena also has Serena Williams as a famous example. It's almost impossible to find a name with no well-known associations at all.
I'd like these:
Madeleine Catrine
Francesca Margot
Francesca Catrine
Serena Margot --- this is what I'd pick if I had to use one right now. I prefer Francesca but I'd be afraid of the nickname "Frankie" so I'd pick Serena if I had to choose one of these for my own baby.
Sabrina Margot
I think Catrine is better than Margot in general but Margot is good too and it sounds better with most of these names. Serena and Sabrina have that "reen" sound which is too repetitive with Catrine. Francesca also seems to flow better with Margot.
This message was edited 12/12/2022, 3:37 PM
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Good reply. :)
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It doesn't seem to me that a missing person case from 15 years ago should make a normal name unusable, but if that's what everyone seems to think of, then I guess you have to take it into account.
I think both Francesca and Serena are nice, but prefer the former, for no reason I can articulate.
I think both Francesca and Serena are nice, but prefer the former, for no reason I can articulate.
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Serena Katrine, Serena Francine or Serena Marguerite
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Congratulations! Serena Margot all the way.
This message was edited 12/12/2022, 2:37 PM
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