I think we may have a top 2 (team pink!)

Ceridwen21

Thanks for the love, BNB! We are very excited to meet our little girl, and of course I am thrilled because girl names are so much fun!

DH and I had some talks this weekend, and it looks like we are settled on a top 2.  Zara and Gloria.  I believe I've already done a poll on these two names before so I won't bother with that again, but I would love to hear specific feedback on both names, and also feedback on what kind of sibset vibe you get from each name paired with Oscar (sibsets are very important to me).

To review our FN criteria: Works well in English and French (we are an English-speaking family but live in Quebec), classic but underused, max. 3 syllables (long last name).

MN will be Myfanwy after my grandmother (pronounced muh-van-wee and means "my beloved" in Welsh).  Non-negotiable, so don't bother poo-pooing it if you're not a fan   LN sounds like Pannobello.

So which do you prefer and why? What's the sibset vibe for each paired with Oscar Rhys?

Zara vs Gloria.  GO!

Manderlin923

I prefer Gloria with Oscar. It's the baby sister in the Frances books and I have always loved it. I also like the nn Glory. Zara is lovely (on my list actually) but I don't like it as much in your case.

WestIsleFlower

I really like Gloria with Oscar I'm just not a fan of Zara, I think it might get confused with Sarah in some cases.

catahoulatte

I feel like Zara works best with Oscar. While Gloria is lovely and classic, it feels like the "safer" choice.

Ceridwen21

WestIsleFlower said:

I really like Gloria with Oscar I'm just not a fan of Zara, I think it might get confused with Sarah in some cases.

Yes, that is my worry with Zara.  I'd rather not have her constantly correcting people.

1A

I like Zara better with the mn.

harveys10

Love Gloria!

theholmanherd

I like Zara and Oscar. All of your names are more common in Latin America, but since both French and Spanish are Latin-based (and are 2 of the 5 Romance languages!) they flow well in either language. I chose Zara because I've met many Oscar and Gloria sibsets and as cousins (I'm Cuban) so it sounds more common to me. Good luck!

ETA: I am assuming Zara is pronounced ZAR-uh. If pronounced ZARE-uh (like Sarah), that would probably make people think her name was Sarah unless they were looking at her written name. If you are thinking of pronouncing it like Sarah, I would just stick with Gloria rather than give her a lifetime of correcting people by saying 'Sarah with a Z'.

Jags8

I prefer Gloria. Really dislike Zara.

Helenahhandbasket

I am swooning over both names.

I am giving Gloria the slight edge because of the ridiculously charming NN Glory.

Ceridwen21

I pronounce Zara like ZAR-AH.  It is very similar to Sarah, and even more so in French where both S and Z followed by an A are pronounced really, really similarly.  Like, almost impossible to distinguish.

I love how I have very Latino taste in names, considering how far removed I am from the culture.  I know I got a lot of compliments on Oscar from my Latina colleagues!

Ceridwen21

Helenahhandbasket said:

I am swooning over both names.

I am giving Gloria the slight edge because of the ridiculously charming NN Glory.

Yes, I am loving Glory.  I am at a loss for NNs for Zara... I do like nicknames and Ozzie is what really sold me on Oscar.

DIY7

Love both, but prefer Gloria a bit more.

shindylahoe

I personally adore Zara. I think it's spunky and beautiful

CiderWench

Zara is darling, and my personal preference, but I do think Gloria goes slightly better with Oscar as a sibset. Really, though, you can't go wrong with either.

Irishcurls

Helenahhandbasket said:

I am swooning over both names.

I am giving Gloria the slight edge because of the ridiculously charming NN Glory.

Samsies!

ETA: Congrats on Team Pink! Yay!

rmbrjry

WestIsleFlower said:

I really like Gloria with Oscar I'm just not a fan of Zara, I think it might get confused with Sarah in some cases.

This.

Jennifer2008

I think Gloria is gorgeous, and it seems like a name that is classic and will grow well with a little girl. Zara is really NMS. 

sweetpeace13

Love love love Zara. Gloria makes me picture an old lady smoking pall malls who works at a bowling alley

strawberrytree

Gloria edges out Zara for me, just because I think it would be annoying to have to constantly correct people that it isn't Sarah. 

Kitty Holland

The reason I don't like/ wouldn't use the name Zara is because it's the name of a large retail chain of modestly priced women's clothes stores all accross Europe and soon to be as common in the US (and Canada?) as H&M.

Ceridwen21

Yes, we have the stores in Canada.

brooklynesque

Imagining francophones pronouncing Gloria makes me giggle -- it will sound awful.  I'd go with Zara if you think you'll be among French speakers for most of her childhood.

nittanyllama

I prefer Zara. I think it goes great with Oscar and the mn and ln.

diamondduck13

CabbageCabbage said:

I prefer Gloria. I really like it. It is old fashioned and pretty. Zara feels more splashy and "aiming for cool." I somewhat like it but not nearly as much as Gloria. 

This. I'm not a fan of the names that feature X and Z, feels trendy and as cabbage said "aiming for cool", which is NMS. Gloria and Oscar go very well together

Ceridwen21

brooklynesque said:

Imagining francophones pronouncing Gloria makes me giggle -- it will sound awful.  I'd go with Zara if you think you'll be among French speakers for most of her childhood.

How so? It sounds quite beautiful in French, I think. 

FeelingClucky001

My name is Zara and I have only occasionally had to correct people with spelling. No big deal as here Zara is pronounced Zar-uh, unlike Sarah which is pronounced Sare-uh (like care), and is extremely uncommon. The retail store is only just being introduced here so there is little comparison to that, however I have occasionally been asked "like the store?" while traveling through the US and Europe. I've also just returned from living in France and there were definitely no issues with pronunciation there. I hope this helps a little with your concerns. That being said, I actually prefer Gloria with Oscar as a sibset! Lovely name

==N==

I love Zara! I also have a great association with it. I only know one, she's maybe 50 and has accomplished so much in her life, she's a great person.

Gloria is ok. I feel like it's a style if normally like, but I just don't love it.

LimaD

Wow I'm actually loving Zara....my only concern would be her constantly correcting people who call her Sarah.
Gloria is also very sweet, and I do think it goes better with Oscar. so although they're VERY close, I'd vote for Gloria

Ceridwen21

Thanks, everyone! An informal poll of some close family and friends has Zara in the lead, but I think I'm leaning a bit towards Gloria. We'll see! Still many weeks to decide. @FeelingClucky001 - thanks, I love hearing directly from someone who has the name.