Leona

alliejo725

Thoughts on this lovely name? Particularly with a big sister named Monica?

It's ranked #993 currently (fally from 970-something), with around 200 babies being named this last year. So I'm on board with its (lack of) popularity.

SarahPLiz

Helmsley. That's the first thing that comes to mind.

But then I think of my aunt Leona and I like her, so I guess its ok. I'm not in love with it though.  

wdc*bride

It's on my middle name list to honor my grandfather.  I think it's okay, I'm not in love with it.  It feels very old-lady to me, and I am usually on board with those names.  

FWIW, another name on our list, which I like better, is Leonie.  It's also a traditional, old-school name, but has a prettier, more modern feel to it.

rels09

I love it. It's currently #3 on H's and my girls' list, maybe higher for me. To me, it feels just as fresh as the other "old lady names" that have experienced recent resurgences.

ah625

I love it. I think it's rapidly climbing in popularity however.

alohamora

Love it.  And it sounds great with Monica.

Saltina11

NMS.

alliejo725

ah625:

I love it. I think it's rapidly climbing in popularity however.

Yeah....apparently you missed my statement previously. In 2009, it was at #973. In a year, it fell 20 places to #993. Definitely not climbing. Thanks for speculating, though! I've already fact-checked, however.

alliejo725

rels09:

I love it. It's currently #3 on H's and my girls' list, maybe higher for me. To me, it feels just as fresh as the other "old lady names" that have experienced recent resurgences.

Yeah, I agree. It's refreshing but not on the upswing. And I like that it doesn't necessarily sound "old" the way other "old lady names" do (I'm a big fan of "old" names, but DH isn't, and Monica certainly doesn't work well with the likes of Imogene or Matilda).

alliejo725

wdc*bride:

It's on my middle name list to honor my grandfather.  I think it's okay, I'm not in love with it.  It feels very old-lady to me, and I am usually on board with those names.  

FWIW, another name on our list, which I like better, is Leonie.  It's also a traditional, old-school name, but has a prettier, more modern feel to it.

I don't know how I feel about Leonie. It seems like something that would make a lot of people go, "Wait, what?". Thanks for the suggestion, though. I'd like to give it some time to grow on me.

alliejo725

CARunner:

I think Leona goes REALLY well with Monica.  That's a great sibset.  

I have never met a Leona and the only one that comes to mind would be Leona Lewis. But who cares, as long as your last name isn't Lewis. haha.

I think it's a great name that I can easily picture on a little child as well as an adult. 

Ha, yes---last name isn't Lewis. She's my first association with the name, too, which doesn't really bother me. I think it makes the name feel "fresher" and "younger," which isn't a negative for me at all.

FrecklesInside

I'm not a huge fan but it's not bad. I do think it sounds good with Monica. I know older names are trending but this one still sounds too old to me..

GL!

mrs_tacos

I love it, but my DH won't consider it.

rels09

alliejo725:

CARunner:

I think Leona goes REALLY well with Monica.  That's a great sibset.  

I have never met a Leona and the only one that comes to mind would be Leona Lewis. But who cares, as long as your last name isn't Lewis. haha.

I think it's a great name that I can easily picture on a little child as well as an adult. 

Ha, yes---last name isn't Lewis. She's my first association with the name, too, which doesn't really bother me. I think it makes the name feel "fresher" and "younger," which isn't a negative for me at all.

I agree about Leona Lewis.

moonfaerie

Leona Lewis made me really like this name. She's very gifted and so pretty in somewhat of an offbeat way and it just made this name grow on me.

It also sounds good with Monica, so I think you've got a winner.