I'd like to pick something pretty and classic that's easy to spell and pronounce and not TOO popular. This is an early list... would love your thoughts!
Eleanor
Olivia
Charlotte
Eloise
Julia
Evelyn
Caroline (last syllable pronounced "line" not "lynn")
Leah (pronounced "lee ah" not "lee")
Harriet
Elena (pronounced "ah LAY nuh")
Meredith
Re: Your thoughts on our list for a girl?
I like all of them but Eloise (that was my nasty gma's nae) and Harriet (a little old lady for me).
Some of them are just nice variations or less common names that you don't hear too often but are very pretty (like Elena, Julia, and Meredith)
LOVE Charlotte and Caroline, but they're all very nice. Ditto what's been said about the popularity of Olivia - we are using it as a MN (Catherine Olivia) because we can't get over how much we love it. I would just caution that the spelling you have for Elena might get pronunciations of ELLE-in-uh. I have seen that spelling pronounced that way before (and love both names).
BFP 1- EDD 2/09/11 Missed MC DX @11 weeks D&C- 7/25/10 BFP 2- EDD 12/22/11 Natural MC @ 5w 2d BFP 3- EDD 1/25/12 DD Josephine born 1/16/12
I like them all except Harriet. Just too old lady to me.
My favorites are Eloise, Evelyn, Caroline and Meredith.
I know a lot of Eleanors, Olivias, Charlottes and Leahs.
I really love the name Eloise. Julia and Meredith are also lovey classic names you don't hear very often these days.
Love: Caroline
Like: Eleanor, Julia, Evelyn
Over it: Olivia, Charlotte
Honestly, your list is nice. If you don't want TOO popular though, I'd definitely eliminate Olivia.
Eleanor - a little too old sounding
Olivia - adorable but overused
Charlotte - love it
Eloise - cute
Julia - eh
Evelyn - beautiful name
Caroline - really like it
Leah - LOVE Leah, it's my niece's name
Harriet - also too old
Elena - LOVE
Meredith - eh
Of your list Elena gets my vote with Leah a close second.
I really like Elena!