New girls list and don't know how to feel

[east93]

I like, Mara, Marie, Hazel, Lilith, Lilac.
Keep in mind the story of Lilith, perhaps it may not matter to you but just in case it does. : )

[kala_way]

Lilith - I love the name Lilith, it's the title of one of my favorite books (George MacDonald is a stud!). I think it's definitely usable! Lilith Niamh, Lilith Reina
Lilac - I think it's pretty, definitely sweeter, I don't think it's more usable than Lilith, but it's definitely more familiar--no spelling/pn probs. I like it a lot as a middle and a little as a first. Lilac Niamh
Raina/Reina - Reina Lilith is beautiful. I think I prefer it with an e but it's really a toss up, both are pretty
Opal - I prefer Opal to Hazel, it just feels more fresh. Opal Claire or Opal Clara is lovely
Hazel - Hazel Dove is beautiful. I like it a lot. I'm not usually too fond of Hazel but with a reason and with a good mn it could work.
Mara - this seems quite dull compared to your others, I think it's a good nn option for Marigold or other pretty Mar- names.
Marie - Have you heard of Marja (pronounced Mar-ee-uh). I have a friend with this name and I think it's beautiful.
Esther - I definitely think Tera could work, or even Tess! Esther Niamh is very exotic sounding.
Siofra - I wouldn't know how to pronounce this off the bat, and Shefra sounds like a superhero to me.

[stripedsocks]

I like, Mara, Marie, Hazel, Lilith, Lilac.
Keep in mind the story of Lilith, perhaps it may not matter to you but just in case it does. : )

I sort of like the story. I grew up with the folklore of her as Adam's first wife who was created at the same time as his equal. But I do worry other people will hear it in a negative way so I'm glad to see so many people like it or don't mind it.

Lilac has such a different feel that I know I am not about to really have two girls named Lil- but I can't decide.

A few people have said "Just go with Lily" but I do not think I want to do that - no offense to the many gorgeous Lilys out there.

Mara - this seems quite dull compared to your others, I think it's a good nn option for Marigold or other pretty Mar- names.

It's funny you say that. I sort of liked the coincidental 2 syllable firsts all down the line... but Mara feels "smaller" than a lot of the others? Less solid? Not sure why.

Lilith - I love names ending in th. They are so rarely used.

I love them too. Lilith also did much better with my husband than Elspeth did, lol. I am worried about people turning the -th into -f though they seem to handle Elizabeth so maybe it will be fine.

Esther - This name has grown on me too! I really like it. It's so soft and pretty. What about Esta, Estee, Etta as a nn?

I really like Estee and Etta as nicknames. Esta is cute... but its good I think its cute... as that is how in my husband's accent he says Esther. He has tragic lack of r's. So not much of a nickname there for us. But I fortunately don't mind the sound, though I will probably keep saying Esther with an -er sound on the end forever.

Thank you all for your help and input. I have to keep working on syllable counts though I think.

[emiliaj]

I like Opal and Lilac.
Offbeat Nn option for Opal "Gem"?

[jasmine.lee]

LOVE Reina/Raina, Siofra and Marie!

~Jasmine

[allthatglitters]

Raina: I think it's okay as long as the middle name isn't a word. Because it's so close the word "rain", you run into the "rain of" problem that you mentioned if the middle name is a word (i.e. Raina Emerald). It could sound nice with a middle name that starts with a consonant and is not a word. I think Raina looks much prettier than Rayna.

Reina: I like it. It looks regal, and the multiple meanings make it interesting. She might get some mispronunciations, like "Reena" or "Ray-ee-nah", but people should be able to figure it out. It isn't complicated.

Mara: I love this name. I think it's beautiful and underused. I've never known a Mara, but I knew an Elizabeth Mara.

Marie: Beautiful as a first name. Everyone expects it to be a middle, so it sounds fresh as a first.

Hazel: The name itself is okay. Hazel Dove is quite hippy, in my opinion! It sounds a little over-the-top.

Opal: I'm not a fan because the only Opal I've ever known was a really mean elderly woman. If you use it, Claire is my favorite of the middle names. I think Pearl is a lot prettier, if you want something similar.

Esther: Hmm... too old-fashioned for me, sorry! I just don't think it's very pretty, even in a vintage way. I agree that the meaning ("star", if I remember correctly) is very nice!

Lilith: I like it, but it is a bit hard to say. It might be better suited as a middle name. People will probably call her Lily.

Lilac: Better! I also like Lavender.

Siofra: Beautiful. I don't know what country you live in, but here in the US it would get mispronounced often, which may be a problem. I would have guessed "Sho-fra".

Why would a 2 syllable first name be a problem? It depends on how many syllables your last name has. My first and last both have two. I think they clash, but the syllables may not be the problem.

Of all of your names, my favorite combination would be Mara Lilac.

[samjaymc]

Raina
Reina - I prefer this spelling to the above one.
Mara - I prefer Mariah
Marie - I like this, but I would probably only use it as a middle name, with something more substansial
Hazel - I think this is pretty
Opal - Not sure about this for a FN, though I do like Opal Beatrice
Lillith - Personally, I think this needs a longer first name for this to work.
Lilac - Works better as a middle, I think.
Siofra - I really can't get the jist of this. The spelling confuses me.
Esther - I like this, but I prefer Estella

[ljandrl]

I love love love Lilac! I also really like Mara and Marie, and Reina and Siofra are intriquing.

How about:

Lilac Aurora
Lilac Vivien
Lilac Marigold
Lilac Marie
Mara Lilith
Mara Lilibet
Mara Beatrix
Mara Felicity
Mara Vivien
Marie Rosanna
Marie Lucinda
Marie Opal
Marie Esther
Marie Lilibet
Marie Tabitha
Reina Lilac
Reina Marie
Reina Vivien
Reina Penelope
Reina Persephone
Reina Iris
Siofra Lilac
Siofra Marie
Siofra Lilibet
Siofra Opal
Siofra Aurora
Siofra Vivien
Siofra Annabel
Siofra Louise

Good luck!