Top Twenty Girls' Names: Opinions?

[caroeliese]

I just adore names. I love the history and meaning behind them, the sound. Girl names are harder for me to narrow down than boy's names; I appreciate strong and unique names, particularly those with historical or mythological meaning. Comments and suggestions? Which are your favorites and least favorites?

Amelie
Vivien
Aurelia
Lenore
Ariadne
Lorelei
Cora
Brenna
Blair
Aislinn
January
Harlow
Isla (this one's getting so popular though, so I might throw it out)
Bronte
Lilou (short for Liliane)
Holiday/Holliday
Harper
Isolde
Valentina
Virginia

[encore]

My favorites are Aislinn and Valentina

[hsort]

I love Lilou, and at one point had it on my list for my daughter. We ended up naming her Lily Hope, though. I received overwhelmingly negative responses from people when I mentioned Lilou! I also like Holiday (nn Holly), Aurelia & Harper. Good luck!

[watermellie]

My favorites from your list are:

Amelie- I love this name and all other -lie names!
Vivien- Sounds so fresh and "vivid". I like this spelling the best.
Bronte- Love the literary connection of this one.

Other names I don't really like but don't dislike either:

Aurelia- Love the meaning (golden?) but don't admire the sound as much (sort of frilly).
Lorelei- Bit clunky, had a major crush on this name for a while a few months ago.
Aislinn- Like the Ashlinn spelling, pretty enough. Note: You put Aislinn twice on your list.
Cora- Ok. Just not interesting enough.
Lilou- Bit flimsy, but pretty.
Harper- Popular!

Names that I openly dislike:

Lenore- Reminds me of a fat girl with blonde hair, and big silver braces.
Ariadne- No idea how to pronounce this one! Ariad-nay?
Brenna- Fat grandmother.
Blair- Too masculine for me (I like distinctly feminine names, not frilly either).
Harlow- See above!
Isla- Popular AND too light.
Holiday- ???
Isolde- Reminds me of the word "sold". As in, Child: Sold.
Valentina- Romancy and Valentine's Day.

Hope I gave some good advice! You have a nice list.

[rocknrollwife]

Favorites:
Vivien
Lorelei
Cora
Harlow
Holiday (Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my absolute favorites, so I've tossed around the idea of Holiday as a MN. So glad to see it on someone else's list!)

[mischa]

Amelie - a pretty French gem

Vivien - I go back and forth on this name. I like the Vivian spelling the best but it's a fine name from Welsh mythology.

Aurelia - I'm not usually a fan of frilly and feminine names but Aurelia is one of the few exceptions. A classic Roman beauty!

Lenore - I knew a neurotic woman with this name so it's tainted for me. I prefer Leonora.

Ariadne - An unusual Greek mythological name that may cause spelling and pronunciation headaches.

Lorelei - I knew a smart and sassy woman named Lorelei so that's the image this name gives me.

Aislinn - Not my favourite Irish name. Again, spelling and pronunciation issues.

Cora - I know an Italian Cora (full name is Corradina). Nora and Cora are both pretty but getting popular.

Brenna - OK but nothing exciting. I would stay away from most "BR" names due to their trendiness (Brielle, Brianna, Briley, Brailey, Brighton, Brinley etc...). These types of names all sound the same after awhile.

Blair - Blah

January - This month has a happy feel to it but it may still be too strongly associated to Mad Men's January Jones.

Harlow - A celebrity child name plus a Hollywood glamour name (Jean Harlow). Too bad with just one letter change, it would be harlot.

Isla - The love I had for this name has diminished somewhat.

Bronte - While I appreciate the literary connection, this name sounds harsh and brutal for a girl (like Bronson). Perhaps it would be better in the middle spot.

Lilou (short for Liliane) - Too cutesy for a full name but ok for Liliane's nn

Holiday/Holliday - A guilty pleasure name for me. Best in the middle.

Harper - Harsh, unattractive and one of the trendiest names around. Avoid it like the plague!

Isolde - The Welsh connection is great but even though it's pronounced differently, I really struggle with the way it looks (I sold).

Valentina - I prefer Valentine because I'm not a fan of "tina" names.

[xiao noelle]

Bronte is my favorite on your list. Jane Eyre fan here. I would use Bronte if it went well with my last name, but it does not.

[c@29]

I love your list Especially:
Lenore
Ariadne
Lorelei
Bronte
Lilou
Harper
Isolde

Least favourite would be :
January
Blaair
Harlow
Brenna

[danishnames]

Amelie: Really nice, this is on my list as well, and is about the girliest on my list.
Vivien - Cute
Aurelia - OK, an interesting take on something that sounds like Aurora.
Lenore - Love this, wish I could use it, but it doesn't work in my other language
Ariadne - Nice
Lorelei - ALL I can think of is Gilmore Girls...
Cora - Really nice
Brenna - Not my style - in Icelandic it means fire, though, which I think is kind of cool
Blair - Not my style
Aislinn - Nice!
January - Not my style at all
Harlow - I don't know, have never thought about this name before.
Isla (this one's getting so popular though, so I might throw it out) - It is cute though
Bronte - Cool, more of a mn potential for me, love the literary associations
Lilou (short for Liliane) - I like Lilou, it has the same exotic French cuteness as names like Esme, Amélie, Manon
Holiday/Holliday - Don't like this at all. I think it pops out as strange in your list of very nice names
Harper - OK, NMS, but I realize its potential
Isolde - Love it, would never be brave enough to use it myself
Valentina - Just ok, too long and girly and Italian for me
Virginia - Same as above, less Italian though


Some suggestions (I have especially included names of a literary/mythological nature):
Freya
Serena
Leda
Eleanor
Beatrice
Rosalind
Thisbe
Juliet
Viola

[starstung]

Amelie - Cute but I have trouble saying it. Is it Uh-meel-lee?
Vivien - Love! Just prefer the Vivienne spelling more.
Aurelia - Eh, learned the name when I learned Latin. Like the meaning, not so much the sound.
Lenore - Cute! I've been looking for more nor names (My favorite is Honora)
Ariadne - Yes! Learned this for Roman mythology, it's one of my favorite mythological names
Lorelei - Nope, don't like the sound or spelling.
Cora - A thousand times yes!!
Brenna - NMS
Blair - It's growing on me because of Gossip Girl
Aislinn - NMS
January - I wouldn't use it but it's solid and easy to remember
Harlow - NMS
Isla - NMS, not enough substance for my taste
Bronte - NMS
Lilou (short for Liliane) - Only like Liliane
Holiday/Holliday - Only as a middle name
Harper - Heard it all the time when Wizards of Waverly Place was on, but it never grew on me
Isolde - NMS
Valentina - One of my favorites!
Virginia - It has a sweet, thick sound to it, but it also reminds me of ham