Dissect my Top 25... Brutal honesty wanted!!!

[lea]

Evangelista is a mouthful. if you used that i would find a nn, like Evie or Ever (2 of my favorites)
Cena would be too weird, as you said meaning dinner in two common languages... plus the wrestler with the ln Cena... i would use Cenna, Cinna (like Cinnamon) or Senna

[dovah]

1. Sidra-- I think if you're going with something unusual, it should also sound interesting. This is just kind of boring to me.
2. Calla-- Calla always seems incomplete for some reason. Calla Lily is a really cute name, but maybe for a puppy over a child.
3. Callia-- KAL-ee-uh would be pretty. Kal-EE-uh reminds me of Kahlua... which is not pretty. This has too many different pronunciations for me.
4. Cena-- Familiar with John Cena, the pro wrestler? Cause every kid in my neighborhood is.
5. Cassia-- I don't think any pronunciation of this is very pretty.
6. Gioia-- There's a lot going on in that spelling.
7. Aviva-- This sounds like a wrinkle cream. Vivian is nice.
8. Elizabeth-- Classic and always beautiful.
9. Caroline-- Not one of my favorites, but a solid name.
10. Camille-- I love this name. I would consider it for myself if I had not given it to a dog as a child. Familiar while still being different.
11. Carmen-- It's composed of "car" and "men"... not very feminine or pretty to me.
12. Veronica-- I always felt this name is very harsh sounding. I also really dislike the nickname Ronnie.
13. Anna-- Simple and sweet.
14. Evangelista-- This reminds me of those TJ MAXX commercials where they use the term "Maxxinista" like fashionista. Evangeline would be a lot prettier.
15. Hilary-- I've never liked the sound of this name. Not really sure it's ready for a comeback.
16. Simone-- Ever since the science fiction movie, I assume all Simones are androids.
17. Brynna-- This is definitely not my style. Brenna would be ok, but I don't like the trendy "y"
18. Margaret-- Margaret is a favorite of mine. I like Mary and Greta, also. Daisy could really be a nickname for anything, so you don't have to use Margaret just for that reason.
19. Bronwyn-- Not a fan of this. Very harsh sounding.
20. Prisca-- Kind of like Priscilla, in that it's hard to like a name for a girl that starts with "priss"
21. Parisa-- Looks like you're trying to glamorize Paris.
22. Tessa-- Beautiful. Love it.
23. Vivia-- Why not Vivian?
24. Milana-- Like Parisa... Seems faux-class
25. Helena-- I like the huh-LAY-nuh pronunciation very much. I agree, HELL-uh-nuh reminds me of a cheesy porn name. Hi, I'm Helena Handbasket....

Favorites:
Elizabeth
Caroline
Camille
Anna
Margaret
Tessa

Pretty much all of your boring choices... sorry.

The only ones I really don't like (because I don't think they work) are Cena, Gioia, and Evangelista.

[usagurl4]

1. Sidra- Despite the feminine "a" ending, I honestly view this more masculine. Other than that, it is original and unique (in a good way)!
2. Calla- Very simple, very sweet.
3. Callia- I pronounce it the first way. I'm personally not a fan. The extra syllable turns me off haha. Stick to Calla.
4. Cena- Not a fan. To me, it sounds like "see ya".
5. Cassia- I prefer ca-sha lol. Other than that, all prounciations are lovely. Very pretty, but becoming ever so popular.
6. Gioia- Too many vowels. Looks like a mouthful.
7. Aviva- Vivian is much nicer if you want to have the nickname Viv.
8. Elizabeth- This has alreads been a dated, ugly name for me. Sorry to any Elizabeths out there. I know it is a classic, but I find that it is boring.
9. Caroline- Never been a fan of state names. Exception includes Virginia.
10. Camille- Never liked this name. Sounds harsh. I just picture a mean woman.
11. Carmen- I'm in the same boat as you! I have a hard time finding a non spanish middle name that sounds good paired with it.
12. Veronica- It's alright.
13. Anna- This is a classic name I adore.
14. Evangelista- I have a hard time saying this name.
15. Hilary- Woo for Hilary Clinton! haha, I think most people would think Hilary Duff anyways. With that being said, I find it to be unpleasantly boring.
16. Simone- Another boring name.
17. Brynna- It's interesting. I lean on the "slightly like" side of the name scale.
18. Margaret- I rather see a girl named Daisy over Margaret.
19. Bronwyn- Not a fan. Maybe because I just don't like the color borwn haha
20. Prisca- I am fond of this name. I also like Priya.
21. Parisa- Not a fan.
22. Tessa- Becoming so popular! Growing up, my best friend was named Tessa. She was spunky and fun. Not too smart haha but everyone loved her.
23. Vivia- Very pretty!!!
24. Milana- I prefer Milena.
25. Helena- I don't like this name at all. Reminds me of an elderly lady.

[beautiful_haiku]

20. Prisca- I am fond of this name. I also like Priya.

I really like Priya! I knew a few girls in college named Priya... They were all Indian and very pretty! I was concerned that Priya would be mistaken for Prius the car.

[azurer]

Love:

Calla- Love this one, very pretty.
Callia- Both pronunciations sound nice to me and it looks pretty. Prefer this one over Calla, actually.
Cassia- Love! Prefer the first pronunciation.
Aviva- Gorgeous, but like someone suggested, it does sound a bit like a medication of some sort.
Elizabeth- Timeless and beautiful, would like to see this in the fn spot.
Camille- Same as Elizabeth.
Carmen- Very pretty. I've met many Carmens of many different ethnicities, don't see that an issue.
Veronica- Gorgeous.
Evangelista- Prefer Evangeline over this one.
Hilary- It's nice, as a middle name.
Simone- Simple and pretty.
Margaret- Love! Almost named my daughter this
Bronwyn- I like this, but Bronwen looks prettier.
Vivia- Beautiful! I also like Viviana.

[jenna5128]

You have SO many beautiful choices. I would cross off anything for which you've had to include a pronunciation guide. Anything that requires direction on how to pronounce will haunt/saddle your child for life with "it's pronounced such-and-such" and the frustration of having her name butchered by ignorant/unfamiliar teachers & employers.

Since you have so many names to choose from, that will shorten the list considerably. You're left with:

Sidra
Aviva
Elizabeth
Caroline
Camille
Carmen (I'd say choosing a Latina name is fine if you're not French and not concerned about Camille or Simone, no?)
Veronica
Anna
Evangelista
Hilary
Simone
Margaret
Bronwyn
Tessa

All great names that will never confuse anyone. Just my opinion.

[name-guru]

I can only say that Vivia is the only name I like from this list and as Vivia Hilary, Vivia Anna or Vivia Helena

[sheflieswithherownwings]

Sidra isn't great IMO. I dislike that it means Cider and I don't think it has a pleasant sound.
Calla just sounds trendy and very incomplete.
Callia isn't any better than Calla IMO.
Cena is the last name of a popular wrestler and I think it's well associated with him so I wouldn't use it.
Cassia is gorgeous but I only like the pronunciation Cass-ee-uh rather than Cash-uh.
Gioia is one I wouldn't have known how to pronounce without you writing it. The spelling looks bad too.
Aviva is the name of a car insurance company in the UK but without that it has a nice sound.
Caroline is very dated in the UK and I couldn't imagine meeting a little girl these days named Caroline.
Elizabeth is a classic that you can't go wrong with, although I may be a little biased being an Elizabeth.
Camille is sweet and simple and very underused.
Carmen is lovely.
Veronica is one I really want to like because of the potential nickname Roni but everbody seems to think of verucas.
Anna is boring.
Evangelista is just very OTT. Evangeline/a would suffice.
Hilary is very, very dated.
Simone makes a nice middle name.
Brynna has a horrible sound, can't see any appeal in it.
Margaret is alright not my favourite old fashioned name though. I prefer Martha.
Bronwyn is okay, prefer Elowen and Olwen.
Prisca isn't my style and I don't like the sound.
Parisa is lovely, I love the sound of this one and I used to really like the combo Parisa Lily.
Tessa is too nicknamey for me, but it's still quite sweet.
Vivia just seems incomplete, would prefer Vivian/Vivienne.
Milana is alright, don't really like the sound. Milena is lovely though (prn. Mil-lay-nuh).
Helena is nice enough, I prefer the Huh-lee-nuh pronunciation I think!

Most of the names on the list aren't my style but my favourites are Parisa, Simone, Helena, Carmen, Camille, Elizabeth and Cassia.

[flick]

I am pretty excited to see Parisa on someone else's list! I think it's so sweet and has a beautiful meaning. "Like a fairy".

[beautiful_haiku]

Any thoughts on Marlaina? I actually prefer it spelled Marlena and pronounced "mar lay nuh" but I thought the spelling Marlaina might help guide others to that pronunciation. I can't stomach Marlayna... It's too much butchering.

So, yes, Marlaina... What do we think?