DH and I have refined our lists for both boy and girl names. After DH did some kind of 'mathematical approach' to narrowing down the choices, our top boys' name was my first choice, so I'm happy to leave that!

But with girls' names one came out on top but wasn't a clear winner. The top two choices are Francesca and Daria. I think I'm leaning one way and DH is leaning the other. Middle name will most likely be Margaret.

So, what do the EB name gurus think? I know Francesca often gets positive feedback here, but what do you think of Daria, and how does it compare?

I like both names, but Francesca more. I also think Francesca sounds better with Margaret

Francesca definitely. Stunning name

Francesca by a thousand miles

Daria. By miles.

I don't usually post in these threads but I love Francesca Margaret, just love it.

Daria is nms at all sorry.

Francesca by a country mile.

Wow. I actually love both of them.

Francesca is a beautiful name but the nickname Fran or Frannie would put me off. Frankie is cute.

Daria is gorgeous.

Great choices... sorry I'm not much help! If it is a girl, I'd wait and see what suits her.

I quite like Daria but Francesca is in another league for me - I love it.

Not a fan of Daria.

Oooh hard decision. I love both, and agree with the PP about the nicknames 'Fran, Frannie, etc'. I think a "wait and see" approach may work too.

Love Francesca with nn Frankie

My vote goes to Francesca. When I hear Daria, I always think of that cartoon and how funny yet depressing she was.

Daria 100% . I love it.

Francesca seems so overused, I also hate all of the 'fran', 'franny' nicknames. Used in full, it is a stunning name though .

I think Francesca is lovely as long as you don't use the hideous and masculine nickname of Frankie with it.

Daria screams daggy.

Thanks for all the replies. My preference is for Francesca, so I seem to be with the majority. Like the PPs neither DH or I are keen on Fran or Frannie as nicknames but we both like Frankie.



I loved that show! It doesn't put me off the name. It makes me think that if we did have a Daria, she'd be smart and witty.

We might just have to take the PPs advice and see which one suits, if it is a girl.

Oh dear Fifi, I think you'll find my taste in nicknames hideous!

Francesca is more feminine and Daria shows a lot of strength. I love the show Daria.

DARIA!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4YaLJKFw4...feature=related

I love francesca as a name (even though I am a fan of the Daria cartoon character). it is actually very similar to my daughter's name and I think ticks all the boxes, ie, strong, unusual but not weird, lots of nickname options and a little bit fancy.

I don't like Francesca at all. I find there's emphasis on the "cess" part, like "cesspit".

Daria is NMS, but I think it's the better of the two.

Really? I always thought it was pronounced fran-CHESS-ka.

love them both- both on my list! i love the NN Frankie for a girl (Francesca) and Daria has always been a fav- largely from the old cartoon

I'm not sure how you pronounce it, but we would pronounce it the Italian way. There's no 'cess' like 'cesspit' in that pronunciation.



That's exactly how it's pronounced, I've never heard it pronounced any other way.

If that is the case, you're pronouncing it wrong. It's an Italian name 'ce' or 'ci' are pronounced as 'ch', so there is no emphasis on 'cess', when it is 'chess'.

Francesca is stunning, I don't like Daria at all.

Francesca is gorgeous (as is NN Frankie)!!
Not a fan of Daria.

Love Daria, don't like Francesca at all.

Daria doesn't go with Margaret though.

Daria sounds like diarrhea to me, but that is me.

I have a friend Francesca and she is wonderful and her nn are Chessie and Cheesecake!

Love Francesca Margaret name combo

This.

Daria, hands down for me. I so love that name!

Although I really like the NN Frankie I'm not particularly keen on Francesca in English-speaking contexts.

I do agree though that Margaret goes better with Francesca as MN. Love Frances.

Francesca - majorly Francesca. That horrid cartoon turns me off Daria

I have a Francesca and am continuously correcting people's pronounciation of her name - she gets Fran-CESS-SA all the time. It is correctly pronounced as Fran-CHESS-KA. Any who my vote would be Francesca

Though Margaret is another long name - my daughter has a five letter middle name and I often run out of space on forms for her name!

Me too - I couldn't stand her, since it's such an uncommon name I think it would always remind me of this (the family I used to nanny for wouldn't let their kids watch it [and other similar programs] due to the attitude!).

Francesca is a clear winner, IMO.

Francesca.

I did wonder about the combination of the two names being too long, especially since it's going to be combined with a longish surname too. We haven't considered any other middle names - might have to think about it.

Francesca, is elegant, and so lovely. I do not like Daria at all.

Francesca sounds very nice.

There was a girl in my sister's grade called Daria. She used to get called "Diarrhea".

Neither are really my style, but if I had to choose I'd go with Francesca.

I like them both. I do slightly prefer Daria

I always think of the band Cake and their awesome song 'Daria'. I love the name Daria.
Francesca is striking but so popular and has awful nicknames. I dont think either name goes with Margaret although if I had to choose one to match I think Francesca would suit Margie more than Daria .

Definitely Francesca, it's beautiful!

I'm not a huge fan of the name Francesca but I think it kicks Daria's butt .

So popular? It wasn't even in the top 100 girls names in Victoria last year, I don't think it's what you would call popular.

I am in NSW and grew up with lots of Italian friends...it seems to be quite a popular name in that community...we know several although they are mostly between 20-30 years old.
(I just googled, and it is the #6 most popular name in Italy). I suppose if you are removed from this community, it wouldnt appear to be as popular as it does to me .

Understand that, I grew up with lots of Italians as well, however over that time I only knew of two around my age. Calling your daughter Francesca now is not going to be seen as popular.


As it's an Italian name, I am not surprised that it is popular there.

Francesca gets my vote far more than Daria.

Daria makes me think of a computer program for some reason

I prefer Francesca.

Both @@ have twins. lol

And me.

Absolutely love Francesca, and the nicknames Frankie and Cesca!