Sarah is due soon with her second child -- a sister to join Eva Beatrice.
Sarah writes: "(My husband) is Dutch and I was born in Holland. We have one daughter, Eva Beatrice, and we chose this name firstly because we liked it but also because it translates well in Dutch. I am now expecting my second daughter and am struggling to think of names that may work in both countries that are elegant, pronounceable and not too pretentious.
If there was a translatable Dutch/English name that would be very interesting. Otherwise traditional and slightly unusual British names are perfect.
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Eva Beatrice is such a gorgeous name - simple, sweet yet elegant and grand at the same time. It can seem a challenge to match such a wonderful pairing
Annabel – As sweet and elegant as Eva with a polished style. Annabelle is #61 and Annabel #158 in England and Wales (combined spellings puts it around #48) which means it is traditional but not super popular in Britain. Annabel (this spelling) is also currently #279 in the Netherlands which means it is at least familiar to many Dutch parents.
Lena – A sleek vintage gem with a feisty edge. Lena has been a top 100 favourite in the Netherlands since 2011. It is just below the top 100 in England and Wales which puts it in the Goldilocks spot of not too hot, not too cold.
Luna – In a similar vibe to Lena is nature-inspired and mystical Luna. An ancient Roman goddess, a poetic favourite, and used as a given name in Britain since at least the 16th century. It is #65 in the Netherlands and #78 in England and Wales.
Esme – French chic combined with Scottish heart, Esme has a long history of use in Britain and currently ranks at #35 in England and Wales (just five steps below Eva). In the Netherlands, the French spelling Esmee is preferred, where it ranks #37 (Esmée is #126).
Lydia – A sweet Georgian favourite with a heritage dating back to ancient Rome. It's #100 in England and Wales and #462 in the Netherlands.
Livia – Borne by Roman royalty, Livia is a chic twist on popular Olivia. It's only #372 in England and Wales but #115 in the Netherlands.
Elodie – Akin to Ottilie, Emily and Cecily on your list, Elodie is a sleek French import with ancient Germanic roots. It doesn't rank in the top 500 of the Netherlands, but is #166 in England and Wales.
Lara – A sleek and petite name which makes a bold statement. Lara is a name that not only comes from Roman mythology but also brings to mind the heroine of Doctor Zhivago. It ranks #118 in England and Wales and #70 in the Netherlands.
Rosa – A feistier take on sweet and fragrant Rose, Rosa has been used in Britain and across Europe since the early Middle Ages -- first as a variant of Hrodohaidis "famous kind" and later for the flower. It ranks #70 in the Netherlands and #189 in England and Wales.
Rosalie – Ranking at #80 in the Netherlands, lovely lyrical Rosalie (at #352 in England and Wales) fits the criteria of a "traditional and slightly unusual" British name.
Gwen– A sweet but sassy pocket-powerhouse. Gwen has an ancient Celtic past with links to Welsh mythology. It ranks just below the top 100 in Wales (though is uncommon in England at #768) and is perfectly translatable into Dutch. It currently ranks #216 in the Netherlands.
Felicity – At #97 in England and Wales, Felicity is a charming British virtue name with links back to Roman mythology. Though Felicity does not rank in the top 500 in the Netherlands, Feline ranks at #49.
Eliza – A vintage twist on perennial royal favourite Elizabeth which, like Eva, has just a hint of sass. Both Elizabeth and Eliza rank just below the top 200 in the Netherlands, though both are pronounced differently than they are in Britain.
Stella –Magical and mysterious but also proper and elegant. Stella ranks at #343 in England and Wales and #138 in the Netherlands so translates well in both languages.
Clara – A sweet vintage choice which dates back to ancient Rome and took on new life in the Regency era. It ranks at #88 in England and Wales and, while it doesn't rank in the top 500 in the Netherlands, Yara, Lara, Mara and Zara are all in the top 200.
Tess / Tessa – A great candidate as a traditional and slightly unusual British name. Tess and Tessa derive from the ancient name Teresa with a literary twist thanks to Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Both Tess and Tessa are below the top 500 in England and Wales, however, both are currently in vogue in Holland. Tess has ranked in the top 20 for nearly a decade (currently #2) and Tessa follows at #76.
Dulcie – Sweet and charming with a hint of pluckiness. Dulcie (meaning "sweet") has been used in Britain since at least the 13th century. It is an uncommon traditional in Britain, currently ranking #585. It does not rank in the top 500 of the Netherlands, though, with Lucy at #166, I don't think it would be too troublesome.
Madelief– As lovely Madeleine is on your list, I can't conclude this post without mentioning this adorable Dutch name which means "daisy." Personally, I think Madelief is perfectly usable in Britain as a first name even though it is extremely rare here, or it would make a fantastic middle name. Actress Joanna Page (of Gavin & Stacey fame) named her daughter Eva Madelief.
I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck with choosing the perfect name.
