What do you think of when you hear these names?

In My Humble Opinion
21

To avoid being swayed by others’ comments, I’m posting before reading any replies, so apologies if I’m unwittingly duplicating anything already said.

Kids (there’s always at least one in any group, whose inventions can be readily copied) can be clever enough to rhyme anything, or riff off the name of some TV or book character. Some names lend themselves more readily to cruelty and crudity than do others, but here’s what I thought of for each of your choices:

Anna – Anna Banana
Cassandra – ASS-andra
Clare – Clare, Clare, I declare, I can see your underwear!
Erika – Er-ICK-a (with the ICK pronounced as if gagging)
Susanna – LOSE-anna

That said, I like most of your choices. Without knowing your last name (which might sound better in combination with some of these than with others), I’d say that based on experiences of knowing and reading about bearers of the names, my order of preference would be as follows:

Erika – suggests a good combination of intelligence, pleasantness, attractiveness, and athletic ability/fitness

Anna – solid, somewhat old-fashioned (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing)

Clare – a bit more brooding/standoffish than the first two, but generally decent

Cassandra – a bit unwieldy and pretentious, plus there’s the inherent allusion to the mythological character who was cursed with the “gift” of unheeded prophecy.. Then again, a Cassandra will probably end up being called “Cassie”, which suggests spirited cuteness tinged with elegance.

Susanna – I’m generally not a big fan of the Susan-Suzanne cluster of names, but I know a Susanna who’s quite pleasant. Of course, the kid will have to put up with a few “so do you cry for the guy who comes from Alabama with a banjo on his knee?” jokes, so she’d be well-advised to have a rejoinder or two handy.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

22

Anna: Pollyanna. Goody two-shoes.
Cassandra: Slightly goth. Sensualist. Prone to drama.
Clare: Bright. Preppy. Inhibited. Claire might be less so.
Erika: Blonde. Sunny. Something of a hippie.
Susanna: I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee. I’m going to Lou’siana my Susanna for to see.

23

Without looking at the others, shallow to boot:

Anna - hot redhead (inspired by Tekken 3)
Cassandra - Greek mythology, astronomy, intelligent and geeky-cute
Clare - Resident Evil series. Either very cute or ugly, no inbetween.
Erika - Japanese hotty. (The name is common in Japan. I knew a few hot Erikas).
Susanna - Ol Susannaaaaa O don’ you cry for me… Not good unless you’re into that.

24

Anna, Clare, and Erika have no special connotations to me – they are names of people I know, that’s really all that comes to mind.

Cassandra sounds like the name of a character in a romance novel.

Susanna also made me think of the song. But I did know a Susanna in high school and I don’t remember hearing distant harmonicas every time she walked down the hall, so I’d say it’s only a loose association.

25

As a Claire please don’t do this:

it gets old really quickly. So do: claire bear, hairy claire, claire the fair (thank you daddy!)

Also every other word under the sun rhymes with claire so if her hearing ain’t all that, like mine, she’ll be wheeling around every time someone says chair, there, hair, care, dare, mare, where, dare etc etc etc. Either that or she’ll become so used to thinking people aren’t calling her name, she’ll get in trouble because she doesn’t respond when they do.

Also, I’m not sure where you live but my parents chose Claire because it was an unusual name, but not unheard of, where I was born. We moved after that and it’s a pretty common name in England - at least another one in every one of my classes. But that shouldn’t bother you as it doesn’t look like you’re shying away from common names, just going for traditional ones.

As for the others Erika is my least favourite but only because I’m used to seeing it written as Erica and the ‘k’ throws me off. I actually love the sound of the name.

The rest are all beautiful and traditional, although a little on the common/uninteresting side (although the numbers quoted seem to suggest thats not the case for the US). Cassandra WILL be a Cassie/Caz to a lot of people so if you don’t like that diminutive for whatever reason, that’s a bad choice.

How do they fit with your other daughter’s name?

26

Is there any particular reason why you spell Clare like that? I almost always see it spelled “Claire” - I don’t know what spelling is officially original, though. I prefer Claire myself. I guess I usually see “Erica” instead, too, but I kind of like Erika better. Clare I am indifferent to.

I think they’re all perfectly nice (Though I like Susan better). I think Anna and Erika are the prettiest sounding (Anna’s personally significant to me, so I’m biased there). Susanna and Clare conjure up suburban kids who go to girl scouts and soccer (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Cassandra makes me think about the Greek Cassandra who ended up failing the internets. I can’t think of any REALLY likely mean nicknames for any of them - it’s too late for Susie Q or “Oh Susanna” among her peers, probably (unless they still have to sing it in school), but maybe adults around her will think it.

If I somehow had it on me to choose one for you right now, I’d choose Erika.

27

Yes, yes, yes.

Also, since I work with guys who had a sense of humor, I am often called either Clarice (in a sinister voice) or Clarence. Doesn’t phase me, but it might her (or you if people decide to be funny).

ETA: I prefer Claire myself, Clare makes me think of a place in Ireland.

28

Anna: makes me think of a pretty European woman

Cassandra: makes me think of someone with long elaborate hair who is unforgettable

Clare: I just really get good vibes from this name, although I like it best with the “i”. It makes me think of a woman who is youthful yet strong and cherished by her brothers. (that’s how my Aunt Claire was.)

Erika: “Erica” on “All My Children”. Bleagh.

Susanna: It’s actually, “Oh Susanna, oh don’t you cry for me.” Other than that, somebody gentle in a long dress.

I like this idea for choosing a baby name. It seems like a particularly good question to ask.

29

Since three of your names have “Ann” in them, may I suggest Savannah? I like that name.

30

I love the name Casssandra. When I was a kid, it was one of my top five girl names. Of course, I have always loved the long, dramatic sounding names - Cassandra, Jacquelyn, Samantha.

For Cassandra, I definitely prefer the shorter “Cassie” over “Sandra”. I’m not fond of the name Sandra.

For the others:

I don’t like the name Erika at all
Anna is rather plain
Susanna is terrible (from personal, recent experience with a Susanna - sorry!)
Clare - I don’t like the spelling. I also prefer Claire.

31

Good names!

I like “Claire” better than “Clare” but either one is good. And I love Cassandra. Or Susanna. And they all fit well into the sentence “The Honorable Judge _____, presiding”

And 20 is not actually that high - my first name was among the top 15 for the year I was born and several years preceding and following. I don’t really meet that many people with my name. When I was in elementary school, I was always the only one in my class. My name is familiar enough that no one thinks “weird name,” they also don’t think “oh, everyone named their kid ______.” And most people can spell it.

As long as you don’t stumble into the top name of the era (the Jennifers had problems), you’re probably ok.

32

Anna = such a common name that I don’t really have any particular association with it. While it is a nice-sounding name in itself, it’s so common that I don’t think it’s a good name to actually use. Especially if you have a common last name. In that case, you might as well just name the kid “Jane Doe”. If you have to use it, I’d convert it to Anne and use it as a middle name.

Cassandra = makes me think of the ancient Greek myth. Classy, sophisticated. I like it.
Clare = Reminds me of Claire Huxtable. But in a good way. Another name I like.

Erika = reminds me of a classmate I knew with the name in school so my impression is biased. :slight_smile: The Erika from the soap opera already mentioned also came to mind. Personally, I like it better spelled Erica.

Susanna = I had the “Oh Susanna, don’t you cry for me” association too. Probably because of that, it seems like an old-fashioned name. Like the wife of a miner or something.

33

Erika dates a guy named Klaus, whom she met on the Ku’damm.

Soften it to Erica. C what I mean?

34

My Thoughts:
Cassandra makes me think of the Trojan prophet that no one believed from ancient times who was eventually enslaved by the Greeks.
It’s a cool name, but a slightly not so great association. But I’m a Latin dork who likes that sorta thing.
Anna- I knew an Anna way back in grade school. Not pleasant memories.
Erika- I just dislike the “ka” sound. Makes me think of Vikings.
Clare- I thought it was spelled Clair. Again, this one and Anna just make me think of pale blonde-haired, blued eyed children.

Susanna- This is the name I like best, it’s vibrant and bouncy, and it has the potential for lots of nicknames (susie, 'anna, Suz, Susan), etc. So there’s variety there, and I knew a Susanna with positive associations. Plus for some reason it makes me think of Georgia, no clue why, but it just sounds like a good strong southern Name.

Note I actually also REALLY like the name Cassandra, but it’s the association I get is the Greek Lady. But again same reasons as Susanna I like Cassandra (Cassie), as the only Cassandra I knew was a very positive, but quirky person- she said you kinda had to be when your name basically meant you would never be taken seriously. I’d be more apt to calling my kid Cassie than Susie, but I like both of those names.

35

So do I. There was a HOT porn star by that name. :smiley:

She ended up shooting herself. :frowning:

36

THAT’s why the Susanna is making me think of Georgia! I knew it was something!

And Savannah does sound like a “hot” name.
If I was to picture a girl to those names, and associate cuteness just based on name along:
I’d date a Cassie first, then a Susie, but I wouldn’t date an Anna or Erika probably, and I tend to think of Clare as being frigid. :shrug: take that as you will (as I won’t be dating your daughter or anything, but still).
Cassie is just gaining points in my book, but I’d def. go with Cassie over Sandra, as Sandra feels very uptight again.

37

Anna: The same backwards and forwards. It’s the name of the prez of our condo association and I hate her, but the name is okay.

Cassandra: A lot of name to live up to. If the name evokes elegant and rich, what happens if she turns out to be 400 pounds (Momma Cass) and living in a trailer? Also, I don’t like the diminuitive Cassie.

Cla(i)re: was my former mother-in-law’s name. A nice woman, but I can’t get the O’Sullivan song out of my head now.

Erika: Cold nordic blonde and somewhat mannish.

Susanna: Suzie, Susie, Sue, Annie, Susannafannahmomanna

38

What do I think? In general, relieved that they’re normal names.

Specifically:
Anna - unpretentious and dignified but too common. Good connotations generally - Anna Karenina and Anna Madrigal.
Cassandra - not bad but a little pretentious, has negative connotations (prophetess of doom) and Cass/Cassie/Sandra as diminutives - not everyone’s cup of tea.
Clare - a nice enough name but a bit on the boring side, goody-two shoes
Erika - OK if a bit butch
Susanna - my favourite - a well-known name that isn’t too common. Several options for diminutives like Sue, Susie or Suze, which may or may not be a good thing.

39

If we had another daughter we were going to name her Cassandra Hope, and call her Kiss for short.

They’re all beautiful, classical names, but I would go with Erica instead of Erika.

40

One additional comment from me, then I’ll STFU: whatever name you use, use a traditional spelling. Going through life having to spell your name to everyone is a PITA. There could be questions about Susanna (Suzanna? Susannah? One ‘n’ or two?), Clare (Claire, Clair), and Erika/Erica. If your last name is already a problem for people, having to spell both names (as I do) makes you want to slap your mother. Also, longer first names work well with short last names. Cassandra Magnussen is awkward, Cassandra Jones is not. I would avoid using a name ending in ‘A’ if your last name starts with ‘A’. Cassandra Amundson sounds like you’re bleating.

Okay, it was more than one comment.