What would you think if you heard a child being called any of these names?

[nappyaddict]

Verena
Veronica
Guinevere
Elvira
Vera

[TobyLerone]

Verena = disease
Veronica = lovely
Guinevere = bit poncey
Elvira = slutty vampire
Vera = Duckworth

[ouryve]

Verena is a rather ill fated German knitting magazine. The name makes me think "rip off!"

[Greensleeves]

pmsl "slutty vampire"

I don't like any of those names

[mollymole]

Like Veronica and Guinevere, both could have very lovely nick names.
Agree with above - verena sounds like a sexually transmitted disease, or a
conraceptive coil
Elvira - just don'y like it
and
vera - YUK !

[Gwennan]

Verena - That the child came from an artsy family. Would have to ask whether it rhymes with Serena or is pronounced veh-ren-uh. Could you enlighten me?

Veronica - That the child's parents had picked a rather dated name.

Guinevere - That it's a bit pretentious and the nickname Guin sounds like a man's name. Difficult for a child to pull off!

Elvira - I'd assume the child was Spanish.

Vera - Sweet, old-fashioned choice. I would raise an eyebrow at first but could come to really like it. It's easy to spell and say.

[kikid]

veronica is making a comeback not sure why but ok name
elvira is the obem baby named after the resort, i like it
vera a bit old fashioned & i'm not keen,
verena is unusual, nice
guinevre is old fashioned but lovely

[FloatyBeatie]

Verena and Veronica: verrucas
Guinevere: old banger, in charming old British movie with mouth organ
Elvira: wicked elf queen
Vera: Imelda Staunton in film about abortion

[Gwennan]

Meant to say that Vera reminds me of Vera Brittain, Vera Lynn, etc.

[Lancelottie]

Umm, Floaty, isn't that Genevieve not Guinevere?

[atthewelles]

I think Verena, Guinevere and Elvira sound pretentious, Veronica is frumpy and old fashioned and Vera should have a pinny and hair curlers.

Sorry, OP.

[atthewelles]

Was Elvira the dead wife in Blithe Spirit? I always liked her. Maybe I could come around to the name.

[SirEdmundFrillary]

I'd think that's their name so fair enough.

I liked Elvira in Blithe Spirit too, atthewelles

[CheeseStrawWars]

Veronica - reminds me of verucas, or the bratty girl from Charlie & Choc Factory
Verena - in my ignorance, I would think it was a typo of Verbena (i.e the flower)
Guinevere - is always going to be King Arthur's adulterous missus
Vera - Duckworth, but there is Vera Wang at the other end of the scale...
Elvira - does remind me of the vampire. Also sounds a bit like viral.

[OneHundredSecondsofSolitude]

Anyone got any Vera's? Soooooorrrted

I don't usually comment negatively on baby name threads but personally I think they're quite an ugly bunch. Sorry

[ARightOldPickle]

No sorry not keen on any of them.

Especially Veronica - this was DHs favourite for DD1, I thought it old fashioned then and still do. Likewise Lavinia which was his favourite for DD2 . Needless to say he was outvoted both times!

[EvenIfYouSeeAPoppy]

Verena's a common name among Germans aged about 35-50 (ve-ray-na). I knew a girl who hated it so much she called herself Candy instead.

Veronica and Guinevere are OK, not great, don't like the others.

How about Verity?

[Scootee]

Frankly (which I presume is what you are after) I'd think the parents were a bit poncy/try hard. You don't have to take a name from the top ten if popularity doesn't appeal to you, but you do need to bear in mind why names are popular and that is simply because lots of people like them.

[FloatyBeatie]

Oh yes lancelottie, so it is!

[Darmont]

Elvira, that's a shampoo for the more mature person isn't it?

[nappyaddict]

DP's nan was Vera and he'd like to name a baby after her. I'm not sure if I like Vera although it is growing on me so was trying to find some similar alternatives. Hate Verity (have a cousin with the name who I don't get on with)

[SoggySummer]

Vera is quite nice actually. Not one I would have considered before but I think its quite a good name.

From your list:

Veronica - yep, like alot
Verena - not keen
Elvira - Shampoo
Guinevere - OKish
Vera - growing in me since seeing this thread. Think it could be quite cool.

How about Ventia or Vanessa??

[SoggySummer]

Sorry typo - Venetia not ventia

[simplesusan]

Verena - a bit made up.
Veronica - old fashioned but maybe due a revival.
Guinevere - too extreme for me but a strong name.
Elvira - shampoo
Vera - an elderly relative, possibly due a revival.

[Eskino]

Veronica is lovely. The others are not.

Elvira was a slutty vampire goth who used to appear on telly. Can't for the life of me remember which programme but I bet it comes up if you google it.

[Eskino]

Oops, meant to add, how about Vivienne?