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I personally prefer Johanna in terms of first names. Feels a bit more lively and energetic. But I lean a bit more towards Josephine for middle names. But in general I think either would be fair for your first name ideas.. but I'm still leaning towards Josephine tbh.

This message was edited 2/6/2022, 6:46 PM

Thanks, everyone!

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You've all given me things to think about, especially with the name endings. I appreciate the input. :)

Of the two names, Johanna would definitely be my favourite. That said, with the fn options you have listed, I think Josephine works better. Alma Josephine would be my choice, as my beautiful maternal grandmothers name was Alma and she too had a J mn.

Johanna Alma or Johanna Eira

Josephine Elva or Josephine Eira

Josephine. It’s prettier and flows better with the first names.

Johanna. I don't like any of the first names

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Some 4 letter 2 syllable names starting with a or e and ending with A Anna Anya Elsa Emma Ella, or Isla for similar parameters starting with I

This message was edited 2/5/2022, 2:55 PM

I think that Americans tend to struggle with pronouncing Johanna—it's a pretty name, but I do know one Johanna who's always explaining how to say it, or says "Just call me JoJo" e.g., "JOE-hanna, JOE-anna, YO-hanna, YO-anna" never know how an American is gonna say it, tbh. I don't know if this is also an issue in other Enlighs-speaking countries.

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I personally love Josephine—it's generally quite clear on how to pronounce it too. I think it's sophisticated without being over-the-top.

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I assume you're choosing these as middle names with either Eira, Elva, Alma, or Alba. In which case, I think you can't really go wrong with Eira / Elva / Alma Josephine. Although Eira has a little bit of a harsh sound to it. Is it pronounced EE-ra or AI-ra?

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I think Alma Josephine sounds very pretty, but also like it would belong to someone very old, maybe born in the turn of the century. I'm surprisingly drawn to Elva.

I can't stand Josephine. I like Johanna as long as it is pronounced yo- instead of jo-.

Whilst I love Josephine Johanna is a family name dating back to at least the 1700s so I would pick Johanna.

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I would go with Elva Johanna or Eira Johanna

Josephine hands down, Johanna is dull.

Johanna is a bit overrated. Josephine is beautiful.

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I prefer Josephine because it has a bit more sentiment to me as far as middle names go. Johanna is nicer aesthetically.

I love both these names, deciding between them individually is a tough call. But in a combo with any of those FNs, I'd pick Josephine.

Josephine feels 'old lady' for me, unfortunately. I had misread the rest of your message and thought that Johanna Alma sounded really good, but Elva Johanna is also very good!

Usually, I prefer fns and mns to have different endings, which would put Josephine ahead of Johanna if Eira, Elva, Alma and Alba are your choices for a fn. But when I say the names together, I find that Alma Johanna and Alba Johanna both have the stressed syllables a very obvious A; ALma JoHANNa, ALba JoHANNa. And I don't find that pleasing. So, for the two A names I'd prefer Josephine. I definitely prefer Johanna with Eira and Elva, and I also prefer Eira or Elva to Alma or Alba. In fact, I prefer Johanna to Josephine in almost all contexts; I'd also prefer the Joanna spelling, but if you are honouring, then go with whatever fits the best.