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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Girls name - we love it, but strong reaction from others!

104 replies

emmyjj · 23/12/2011 08:09

I'm currently 38+5 with our first, we don't know if we're having a boy or a girl.

Both my partner and I love Coco for a girl, but when we've mentioned it as a possibility there have been some pretty strong reactions against, references to coco the clown etc.

DPs family are old school posh and much more accepting of unusual names, where as mine are east end working class and much more suspicious of anything exotic!

As a compromise we were thinking of going for Celeste Claudia and then using Coco as a nn, but don't want it to feel to contrived?

Our other possible girls name is Gala, and for a boy we like Finlay, Dexter or Rafe.

Would love your opinions on Coco, and whether we should just go for it or use it as a nn?

OP posts:

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catsareevil · 23/12/2011 08:10

I think it would be nicer to have it as a nn rather than the actual name.

ScaryFairy28 · 23/12/2011 08:11

Not keen but that's just me if it suits her when she's here use it

needanewname · 23/12/2011 08:14

I love it. I don't think clown. I prefer it to celeste.

Also love Finlay and dexter, but really go with the name you love, your child will become that name. I still wish dd2 was the name I loved, though she really suits her name, she would have suited the other one too.

Sinople · 23/12/2011 08:16

Go for it! It sounds great and if you and DH like it that's what matters. My DD has a Calypso and a Thoreau in her class, initially these both sounded a bit out-there to me but now I just think of them as nice names for two lovely kids. Your childs personality is the most important thing, people will love your child whatever theyre called.

exoticfruits · 23/12/2011 08:18

The clown! Don't do it to her.

MmeReindor · 23/12/2011 08:22

It says Chanel to me more that clown, tbh. Could come over a bit Chardonnayish. Sorry.

Celeste Claudia is lovely, and you can always use Coco. But give her a "normal" name for when she is an adult.

I think as a cute nickname it is sweet though (and I can see that is a contradiction)

Gala is a bingo hall. Don't go there.

Of your boys names, I like Finlay, Rafe best.

Dexter is ok, but women of a certain age will all think of Dynasty.

guinealady · 23/12/2011 08:30

Another vote for Celeste Claudia here, and Coco as a nn.

Coco Chanel is a very classy person to be named after but Coco wasn't her real name (it was Gabrielle I think?) and, um, I've known a few cats called Coco...

ditavonteesed · 23/12/2011 08:30

my eldest is tabitha and when I told people ecery single person said, the cat. when an actual little person has a name people dont mock anymore.

Artichohohohokes · 23/12/2011 08:31

I am not keen on Coco. It is the kind of name I would expect Britney Spears to call her daughter. I quite like Celeste and Rafe.

However, the opinion of strangers and even family is not that important. You should choose a name you love and can imagine using every day for a baby, a little girl and a grown woman.

seeker · 23/12/2011 08:32

Choose a sensible name starting with C and use Coco as a nickname. Or not even stating with C- Coco Chanel didn't.

Honestly, you can't call an adult woman Coco without her consent!

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 23/12/2011 08:34

I prefer Coco asa nickname rather than a full name. It sounds like a joke name to me.

"when an actual little person has a name people dont mock anymore."
This is not necessary true. People do still mock at school, where it is the child who has to deal with it and not the parent.

needanewname · 23/12/2011 08:36

Yes but children will find anything to mock. Dd2 has what I think is a normal non mock able name, (Megan). One person immediately said smeggy meggy!! Nice

MmeReindor · 23/12/2011 08:38

Dita
I would never have even made the connection Tabitha to cat. How weird are folk?

PrincessScrumpy · 23/12/2011 08:43

I wouldn't go for it but if you love it then go for it and tell family once she's born. People don't make so many comments once the child's here! we didn't tell anyone our names until the dtds were born as we loved the names and didn't want people's thoughts.

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 23/12/2011 08:44

Put yourself in her place when she's 50 and ask yourself whether you'd like to be called Coco...

Celeste Claudia much better.

stuffedauberginexmasdinner · 23/12/2011 08:45

I think coco as a nn is fine but you need 1 st and middle names starting with co to pull it off- something like Courtney Corin or cordelia colette or Constance Cosima or similar.

For boys Finlay and Dexter are good. Don't like Rafe.

birdsofshoreandsea · 23/12/2011 08:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MudAndGlitter · 23/12/2011 08:45

I love it.

seeker · 23/12/2011 08:51

"I think coco as a nn is fine but you need 1 st and middle names starting with co to pull it off- something like Courtney Corin or cordelia colette or Constance Cosima or similar."

Why? Coco Chanel was called Gabrielle!

breatheslowly · 23/12/2011 08:53

It doesn't really pass the "being taken seriously as a judge, surgeon or CEO" type test. Yes as a nn, but best not as a first name.

RillaBlythe · 23/12/2011 08:57

I went to school with a Coco. Her surname was Creme.

cantpooinpeace · 23/12/2011 09:00

I have a Claudia, less extreme but still lovely. Tends to get called Claud or Claudi-pops!

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effingwotsits · 23/12/2011 09:06

I really love it. If I had another girl it would be right at the top of my list

seeker · 23/12/2011 09:10

Why would you name an adult woman something that will make it even more difficult to be taken seriously in the adult world?

exoticfruits · 23/12/2011 09:13

Give them a 'proper' name and use it as a nickname-they then have the option of ignoring you entirely and doing their own when they are older.

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