Mumsnet Talk

Totally fab! Paul Bettany and his wife have an Agnes Lark!

FAB

FAB - I love it. Quite fancied it for my 3rd DD but went for Cecily instead.

I bet Cecily will be mightily relieved!

Prefer Ines.

Agnes = aggie which I dont like.

I love it. Is top of my list but dh hates it :0(

It is definitely on the cusp of a popularity peak - the wheels of fashion have turned enough for it to have its time in the sun again.

I picture a slim, chic, elfin, 20s Bright Young Thing.

I went to school with an Agnes (on her 30s now) and she was the polar opposite of that description. She also hated her name.

I don't think Agnes is drab, but I do think it is very harsh sounding. I knew a little girl Agnes who was known as Aggie which I think is really quite awful.

Don't call your daughter a name you woudln't like to be called!

Not sure why you think people only like 'super feminine' names. I love my name but I don't think it's particularly feminine (not totally sure what you mean by that to be honest though).

And of course there is Terry Pratchett's Agnes Nitt

"...but I guess if I'm honest I'm glad I'm not called it."

I didn't see this on the first read - if that's how you feel, then you can't really choose it, can you? I assumed you loved it.

I don't think people necessarily really like super-feminine names. Some people will, but there's plenty of un-frilly girls' names which are also lovely.

In scotland it's an old lady name and has the horrid nicknames Aggie or Senga! IMHO it's a very unattractive name

If you're glad you're not called Agnes, Delilah, then don't saddle your poor daughter with the name. Simples.

The model Agyness Deyn is hardly drab! (pronounced Agnes)

Oddly, it is this association that has put me off the name, maybe I prefer drab

Not keen. I always think of Oliver Twist's mother who was very unfortunate and drippy.

I have a great aunt Agnes who is alays called Nessie.

I met a French girl called Agnes once, pronounced An-yess which I thought was beautiful (although she was herself very gorgeous which may have influenced me). I think the ENglish pronounciation is quite harsh but the nns are sweet.

What about Agatha?

Please don't - it's not a great name in Scotland.

Yes, ok, this has really helped me come to a realisation -- thanks everyone!
We love Scotland and go there all the time, so also the suggestion of it being ugly there has put me off.
Thanks, posters!

Very emotive for me. Ag ag ag. Horrid sound.
Had a horrid horrid aunt who was as leaden as it sounds.

I do still like the European variants -- but alas, we are in Britain! Sorry about your Aunt, I can imagine her -- she sounds terrifying!

If I'm honest I'm glad I'm not called it
Do people realy consider a name for their baby that they wouldn't like to be called themselves?
That's the daftest thing I've heard in quite a while.

But you can still use the European versions in Britain OP...my DD has a "European" first name and nobody bats an eyelid except to say it's really pretty and ask what it means

floggingmolly I meant instead of my actual name! I think part of the problem is that I cannot find a name I like as much as I like mine. Not out of vanity I have just always really enjoyed it. It is much easier if you've wished you were called something else and so have thought about names before. I have always just been glad I'm not called anything else!

aire Interesting feedback!

To be fair, Agnes Brown hasn't given the name much caché...