Mumsnet Talk

Hi, this naming thing is so difficult. I always think I have settled on a name but then I change my mind. Nothing seems right.

Our current list for DD due in May is Elizabeth, Rose, Margaret, Alice, Victoria.

I had my heart set in Rose and this is what my DH wants, but I just think it might be a bit overdone with every middle name being Rose. I really want a name which is not "now" if that makes sense. So then I moved to Elizabeth as a more "classic" name but that doesn't feel right. I like Alice but DH is not as keen. I also like Margaret but is that too "old lady". I like classic, royal names. Victoria is an outlier because I hate Vicky and I think it will inevitably become Vicky.

Any other suggestions? I want it to "match" George. So that they sit nicely together. Should I stick with Rose or are my concerns valid? Is it really "now"? I was at a nursery today settling in my son and every name seemed so "now" and it just made me want for something a little more underused. So no cutesy names, no Rubys, Lilys, Charlottes, Avas, Lilas, Lolas, Evas, Evies etc. I like these names but I want something a little less common, if you know what I mean.

Thanks!

Margaret is one of those names I'd have called 'quaint' (politer than 'old-fashioned') about 10 years' ago but I think those names are returning, how do you feel about Maggie or Mags?

Beatrice is another royal name, any good?

Thanks Donkey - I love Maggie and also like Meg. I really like Margaret but I think DH will take some convincing. He is dead set on Rose.

Beatrice is gorgeous. I had that on my list for my son (when I didn't know it was a boy obviously). I don't think it goes particularly well with our last name which is similar to Simpson or Samson. Lots of "s's". Might be a bit of a mouthful. Perhaps Beatrix?

Beatrix is sweet too, I was about to come back and suggest Louise but perhaps the 's' problem rears its head again?!

Caroline, Emma....

Please call her Peppa.

Mildred

Peppa!!!

How about Margaret with nn Peggy?

Or Lucy?

Emma is lovely but tis my name!

Caroline was also floating around in my head......

What is the reference to Peppa?

How about Rosamund, Rosalee or Roseanne? Then you could still have Rose or Rosie for short but wouldn't have the "popular" Rose thing. However, I think the popularity seems to be as a middle name which only a handful of people ever even know after the baby is a couple of months old so it probably is not used that much.

As for other you other list - Elizabeth is lovely or you could have just Eliza or use Beth as a nn.

I Like Alice and Alison as well for what its worth.

Margaret or Meg is lovely

Victoria is ok if you can encourage Tori as nn - I don't like Vicky either.

Other thoughts:

Susanna
Celeste
Emma
Marianne
Clara
Roberta

What about a longer name that could be shortened to Rose?

Rosalind
Rosanna
Rosemarie

Or completely different - Emily or Helena.

Looking at the names of the consorts of the King Georges for inspiration you could choose

Sophia
Caroline (x2)
Charlotte
Mary
Elizabeth

Rachel
Rebecca - hate Becky tho
Catherine

Sorry OP, couldn't resist- Peppa Pig's brother is called George. <watches far too much kids TV>

Mary is underused but lovely and classic.

My SAme is George If SAme had been a girl, he'd have been Rosie. So I say stick to your first choice!

DS1 & DS2...

I know a Rosa whose nn is Rosie, which is slightly different
Violet
Iris
Margaret - still has Thatcher associations for me so very divisive
and I really like Nina

Hannah and George
Rosalind (Rosie for short?) and George
George and Sophia (v popular but what a great name anyway!)
Lucy and George
Matilda and George
Martha and George

More royal names:
Alexandra
Eleanor
Mary
Jane
Anne
Matilda
Isabella
Adela

(a couple of those are going quite far back)

I thought Alice before I opened the thread and saw it was already one of your options.
Margaret is classic and shortens well to Meg for a child.
These names from my family tree as they seem to fulfil your criteria:
Elizabeth Margaret
Violet Ann
Elizabeth Ann
Mary Elizabeth
Jane Louisa
Catherine Mary
Margaret Elizabeth
Alexandra

I know a lovely (young adult) Margaret Alice, nn Meg, plus a couple of primary age Maggies. Your current list is lovely, full of timeless classics that won't date. Especially like Alice and Elizabeth.

Helena
Louisa
Martha
Julia
Beatrice
Caroline
Tessa
Clara

From other posters' suggestions,
Marianne, combines Mary and Anne, both classics
Violet - that's sweet, makes a change from Rose!
Eleanor, Ellie or Nell, not as sugary as some?
Matilda, seems popular, would that put you off? Tilly and George, can picture that.

Read something today suggesting the name Elizabeth might be a contender if the Duchess of Cambridge has a girl, I guess royal babies often have lots of names so wouldn't be all that surprising.

As amck mentioned, how about Catherine or Katharine?

PS If you didn't mind explaining how it's pronounced when people see it written, there's Roisin (RO-sheen) meaning little rose.

Or Harriet?

Pippa (Philippa)
Margaret Rose

I like Elizabeth.