Miranda, Angharad, Bernadine? Any other suggestions?

[AngelaOxford]

So after some major rows with my husband, and a lot of childish behaviour from my mother, I have agreed to drop the option of naming my daughter, Mary, after my mother-in-law.

Here we are, 2 weeks prior to the due date, with no name for our daughter and with a mother who keeps calling me because she wants to "hang out"... I am furious and trying to decide on a name for our little girl.

We both like Miranda, Angharad and Bernadine. My husband also likes Gwendolen and Phoebe, and I like Sophie, Genevieve and Gillian.

Which names do you like? Do you have any other suggestions?

I am so incredibly frustrated and irritated with the situation, because instead of enjoying this time before we have our second child, our life has just turned into a big fight between ourselves, and between my mother and I.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Firstly sorry to hear your last few weeks of pregnancy just got harder with your mum and DH..

Names-wise I love Miranda and Phoebe then Angharad from the ones you list. I don't know if these are your cup of tea but shall put forward
Carenza
Romy
(and just because it sounds romantic) Arwen
as suggestions.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Like Miranda and really like Gwendoline.

You do know that it really is nothing to do with your mother, right?

[sonlypuppyfat]

I've got an angharad so very very beautiful and very classy

[teatimesthree]

I adore Miranda.

[AngelaOxford]

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie What do you mean?

We had initially decided to name our daughter Mary, after my mother-in-law. I was the one who really wanted this, because she has been a great support in every level and this was something I wanted to do to honour her and express my love and gratitude. My husband agreed rather reluctantly because he was afraid of my mother's reaction. He was right!! As soon as we mentioned our decision, my mother became distant and angry that we were naming our daughter after my mother-in-law and not her! We decided to stick to it and not give in, until a few days ago, when we had invited my parents for dinner and the situation exploded!! I was so angry at her and she's sent flowers to apologise, but I feel her behaviour was utterly inappropriate and childish and I cannot see or talk to her yet because I am sure we'll have another fight!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I mean that what you decide to call your child is nothing to do with your mother.

Marianne is lovely and similar in tone to some of your choices.
Louisa
Georgiana
Ariadne

[CordeliaRose]

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time - not fair on you. From your list I love
Angharad
Miranda
Genevieve
Gwendolen

• I think the name Arwen is lovely too
  

Also like
Imogen
Naomi
Eloise
Rosalind
Eliana
Helena

[Habbibu]

What about a variant of Mary? There are loads of nice ones, and you can tell MIL quietly that it's after here. Big list on Wikipedia here: list. I like Miriam, Marja a d Marietta.

[AngelaOxford]

Thank you all for your suggestions so far!!

We like Marianne and Louisa and also Rosamund!

Helena and Georgiana are lovely names too, but are unfortunately out of the question since they are both already being used by my nieces.

No votes for Bernadine, I see. My husband quite likes it and I don't mind using it for our girl! I think it sounds sweet, my sister thinks it's a name for a 70-year-old. I suspect most of you agree with my sister! ahahah

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

I would go with Mary, otherwise your mother will think she has won (and she will have) and it will annoy you forever more that you didn't stand your ground.

[Snazzyenjoyingsummer]

I love Mary and I wouldn't want to give it up. So do think about that carefully. Middle name perhaps?

But you have some other great names on your list. I love Miranda and Phoebe and also like Gwendoline and Genevieve.

[NadiaWadia]

I love Miranda and Angharad and Sophie. Not sure about Bernadine, not really come across it before, it just sounds like a female Bernard. Gillian is a bit old fashioned.

[NadiaWadia]

Mary was really nice, too.

[Seaweedy]

Also voting for Mary. But like Angharad and Miranda, too. Not Gillian, which feels too seventies to me, though I'm sure it will be fashionable again soon. Gwendolen is also nice. I prefer that spelling to Gwendoline.

I thought it was 'Bernardine', rather than Bernadine...?

[AngelaOxford]

Seaweedy I've seen it both as 'Bernardine' and 'Bernadine' and I prefer the latter, because I think it has a better sound to it. What do you think? The thing is we have some Scottish relatives that we see very frequently and if we opt for the former spelling of the name should we give her this name, I think our daughter will grow up to hate us!! :D

[CordeliaRose]

Yes you can have either Bernadine or Bernardine
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadine

I prefer Bernadine too - more feminine.

Marianne, Louisa and Rosamund are lovely too - Marianne is a variant of Mary, which would let you honour your mother-in-law (just don't tell your Mum )

[LickleLemon]

How awful for you to have to put up with such horrid behaviour from your mum.

I would go for Mary as I would worry resenting mum for ever more.

Angharad and Sophie are my favourites from your list.

Bernadine - not that keen sorry.

[teatimesthree]

YY to Marianne.

[EnjoyEverySandwich]

Bernadine is nice and unusual. I wouldn't spell it with an R any more than I would put an R in Bernadette.

Just another suggestion as you seem to like names beginning with a soft G:
Geraldine

[ScornedWoman]

I really really like Angharad.

[burcham12]

Miranda Mary? They work well together and might keep everyone happy!

[ZolaBuddleia]

Ooh, love Miranda, not at all keen on Bernadine, but then I hate both Bernard and Bernadette.

How stressful, your mother kicking off at this point in your pregnancy.

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

Marianne is great. I like Genevieve

Also I 'd suggest:

Christina
Joanna
Margaret
Maria

[Herisson]

Bernadine is my mother's middle name. She is nearly seventy and has hated it all her life.

[SelectAUserName]

Genevieve and Miranda are two of my favourite names so they'd be my choice.

I'd go with Genevieve Mary. Your mother has apologised and sent flowers. This could either be as an acknowledgement she was in the wrong, in which case she should now accept your baby's name is your and your DP's choice so there is no reason not to use your chosen name as a MN at least; or she thinks she has "won" and can afford to make a magnanimous - but ultimately meaningless - gesture of contrition she doesn't really feel. Whichever it is, in your shoes there'd be a "Mary" on my DD's birth certificate somewhere.