Miranda, Tabitha, Alexandra...

[bugalugs76]

I know there have been lots of posts on the names Miranda, Tabitha and Alexandra (though not all together in one list) but I'd be interested in some strangers opinions!

Our first baby (little girl obv) is due in October and after the usual long conversations my DH and I had decided on Miranda. However I am now wavering.

We had previously been very keen on Poppy and Scarlett but we felt they are just so popular right now that she would be one of several in every class she joined. (And having gone through that myself I'd rather not subject her to always being identified by having the first letter of her surname tacked on the end at school.) But I digress.

We were both very keen on Tabitha until a close family member said they thought we were naming a child and not a cat... and that she'd always be known as Tabby (very feline of course, and that put us off rather...). The only Tabitha we'd been thinking of was the little girl in Bewitched. Daft as it sounds, although we love Tabitha we aren't keen on Tabby (although I did point out she could be Tab or Tabs) and in the end we relegated Tabitha to the 'love it but we won't go with it' pile.

Anyway, due to my wavering on Miranda we are reconsidering and so Alexandra is back with a chance to be considered along with Miranda, and Tabitha has come back into the conversation too. DH is still most keen on Miranda, but the lack of any obvious nn for it seems to be a negative to me rather than a positive, one nn suggested in the name books was (Randy - not keen on the poor girl being stuck with a nympho nn, or Mandy - which rightly or wrongly doesn't appeal either. Am also concerned Miranda could be seen as a little too 80s. Love the fact Alexandra has so many nn possibilities, though DH is concerned that as nice as the nns are - she will be reliant on them as no one will ever bother to use the full name as 4 syllables is such a mouthful. Gosh - this has gone on longer than expected will sign off and hope for some pearls of wisdom. Essentially I'd like to know what you guys think of when you hear the names Miranda, Tabitha and Alexandra ie what sorts of characteristics/types of people do they conjure up in your mind's eye?

(We like Olivia, but have too many godchildren already called Olivia. I loved Clementine and Jessica too but DH vetoed them on the basis that Jessica is too popular and he doesn't like Clementine (mind you that's fair enough I guess being as I vetoed his suggestion of Skylar on the basis it sounded like a type of Cessna light aircraft (OK so that was a Skylane... but still its pretty close...))

PS This is my first posting on Mumsnet so be kind! Also I apologise for the length of the post, will keep it shorter in future.

[bugalugs76]

PPS We have a very short one syllable surname - hence going for longer names of 3 plus syllables.

[PuppyMonkey]

Go with Tabitha I love it. And it makes me think of Bewitched too.

[bugalugs76]

Thanks PuppyMonkey!! I think that's the way I'm leaning to be honest...

[belgo]

Miranda and Tabitha are both lovely. Sarah Jessica Parker's twins are called Miriam and Tabitha I think?

[Spirael]

Felt I had to comment on this, because our three name list is almost identical to yours, and the considerations you and your DH are musing over sound familiar too!

Only difference is that instead of Alexandra, the third name on my list is Vivienne. I have a close friend called Alexandra, so using her name would have been a bit weird. If it helps, she's always been known as Alex, though formally refers to herself as Alexandra.

Anyway, for the two crossover names:

Miranda
This is my DH's favourite at present, though I really like it too. The nicknames we were considering are Mira, Mimi, Miri (Pronounced Mih-ree), Randa, Manda, Andy or Mandy. The first three are our preferences, but we don't mind the others. Randy, for obvious reasons, will be avoided if possible!

In our case, the only thing putting me off Miranda is that our surname begins with a vowel (Ell--), so I'm a bit worried the name will slur with it. Might not be a problem for you!

Tabitha
Nicknames would probably be Tabby, Tab or Tabs as you've already raised. You could potentially stretch a nickname to Bee or Bitha, if those are any better.

There is a feline link, but no worse than Felix or Leo I'd say. It just depends if you can tolerate the occasional person making a comment or potential playground teasing based around cats? Holding in mind that teasing will always happen in some form, it's virtually impossible to completely avoid it!

For DH and I, now that we've narrowed it down to the final three we're waiting until LO is born so we can see which one she most looks like to make our final decision. (Or, if the sonographer was wrong and she turns out to be a he, we can go back to the drawing board!)

Hope you manage to find the perfect name for your LO. I approve of your taste in names thus far-!

[mumoverseas]

I love the name Alexandra but them I'm a little biased as it is DD1s name. Over the years she has gone between Alexandra, Alex, Lexi, Allie and is now Alex again. She is 14 and loves her name.

I have a friend called Miranda who is in her early 40's and a friend's daughter is called Tabitha and is 15. She used to be called Tabby by her friends.

[Ibizadreams]

I am a Miranda.

I didn't like my name at school as it couldn't be shortened, but I wouldn't change it for the world now. It's unique (I've only ever met 2 others) and I think it's fairly glamourous (esp as I was named after the character in The Tempest).

When I was a teenager I got my friends to call me Andy. Some friends do call me Miri (I don't like it). I also got nn of my surname which was okay. My family call me panda, which I love.

I also like Tabitha and think that Tabby is quite a cool nn.

[CakeandRoses]

Miranda is gorgeous!

Tabitha is lovely too - I wouldn't worry at all about the cat thing. We have a Felix and no-one ever says anything catty about it!

Not mad keen on Alexandra myself, mainly because I find nn Alex a bit plain (I like more feminine sounding names).

Oh and if you share names with people before the baby is actually named then I'm afraid you will need to prepare yourself for some inane and unhelpful (and sometimes downright rude) comments. Best not to tell anyone until your baby is born and named imo.

[emmyloo2]

I like Miranda and Alexandra. Alexandra is one of our options and I have always liked Miranda. I went to uni with a Miranda whose nn was Mandy. I really liked that.

Tabitha, to be honest, still reminds me of a cat.

[Hedwig3]

LOVE Miranda

Like Tabitha

Alexandra sounds too manly for me

[ditavonteesed]

I have a tabitha, she is tabitha, tabi or tabs, all adorable and not at all cat like when used, although we had all the same comments when we first had her.
Obviously biased but I would go with Tabitha.

[janeite]

I love, love, love Miranda. Wanted it for dd1 and it was one of the few girls' names that both dp and I loved but his surname begins with a vowel, so it sounded weird.

It's deffo not 80s - it's Shakespeare!

Nickname would have been Mimi, I think.

[bugalugs76]

You guys are all fabulous!!!! This is great feedback!!! Thank you all so so much. Am really appreciating reading through all your thoughts!

[diplodoris]

Alexandra and Miranda are both lovely names Would you consider using one as a middle name? Alexandra Miranda would be very nice.

I don't like the sound of Tabitha (maybe because "tab" at the beginning sounds a bit harsh?) and I think "cat" straight away.

[SherbetDibDab]

I like Miranda by far the best of the three.

[missgenevieveclavel]

Miranda is lovely!

Tabitha is nice. it used to just remind me of Tabitha Twitchet in Beatrix Potter but it has grown on me.

Not keen on Alexandra- dislike Alex as doesn't seem feminine at all.

Go for Miranda- so petty and timeless

[Sibble]

Love Tabitha - know one, she is lovely

Not keen on Miranda or Alexandra

[ASmallBunchOfFlowers]

I have a long name which is never abbreviated (even though there is an obvious abbreviation) and think the fact that there is no handy abbreviation or nickname for Miranda is a huge plus. I'm always really puzzled by those threads that say "we want our child's nickname to be Lulu/Spud/Foofles so what name should we choose?"!

The Miranda I know occassionally calls herself Mimi - her family also call her Panda.

[mumofeightplusfour]

love tabitha have one known as tabby or tabs as she's getting older neither of which bother her . people don't suggest that the names katherine or christopher shouldn't be used because they may be shortened to kitty or kit both of which have feline connotations.
miranda is also nice but get shortened to mira a shower brand.
not that keen an alexandra .
children and adults will find a negative connation for almost any name .

[flopsy1974]

Love Alexandra. Alex or Ally are great nicknames.

Quite like Miranda but not keen on tabitha.

[bibbitybobbityhat]

I rather like Miranda.

[bugalugs76]

Thanks so much guys! V useful feedback. Many of the thoughts expressed echo mine/ours... (and I say many - because of course there are several different viewpoints... and we are still undecided...) I appreciate the point mentioned by Spirael (who clearly has great taste in names )and can see there is a lot to be said for waiting and seeing what suits her when she arrives. (Though I must also admit that I can't help but think that as gorgeous as they all are when they are born/v little they do all look rather like a cross between Winston Churchill and a crumpled old loafer/boat shoe... a very beautiful/handsome one of course... (but some of you may know what I mean/agree with me...) and thus not necessarily look a lot like any name in particular)

Thanks again - you've all been really helpful.

PS Clementine is back in contention now too which has added to the confusion...

PPS Any thoughts on Clementine if anyone happens to have any are also welcome

[Hedwig3]

Clementine is a fabulous name too!

[diplodoris]

Clementine is a lovely name

[bugalugs76]

I so love the speed you guys respond!!!! This is just awesome... I fear I am going to become a Mumsnet addict...