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Baby names

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

Original poster

What were you almost named?

159 replies

KittyTwoShoes · 19/08/2010 22:35

Just thinking about how on earth anyone ever decides on a name for their child and wondered if anyone knows their parents' shortlists? I'm interested to see how they differ from the shortlists on here today.

I'm Katherine, but was almost Anastasia... DP was almost Morris(!).

So what were you nearly called?

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A1980 · 22/08/2010 01:41

I was almost Allegra. Thank god my mother saw sense. Very hard sounding name

LetThereBeRock · 21/08/2010 20:38

I was almost Claire.
If I'd been a boy I'd have been called Michael,after my grandfather.

hugglymugly · 21/08/2010 20:19

I was almost Prunella. That was some 60 years ago, before adults really cottoned on to/could be bothered to think about the possible name-calling that's been going for generations in the school playground. But back then everyone knew what Prunes were good for.

purplefish · 21/08/2010 20:10

yogi, I was Miriam for a couple of days....I'm glad it was changed!

letsblowthistacostand · 21/08/2010 20:01

My parents' shortlist for me included Naomi, Dina (pronounced DIE-na), Allegra and Evangeline.

somedaymaybe · 21/08/2010 16:26

My dad wanted to call me Poppy which does not go at all well with my married name.

BIL was nearly called Valentine... elderly aunt thought it would be romantic!

deaddei · 21/08/2010 16:19

Doris- after my nana.
Thank god I wasn't. I have enough emotional baggage without that.

BythewayItsStillMe · 21/08/2010 16:13

My mum was 16 when she had me and just to piss the matriarchs of the family off she was adamant I was going to be called Cassandra or Kizzy. She was outnumbered though and I got a borning, average, well used name.

Not entirely sure I could have lived with Cassandra though...

clayre · 21/08/2010 15:44

I was going to be a Georgina, Gina for short, right up until my mum saw me then she decided it wsouldnt suit me, thankfully!!!!

FakePlasticTrees · 21/08/2010 15:35

I was going to be Matthew if I was a boy.

And my real name is one that my mum had always wanted for a little girl as it's her cousin's name - but was v popular the year I was born (there were 4 of us in my primary school class), so there was nearly an 11th hour change to Kirsty. Until my Dad pointed out with an older brother called Neil it might sound a bit like kneel and curtsy, and people (well, family) would take the piss.

DessieLou · 21/08/2010 15:29

I was going to be Gary....thank God I was a girl!

BikeRunSki · 21/08/2010 14:21

I was always going to be Alice if I was a girl, which I am.

If I'd been a boy I was going to be - wait for it

Ignatius Clovis!

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megsophandemma · 21/08/2010 14:17

I was almost a Kirsty. Like my name better.

ThoraNogson · 21/08/2010 14:08

My Mum's choice was Mandy (not even Amanda) which wouldn't have suited me at all. Thankfully my Dad overruled her with something more unusual which now (after a lot of teasing at school) I really like. I think for a boy she wanted Leon.

Debs75 · 21/08/2010 11:56

I was nearly a Phillipa but as mum had a Samanth she didn't want people thinking she had 2 boys, Phil and Sam.
I like Phillipa for dc4 but I would shorten it to Pip

BabyDubsEverywhere · 21/08/2010 11:35

I got saddled with Emily, I would have been Richard if I were a boy. In fact, I would prefer Richard to Emily even though i am a girl!

booyhoo · 21/08/2010 00:27

i was almost jolene Envy

juneybean · 21/08/2010 00:22

Benjamin Paul had I been a boy.

womblingfree · 21/08/2010 00:16

Stephanie or Lorraine were the other girl options.
Martin Ashley had I been a boy.

Dh was nearly Chad or Paula if he'd been a girl.

We chose dd's name when we got engaged, 8 years before she was actually born! Her middle name changed 3 times though.

CheerfulYank · 20/08/2010 22:41

I think Lesbia wins it, folks. :)

lucky1979 · 20/08/2010 22:28

seaturtle - I love some greek names (I secretly love Andromache and Ariadne for example) but really, what nicknames would you end up with? Nessie is probably the best I could have hoped for. :)

glitterkitty · 20/08/2010 22:21

Aurora. Yeesssss

seaturtle · 20/08/2010 22:09

Lucky1979 I secretly like the name Clytemnestra (after reading a lot of Greek stuff) but didn't even bother suggesting it to ex-DP when discussing names.

lucky1979 · 20/08/2010 22:01

My Dad was determined that I was going to be called Clytemnestra.

I've always thought that would be a winner in the almost disaster names but I think Lesbia possibly takes the cake :)

mybootsaremuddy · 20/08/2010 21:54

My parents had.

Boys:
Henry Leonard
George ''
Robert ''

Girls:
Henrietta Kate
Georgina ''
Roberta ''

Im guessing they realy wanted a boyGrin!!
Kate and Leonard were my GPs names.