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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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SpanishLady · 20/08/2010 13:45

Ruth, Nuria or Francisca (ended up an Elizabeth)

had I been a boy....Miguel Angel!

MamaVoo · 20/08/2010 13:36

I was nearly Zoe.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 20/08/2010 13:35

James or Joanna.

FreakoidOrganisoid · 20/08/2010 13:35

Bryony (my surname also began with B so I was to be known as Bibi)

or Peter

My sister was going to be Jennifer or David.

Hassled · 20/08/2010 13:27

Elspeth or Graham. I wouldn't have minded being an Elspeth.

MrsJohnDeere · 20/08/2010 13:27

Richard, despite the fact it really didn't work with my maiden surname at all.

My mother never considered the fact that I might be a girl, or ever got over the disappointment.

Eve4Walle · 20/08/2010 13:26

Gabriella or Annalise. I don't mind either really.

James for a boy.

fluffyandpink · 20/08/2010 13:26

Do I win? If I had been a boy I would have been called.....

Dicken

Hmm

I kid you not

asouthwoldmummy · 20/08/2010 13:23

I was nearly Rosie and would have been James if I were a boy.

RGPargy · 20/08/2010 13:22

I was nearly called Samantha but my dad didn't like it. Would have preferred it i think!

yesway · 20/08/2010 13:21

Belinda. Thankfully my mum talked my dad out of it.

Giddyup · 20/08/2010 13:20

I hate my name, but got off lightly... was nearly Paris! It would not have suited me, but I wonder how different I would have been if if it had been my name. Would it have neded up suiting me? If I was a boy I would have been Daniel,which is a name I love and i am now going to marry my very own Daniel.

spiritmum · 20/08/2010 13:18

I was going to be Liam or Trina, but then after I was born and Liam ruled out (much to my mum's disappointment) she chose a name that is quite popular now but really nobby in 70's/80's East London and I got teased for years about being a 'snob' as a consequence.

So as a teenager I shortened my name to avoid the teasing, and now sometimes wish I hadn't as it doesn't sound very grown-up, and I chose a typical show-offy teenage spelling which means I now always need to spell it out for people.

crumblequeen · 20/08/2010 13:12

Almost called Lindsay.

Would have been Luke if a boy - think I could live with that.

Aeldredida · 20/08/2010 13:08

Lara (Dr Zhivago I think?)

nelly83 · 20/08/2010 12:50

I was nearly called Chantelle or Siobhan but I'm a Charlotte! I thank my dad every day! Love my name. I wouldn't been Christopher if a boy.

tanmu82 · 20/08/2010 12:40

Thelma. Seriously. And I'm not even 30 yet.

TigerFeet · 20/08/2010 12:40

My dad wanted me to be called Dorothy after his mum - cool now but not when you are growing up in the 80's. It was relegated to a middle name and I still got the piss taken out of me for having a dreadful middle name, even though my first name is a run of the mill perfectly acceptable name.

Stephen if I were a boy... odd really as I have two younger brothers neither of whom have Stephen either as a first or middle name.

IrenePollock · 20/08/2010 12:39

If I had been a boy I would have been called Caoimhín. Which is not only nigh on impossible to spell outside Ireland, it is also essentially pronounced as Kevin.

Thank goodness I was a girl!

ampere · 20/08/2010 12:37

Vanessa. VANESSA!

radstar · 20/08/2010 12:33

My mum wanted to call me Emmeline - not after the suffragette (which would have been fairly credible although I don't like it) but after the song by Hot Chocolate!

Her other choice was Hilary which I hate even more!!

bruffin · 20/08/2010 12:24

I think I was always going to be named after my cypriot nan, which is a greek tradition. Originally going to be Christina Mary but ended up plain Christine. My Nan's name was Christalou.

PictureThis · 20/08/2010 12:22

Emma Penelope. My maiden name was Dale so once they realised Emma Dale probably wasn't the best choice they changed their minds Smile

If I'd been a boy I would have been Timothy Charles Biscuit

mamaloco · 20/08/2010 12:22

Odile [boak] sophie
Glad I am neither!
the boy's name went to my little DB

dickyduckydido · 20/08/2010 12:16

I was actually Stewart for a while as I had to be rushed away at birth and the dopey student midwife left with my mum told her she'd had a boy! Cue much confusion when they returned me to my mum and she insisted I was the wrong baby!! (Considering I look exactly like my dad with long hair and without a beard, I was definitely returned to the right mother)