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Baby names

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

Original poster

I am having sleepless nights over girls' names!

41 replies

redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 04/10/2010 17:47

We don't know what we are having but the boy's name was sorted very quickly and with no problems. Girls is much harder!

The criteria is English, I prefer longer names that you can shorten when they are little, Old-fashioned, could be the name of someone aged 80. I presented DH with a longlist and he rejected half of them so the current shortlist is:

Alexa
Beatrix
Primrose
Harriet
Eliza
Daisy
Nell

DH is freaked out by names he hasn't heard of or that he thinks are too unusual so he has rejected: Cecily, Hetty, Dulcie, Tabitha, Jemima, Zinnia and Constance.

I would prefer it not to be in the top 100 but will give on this one as I don't think anything too out there will get past DH.

Any other ideas? I love flower names but think we have exhausted them all. I love Nell but would prefer something longer we could shorten to Nell but am not keen on Eleanor or Helen.

Help!!

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simplysurreal · 07/10/2010 05:43

If you like flower names how about Peony?

or Margaret (Maggie) if you like old fashioned names

KerryOki · 07/10/2010 05:37

Have you thought of :-

Lottie - Charlotte
Erin
Izzy - Isabella
Rose
Lizzie - Elizabeth
Gracie
Lexi - Alexandra
Poppy - nice but many people seem to use it.

what boy's name have you both chosen.. maybe we can help from that. :-)

sleepywombat · 07/10/2010 04:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rach109 · 06/10/2010 21:54

Harriet

nooka · 06/10/2010 06:34

Annelise, Chanel, Donella, Fenella, Cornelia, Nelda, Prunella, Petronella, Janelle for Nell?

Not sure any of them woudl get under your dh's radar though!

mathanxiety · 06/10/2010 05:43

Eliza (or Elizabeth), Beatrix (or Beatrice) and Alexa (or Alix).

Eliska is a lovely Czech version of Eliza(beth)

cuppatino · 05/10/2010 23:00

I have an Eliza, beautiful timeless name IMO (but it would be wouldn't it?). It is getting a little more popular, but I have taught for ten years and never had even one Eliza pass through our school gates.
Love Beatrice too, but it is quite popular.
BTW I call my Eliza Lizzie at times

Purplelooby · 05/10/2010 21:45

Mine recently said that he would know when it was born and he looked at it... I think he was just trying to change the topic.

Original poster
redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 05/10/2010 17:30

twolittlekings My DH is exactly the same, he has not made one useful suggestion but turns his nose up at all of mine. Even the ones in my list he is mainly just tolerating rather than loving.

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Original poster
redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 05/10/2010 17:28

Natalie Cassidy has stolen my baby names! www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1317817/Natalie-Cassidy-gives-birth-daughter-Eliza-Beatrice.html

I think she has been reading her! Cameron stole Florence and now this!!

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diddl · 05/10/2010 09:21

I love Harriet & Cecily.
Eleanor nn Nell?

telsa · 05/10/2010 08:40

Marigold
Jennifer
Penelope

I love Primrose!

EsmeWatson · 05/10/2010 08:17

Your list is fab!
My picks are Eliza (love), Beatrice and Harriet. Not sure about Alexa, it is growing on me, but really like Alexandra.

clarabellarocks · 05/10/2010 07:51

Don't like Alexa - sounds quite harsh and not as pretty as other names.
Love Beatrix (but Beatrice more), Eliza and from your rejected list I just love Hetty!

NKinDXB · 05/10/2010 03:51

What is it with these men? Mine tried to complain that I had picked DS's name without consultation - this was only because he offered no serious suggestion during the whole 9 months.

So I'm trying to really include him this time, but all he does is demonstrate how every one of my ideas could be twisted into a stupid / rude nickname. I swear there is no name on earth that a guy cannot make into a rude nickname!

twolittlekings · 04/10/2010 21:36

Purplebody I know exactly what you mean - I spent ages suggesting names for my two DS and pretty much all of them were shot down in flames. When I asked for suggestions DH had none!

Purplelooby · 04/10/2010 21:34

Nell (from Nellie) comes from Ellen, because it is Ellen backards (kind of), so you could use that.

I love all these old fashioned names but I'm having the usual DH problems with names such as Edith and Pearl.

I wouldn't mind of they made counter-suggestions, but don't you find that they always just say NO!

twolittlekings · 04/10/2010 21:14

Charlotte - lotte
Elizabeth - betsy, libby, liza
Katherine - Katy (always reminds me of What Katy Did)
Grace
Eleanor - Nell

Love Harriet and Daisy

Really don't like primrose

CharlieBoo · 04/10/2010 21:12

I have a Daisy and love it but also on my short list were Eliza and Jemima.

It's very hard, just remember it has to be a name you LOVE.

Good luck

Itsnotthatgrimupnorth · 04/10/2010 21:08

Jessamine?

minipie · 04/10/2010 20:44

Of your shortlist I'd go with Alexa, Beatrix or Eliza.

Fenella is another Nell option but I'm not sure about it and I am sure your DH won't go for it!

Aniela is another name (pronounced An-yella, Polish originally I believe) which could be shortened to Nell.

Or you could call her Ellen or Elin and shorten it to Nell.

Cecily and Dulcie are lovely too if you can twist DH's arm.

said · 04/10/2010 20:24

Primrose was Harold Shipman's wife so that puts me off (as well as not actually liking it!)

seeker · 04/10/2010 20:23

Edith - Edie
Helena - Nell
Margaret - Daisy
Elizabeth - Eliza

Dd has a friend called Eliza Primrose - which I think is lovely (she doesn't, by the way, and insists on Lizzie!)

WriterofDreams · 04/10/2010 20:22

Why not just name her Nell? It doesn't have to be short for anything.

Original poster
redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 04/10/2010 20:18

My mum hates Primrose too! I think she might actually refuse to call the baby it if we go with it. I love it but she has worn me down with her hatred Grin

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