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Baby names

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

Original poster

Caroline

40 replies

chickentwizzler · 15/10/2010 12:49

I already have a thread on Stephen, and how we like boys names ending in -EN. DH has been given the task of choosing between Owen and Stephen when the child is born.

We now have girls names, and have decided we like names ending in -INE. DH loves:

Caroline

My concern with Caroline, is that I dont want it shortened to Carol, as I dont like this name.

I'm slighly more adventuous than DH, and also love Emmeline and Clementine. DH will not agree to either of these.

We are still liking the -EN ending names for girls, DH loves Seren (he's welsh), but our surname is similar to Getty, and I immediately think of Serengeti, which is probably why it sounds so good together. I suspect other people with think of Serengeti so I'd rather not use it. The other name we're considering is Lauren. We've ruled out the names Vivien and Bronwen.

I know its an odd thing, but we don't want a name ending in -ie/y or -a.

Anyone got any other suggestions. At the moment its between Caroline and Lauren. Also, I'd be interested to know which name you prefer of the two.

Again, we may have to wait till the child is born.

Thanks all

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BodyUnknown · 18/10/2010 19:12

I have a Severine. I have never met another! Thing is, people have started to complement me on the Harry Potter reference, which isn't exactly what DP had in mind when he named her.

I LOVE Caroline, particularly if the nickname is Caro. Wonderful.

Original poster
chickentwizzler · 18/10/2010 10:26

Thanks everone.

Its so good that the comments are positive, I also like Carolyn.

Thanks for the Catherine suggestion, beautiful name, but my name is Kate (just Kate not CAtherine), and I think they are too similar.

Love Eleri, but concerned that people may mispronounce it, and then it sounds likes celery. I also love Teleri. I dont think it goes so well when said with our surname.

OP posts:
piscesmoon · 16/10/2010 22:25

I like Stephen too and don't think it dated-I always come across a few when supply teaching.

piscesmoon · 16/10/2010 22:23

Caroline doesn't date-it is a classic. I love it and have never known one shortened to Carol-only Caro or Callie.

Ariesgirl · 16/10/2010 22:08

Seren means Star. I love it.

autodidact · 16/10/2010 20:22

Really like Caroline. Much nicer than Lauren imo.

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 16/10/2010 01:06

Incredibly popular in the 60s

Princesses and Presidents' daughters all!

Every other woman I know my age is Caroline!

ActuallyMyNamesMarina · 16/10/2010 00:59

Caroline is my cousin and she is Carrie or Cal (she was Lal-line to me when I was small as I couldn't say Caroline).

It is ocmpletely underrated and underused - go for it!

Silkstalkings · 15/10/2010 21:08

Ooh Caroline is v underrated imo, it's v classy. Nobody would shorten it to Carol, just Caro or Carrie, both of which are pretty.
Lauren is a bit too popular for my liking.

How about Mennen? That's a Welsh name. Or Sennen, as in the Cornish.

Wigeon · 15/10/2010 21:05

Caroline feels very much of my generation (am early 30s).

Have never come across a Caroline known as Carol.

What about Catherine! A fantastic name ending in "ine" (obviously not Katherine / Kathryn / Katharine - all wrong).

dolcegusto · 15/10/2010 21:01

I'm called Carolyn, sometimes shortened to carrie (which I like) occasionally to caz (which I hate).

Was always called Caroline by mistake which never bothered me but drove my mother crazy, but don't think people would get it confused the other way round.

Not quite sure what my point is, just nice to see a baby name thread I'm interested in.

batsforlashes · 15/10/2010 21:01

My DD is Carolyn and she is never called anything else. FWIW in the book of Cool Baby Names, Caroline is rated A+++ while they describe Carolyn as "downmarket" Blush

deliakate · 15/10/2010 20:51

Love Caroline, such a gorgeous name. I know an adult Caroline, who has never been Carol, so its not inevitable. The nn I really hate is Caggy tho

Greenwing · 15/10/2010 20:47

Caroline is lovely - so classic. Everyone will know how to spell it but it will not be common. It sounds lovely in French too when she is older and goes on a French exchange trip!

TheHappyCamper · 15/10/2010 20:27

My name is Carolyn, which I have always liked as I have only ever known a few others. It was nice to be the only one in my school. I also like Caroline, but hate it when peple call me it by mistake! I do now know a Caroline who is called Charley for short, and have also heard of Callie as a nn which is nice I think. I love Clementine lots Smile. I' not so keen on Lauren but I'm not sure why! I prefer Laura, seems quite classy. Does that go with your surname? How about Morgan or Violet?

LiquoriceLila · 15/10/2010 19:27

I like Clementine, Caroline seems a bit dated to me

Inertia · 15/10/2010 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ValiumSkeleton · 15/10/2010 17:31

Caroline is dated because of Princess Caroline I think. There was a rush on Carolines about 40-45 years ago! But dated isn't BAD. It just means it doesn't occur to people when they're compiling a list. It doesn't make it a bad choice.

I also like Stephanie btw. Really don't like Stephen though. NOPE, sorry, that one is too dated. Maybe in ten years.

SaintAva · 15/10/2010 17:21

sorry - mean't "can't it "

SaintAva · 15/10/2010 17:21

It can be so tricky choosing a name can't! DD had name picked instantly, but could only just get a boy's name we both liked but neither loved so good job she was a girl!

RockBat · 15/10/2010 15:30

It's my favourite name. DD was going to be Caroline but I have a close cousin with the same name and my mother was getting upset over the whole thing so DD has it as a middle name :(

Original poster
chickentwizzler · 15/10/2010 15:21

SaintAva, missed to thank you for your comment. It is helpful.

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Original poster
chickentwizzler · 15/10/2010 15:20

Too tell you the truth I've never heard it shortened to Carol either.

Righto, Caroline (I think) it is, you have got rid of my fears of it being a dated name.

LionOnTheFloor:

Elen (prefer with one l, rather than two ls) - I like. My best friend has gone and used it as a middle name for her DD. Not sure if I like it enough for dd.

Elin - I prefer Elen

Dwynwen and Eirawen - too Welsh, as currently live in England. Would be constantly advising people on how to pronounce it.

Gwen - I quite like this, but not enough to call my daughter Gwen.

OP posts:
SaintAva · 15/10/2010 15:03

Oh and I was born in the 80s so maybe not too much of a 70s name Smile

SaintAva · 15/10/2010 15:02

My name is Caroline and I have never been called Carol! I sometimes get called Caz, but only very occassionally, mostly when I was a bit younger and only by friends. I love my name, I was the only Caroline I knew for a while, and it's still not too common. One other Caroline I know is called Caro.

Hope this is helpful!

We now need to agree on a boy's name, though we've got quite a few months to decide!