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Baby names

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

Original poster

Willoughby

41 replies

snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:24

... for a girl. It's traditionally a boy's name (not just a surname!) but has been used in the USA for girls too. What are your thoughts please? Does anyone know a Willoughby anywhere? And are they happy with their name?

I like the name, think it's really pretty, but am worried this would condemn the child to a lifetime of having to repeat her name, spell her name on the phone etc. Please be honest with your views!

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BelligerentYhoULE · 20/12/2010 15:55

Beatrice is lovely!

Names abit like Willoughby? Erm.....

Verity?
Wendy? I HATE this name though!
Felicity?

traceybath · 20/12/2010 15:52

Oh I liked this too when pregnant with dc3 but had the resounding noooooo you got too Grin

Anyway dc3 was born and is Beatrice.

Original poster
snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:50

I like Wilhelmina as a name, but somehow it reminds me of a horse! Not sure why...

But Mina is very pretty - much better than Willy!

OP posts:
Original poster
snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:49

But, in my defence, I found it in a British book of names - it's an old English name apparently - and initially assumed it was a girl's name because it sounds feminine to me. Was obviously a bit put off when I saw it was for a boy, but ...

Anyway, I am now convinced of the error of my ways - I'd suspected that my RL friends would think I was bonkers, and if the collective wisdom here is also united against, then there's no question about it. Goodbye Willoughby!

OP posts:
Nightstar · 20/12/2010 15:48

Willma? Wilhelmina (from Bram Stokers Dracula, her nickname was Mina, which is quite pretty)

Littlefish · 20/12/2010 15:48

Good decision snowmum.

Nightstar · 20/12/2010 15:45

Wouldnt the nickname always be Willy? That's a bit cruel!

Makes me think of Holly Willoughby and i dont like her, sorry!

Original poster
snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:44

Ok. I think I agree with all of you - thanks. It's not going to be Willoughby.

I still think it's very pretty, but I will be a responsible parent and accept that we can't give a girl a boy's name, and a relatively uncommon one at that, without opening her up to all sorts of ridicule and difficulty. (I suppose I could argue that this might toughen her up, the better able to overcome other difficulties in life, but on the other hand that's not a very good reason behind a name either!)

Hmm. Back to the bookshelf for me!

Or can anyone think of anything a bit like Willoughby, for a girl? The female equivalent is Willow, which I don't really like (I think because of the 80s film!)

OP posts:
LoopyLoopsOfSparklyFairyLights · 20/12/2010 15:44

A village between Nottingham and Melton Mowbray.

Littlefish · 20/12/2010 15:43

No.

No.

No.

BelligerentYhoULE · 20/12/2010 15:42

Noooooooooooooooo - I'm sorry but it is really, truly awful. If I knew you in real life and you told me that you had named your daughter this, I would think that you were bonkers.

It is a SURNAME, not even a boys' name traditionally (whatever American websites etc may tell you).

Sorry but you did say be honest.

AllieW · 20/12/2010 15:42

Not at all keen, sorry.

EvilTwinsAteRudolph · 20/12/2010 15:32

Makes me think of that book "The Wolves of Willoughby Chase" and the nasty cad who dumps Marianne in "Sense and Sensibility"

DontLetTinselDragOnTheFloor · 20/12/2010 15:31

No. you are condemning her to a lifetime of spelling it out, explaining that yes, she knows it is a boys name but her mother liked it and used it anyway etc etc etc

MyCatJeremy · 20/12/2010 15:29

I really don't like this name for what it is, a boy/man's name. It does sound slightly better for a girl.

TheGoddessBlossom · 20/12/2010 15:25

boys name IMHO