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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Helen?

32 replies

Janoschi · 23/12/2010 00:06

Bit dull, or sweet and simple? Can't quite make my mind up about it...

Some days I love it, then I worry it's really boring. I have a really really odd name myself and I want to pass on the fun to my child, but I also like some of the classics.

Bit confused. Any ideas?

OP posts:

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TCOB · 24/12/2010 11:53

Helen is gorgeous - good skills for finding a classy, unusual, timeless name

DoNotFeedMeMincePies · 24/12/2010 11:45

Love it, used it as DD1's middle name, kind of regretted it when considering names for DD2 as we'd used it up!

Bue · 24/12/2010 10:27

There are worse people to be named for than the most beautiful woman in the world :) It is a lovely name that is due a comeback!

glovesoflove · 24/12/2010 06:54

I have known loads of Helens, they tend to be somewhat brisk, good at sports and prone to dressing in beige, honest and intelligent though not very creative or imaginative. Mostly kind and good fun.

ellensmelons I clicked on your profile and your baby is scrumptious!

DioneTheDiabolist · 24/12/2010 02:33

I love it. It has survived for thousands of years, it epitomises beauty (and strength if you know anything of Ancient Greek/Spartan history). A timeless classic.

Plus the only Helen I knew was soooo beautiful and strong, but that's just me.

Bonsoir · 24/12/2010 02:15

Dull, dull, dull.

blackeyedsusan · 24/12/2010 02:10

I had 3 in my class at school. QUite popular 40 years ago

Original poster

Janoschi · 24/12/2010 00:24

Thanks so much! Love the Hel on Wheels comment - hoping we get the kind of tomboy where that would apply :-) I always thought it dull when younger but was thinking recently that I didn't know any Helens at all. Seems odd for a name you assume is common to actually be quite unusual. Love Nell as a nickname. My great-grandmother was Nellie.

OP posts:

ensure · 23/12/2010 17:36

I like Helen. Classy.

Komondor · 23/12/2010 17:33

I like. Also like Helena

5GoldenFimbos · 23/12/2010 17:22

Ooooh GRW my dd is friends with a 12 year old Helen, could it be yours? LOL

GRW · 23/12/2010 17:19

I have a 12 year old Helen- she loves her name. Recently she's encouraged her friends to call her Melon as a nickname. I think the name is more unusual now than when I chose it. I like Helena too.

zenoushka · 23/12/2010 16:29

I think Helen is a lovely name - very classic.

bensonbutnohedges · 23/12/2010 15:52

Helen is a lovely name and means "shining one".

AliceandtheGinormousBaps · 23/12/2010 15:34

DS was going to be Helen if he was a girl (obviously!) after MIL who died a few years ago. I really like the name

OctaviaOstrichJollster · 23/12/2010 15:32

Prefer Helena, Elin or Eleanor. Nell works for either IMO.

Nightstar · 23/12/2010 15:31

Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships. I like it very much in that context.

But i have a friend called Helen and we shorten it to Hell, not massively nice. And a bit boring when you take away the classical connotations

ellensmelons · 23/12/2010 14:22

I always got called Helen, so didn't like it. However, since I've grown up (a little) I think it is quite distinguished and demure.

dowhat · 23/12/2010 14:18

Don't like it despite it being my first name. Since I can remember I've been called by my middle name. Assume my parents got bored of it very quickly!

pinkhebe · 23/12/2010 14:16

oooh, it's my name
I haven't heard of any others in years and it's never been a very popular name. Elena does seem to be shortened to Ellie, aparently the nn for Helen is Nell.

The agedpaerent, I was always known as Hel on wheels

going · 23/12/2010 14:14

Helen is very boring. I think Helena is so much nicer.

theagedparent · 23/12/2010 14:11

Helen Back, sorry not keen

RockinRobinBird · 23/12/2010 14:11

Love it but prefer Helena which would be on my shortlist if it wasn't my boss's name. I didn't realise Helena was trendy. She's the only one I know and she's 40-odd.

5GoldenFimbos · 23/12/2010 14:11

It's my mum's name, was my great grandmothers name and is mine, dd's and my cousin's middle name.

I do really like it.

tummytickler · 23/12/2010 14:07

Also has Nell as a very cute nn.

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