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Baby names

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

Original poster

Dorothy / Ruth?

57 replies

tummytickler · 06/03/2011 08:12

Just mulling these names over really.
What do you think?
We were going to call ds Dorothy, but he was a ds so we thought it would not suit him! We haven't put it our list this time, but now I am thinking about it again.
Also thinking about Ruth. Not sure if I like it enough to use it as a first name, but there is something very appealing about it.
I have 33 weeks to make up my mind so not urgent!

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pranma · 29/03/2011 16:03

My mum was Ruth Edmundo and a sweeter,kinder lady would have been hard to find
Why not Dorothy Ruth?

ChairOfTheBored · 29/03/2011 12:22

I like Ruth - but it's not just german speakers which struggles with 'th' sounds. So if ever your daughter is being chatted up by an Italian door man, he'll just laugh at her name.

Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything...

Edmundo · 07/03/2011 17:13

Dislike Ruth. Ruthless. Uncanny as all the Ruths I have known have been just that.

Dorothy is fab.

BarbieLovesKen · 07/03/2011 17:00

Oh sorry - both are really awful imo. Always hated Ruth - think it just has a horrible sound to it think "ROOT". Yuck.. no.

Dorothy. Terrible. Better than Root but terrible.

mathanxiety · 07/03/2011 16:49

I much prefer Ruth. Simple and elegant as noted above. Ruthie is a nice pet name as Northernrose says.

I prefer Theodora to Dorothy, which I think of as a prim name, sort of dumpy, too close to dirty..

Northernrose · 07/03/2011 15:44

My mum is Dorothy and therefore I really like it, as everyone has said loads of potential for nn - Dora, Dotty, Dolly, my mum was actually known as Dos for most of high school and Uni and I bet that suited her really well...(nb didn't have the same 'dossing about' conotations then!)

And I'm Ruth - and have gone from not liking my name as a pre-teen to rather liking it now. Certainly is well known but not at all popular. Ruthie is a good nn too, esp when younger...also like it as a middle name..

both have lovely meanings if that's important to you. We are expecting our dc2 in June and am mulling over either as a middle name! Good luck Smile

kreecherlivesupstairs · 07/03/2011 15:32

Both are really nice.

Ilovecremeeggs3 · 07/03/2011 11:48

Defo Dorothy- love Dotty & Dolly as nn. Your lite girl will love the wizard of oz for sure! Ruth is so stuffy & dull.

lilyberry · 07/03/2011 10:44

Both are really lovely. Dorothy allows for more nicknames, but Ruth is smashing too.

MamaLazarou · 07/03/2011 09:59

Both wonderful names, and both would be on my shortlist if I ever have a girl.

Maleeka · 06/03/2011 23:27

Truly sorry, but Dorothy conjurs up an old lady knitting in a corner, but i do like Ruth Smile

smileychicken · 06/03/2011 23:26

I love the name Ruth. It is a simple, elegant, underused but well known name meaning friendship.

I also really like Dorothy though...

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 06/03/2011 22:59

A bit like Dorothy from Men Behaving Badly? Always seemed a bit of an odd name on her - though I do really like it.

Bue · 06/03/2011 19:22

Ruth isn't used nearly enough. It's a lovely name.

I grew up with a little Dorothy and it was adorable on her. I'm not convinced it ages as well as Ruth though - it seems like a little girl or an old lady. Can't for the life of me imagine a 30 year old Dorothy.

Onion1968 · 06/03/2011 19:03

ruth is nice, Dorothy is that mad old lady down the road that smells of wee

OracleInaCoracle · 06/03/2011 15:58

the thing is, ruth transfers well from child to adult. dorothy will be called dotty as a child, then it jumps to middle age iykwim.

pointydog · 06/03/2011 15:55

Ruth. I love Ruth. SImple, classy, sharp, a little bit different.

Don;t like Dorothy at all. FRumpy and prim and dull.

olddeuteronomy · 06/03/2011 15:42

Really do not like Dorothy, not sure why.
Ruth is lovely - simple, classic and not used much at the moment. Ruthie is also cute nn for little girl.

Underachieving · 06/03/2011 12:59

To me Dorothy is still an older ladies name although the nn's are really cute, perhaps you'll start a revival trend. Ruth is really nice, I would have that on my shortlist if I could.

PepsiPopcorn · 06/03/2011 12:56

Both are lovely names :)

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 06/03/2011 12:42

Love Dorothy - I met a baby one when we first moved here - must be about 5 or 6 now. I think it's very cute and lots of nn potential too (Dolly makes me go all wistful and gooey).

Ruth is lovely too - though I never quite managed to convince DH - don't know why, I thought it'd be right up his street.

Janoschi · 06/03/2011 11:54

I love Dorothy too. I'd have it on my list but DP is German and gets the 'th' wrong. And the 'r' actually. Anyway, it was a no-go. Sigh.

But yes, LOADS of fabby nicknames - Dotty, Dodie, Dolly, Dorrie....

Had Ruth on the list too briefly but it had an 'r' and another bloody 'th'. Lovely too but prefer Dorothy.

Secretwishescometrue · 06/03/2011 11:09

My little sister is Dorothy and i LOVE it! So many nn's to choose from. Its a family name for us but even if it wasnt i still think its elegant with plenty of fun nn's

Hedwig3 · 06/03/2011 11:03

Love Dorothy

Like Ruth

OracleInaCoracle · 06/03/2011 10:15

I like Ruth.

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