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Baby names

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

Original poster

OK, final name thread! One of us will be disappointed, who should it be?

214 replies

GuillotinedMaryLacey · 20/10/2011 13:05

We have two name choices. Neither one of us is happy about the other's choice. We have been through every name we can think of and, without a word of a lie, there is not one single name in the entire world that we agree on, believe me, we've tried and it's beginning to grind us down. We've just got totally different taste in names. So we've accepted that one of us will have to get used to a name we're not wild about.

Anyone else in the same position, what did you do? Is it possible to live with a name that's just ok and not The Name?

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puddle2 · 21/10/2011 13:18

Matilda - girly but strong. Tilly is a frilly nn, Tilda a stronger sassier one.
Harriet and Matilda

Pippa- Philippa perhaps if you like a longer name.
Harriet and Pippa

Kitty/Kit/Kate - Katherine.
Harriet and Kitty
I prefer Kitty or Kate to Katherine though.

Have I won the prize?

KatieMortician · 21/10/2011 11:49

You have the same first name as me so I understand you don't want something boring. There was always at least one other in the class. If not two.

KatieMortician · 21/10/2011 11:48

I like Welsh names. My great-grandmother was a Dinithy. I've never seen it anywhere else.

What about Audra? an ah sound but quite strong.

Cassia?

Jennifer?

HettyAmaretti · 21/10/2011 11:41

Katerina nn Kate?

HettyAmaretti · 21/10/2011 11:40

Kate can certainly be a stand alone name, I fear popularity may increase.

oohlaalaa · 21/10/2011 11:38

Kate is a grest standalone name.

iskra · 21/10/2011 11:04

Clara. Clarabelle is a nickname hideous as it is reminds me of my cousin Lucy who is called Lulubelle

Original poster
GuillotinedMaryLacey · 21/10/2011 10:55

Trying to avoid anything really popular. I have a really common name and hate it. He likes Imogen, I don't!

And I think he is serious with Clarabelle

OP posts:
Zone2mum · 21/10/2011 10:26

How about Imogen (nn Ginny, or Imo)?

oohlaalaa · 21/10/2011 10:04

DH and I had this too. He likes names like Amy, I like Clarissa and Emilia. It wasn't the harshness so much, but any names over two syllables and five letters, my DH considers poncey.

Yes, we went through Statistics girls names spreadsheet too, and borrowed a friends name book. We have settled on Cara.

Ephiny · 21/10/2011 09:43

I love Verity, definitely agree with you on that one. It helps that the one I know in real life is beautiful, clever and sweet! Madeleine is...OK, but just OK.

Clarabelle is awful, is he serious? Clara is fine though. Or Cara, Ciara/Kiera? Kirsten?

Eleanor is a good strong name, and quite traditional. Annabel or Isobel (with those spellings, no frilly girlified ones)?

Original poster
GuillotinedMaryLacey · 21/10/2011 09:38

Love Helena but can't use it. Shame because we both really love it but it's not an option.

I know I know, we're just bloody awkward! Blush

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 21/10/2011 09:31

Names off the top of my head

Ruth (NM Roo if necessary)
How about just Clara, dropping the Belle
The Clara I know has a sister called Eleanor. Variations in that could be Elena, Helena...
Um.... Louisa, Eloise...

Original poster
GuillotinedMaryLacey · 21/10/2011 09:30

Could you have Kate as a standalone name?

DD1 has Catherine as one of her middle names which we're slightly kicking ourselves about as we might have gone the Catherine/Kitty route. But I suggested Kate just now and the response was favourable. Then it could be Kitty or Katie or whatever or just Kate (Bush fan).

Harriet btw Bubbaluv

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 21/10/2011 09:28

This is the single advantage of H having left before DD was born... I got to choose her name all by myself. I did a damn fine job of it too :o

Bubbaluv · 21/10/2011 09:23

What is DD1 called?

Bubbaluv · 21/10/2011 09:22

Could you have a Clara and he could call her Clarabelle as a nn?
I know an Emma who's Dad and brother call her Emmy-lu.

Bubbaluv · 21/10/2011 09:21

Sophie? Sophia?
What about Elizabeth?
Lucinda (Lulu for short)
Alice
Emma
Katherine (Kitty)
Camilla (Millie)
Sybilla (Billy)
Tomasina - spl?

Original poster
GuillotinedMaryLacey · 21/10/2011 08:17

That's where I'm at MrsRetching. I'm worried about looking at my child and thinking hmmm, what did I agree to that for?

He's rejected all recent suggestions and, frighteningly, has resurrected Clarabelle again this morning. Eek! He's really not getting the no frills thing is he?! :o

OP posts:
frutilla · 21/10/2011 02:35

minipie, I love nymbler, going to be up all night now!!!! It's given me

Zinnia (I knew a Zinnia, really like that name)
Marina
Cassia
Sienna
Piper
Harper (so that's where VB got it from...)

MrsRetchingBloodAndGuts · 21/10/2011 01:28

We had this problem, I now have a 5 week old dd2 who's name I am not crazy about... I'm not sure I've come to terms with it yet, I can't decide how bad it is... I'm waffling sorry

What I mean is I don't know how I feel about her name, I certainly wouldn't have chosen it but it's not that bad.

Problem is, one of us had to give in and I let him have his moment...

I'm no help whatsoever am I? Sorry.

All I can say is don't stop looking, we actually found a couple of names in the last few days before dd was born that I think I should have pushed more for.
Before then I would have said we had been through every name also but I found two more that I really liked the day before she was born.

mathanxiety · 21/10/2011 01:04

Ruth?

mathanxiety · 21/10/2011 01:02

Ines?

mathanxiety · 21/10/2011 01:02

I suppose DD1 being Harriet would mean Juliet is out.

I agree with your DH about Verity. Makes me think 'Verytwee' tbh.

Madeleine isn't a frilly name imo, and if it were my choice I would go with this. Better than Amelie, Flora (I agree with you on frilly names, bleugh)

How about heading in another direction altogether -- would Astrid or Brigitte or any other Scandinavian/Euro names appeal to either of you? Would he like Magdalena? Could be Magda or Lena for short.

Or names like Keziah, that are both feminine and OT tough.
Maybe these would work:
Beulah
Dinah
Miriam
Leah

There are also names like
Louisa
Laetitia
Lara
Laurel
Charis (Greek 'grace')
that have a soft enough sound but are not dripping with fripperiness.

PootlePosyPumpkin · 21/10/2011 00:11

Similarly Lilian with Lily as a nickname.

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