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Baby names

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

Original poster

Fenella/Barnaby

30 replies

Tiredalready · 02/12/2011 10:36

I love these two names, particularly Nell as a shortened form of Fenella. The surname is one syllable, so I think we need a longer fn. I also like Romilly. My DH hates them as thinks they are ridiculous and affected. He likes Catherine, Mark and, wait for it, Diana (not a fan, just likes name, doesn't think is a problem)...... Any views?

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nooka · 06/12/2011 06:21

I think that you need to find names that you both love. I can totally understand your difficulties with finding a name that you haven't got a strong association with as a teacher, and as a holder of an unusual name I think it's great to look for something less widely used. That said your friends have chosen some interesting names Grin

70's names are likely to be unusual in your dc's generation, so that's not a bad option - I guess you need something more interesting sounding than Mark but less affected than Fenella (makes me think of the good life but I'm sure that isn't right!). I'm not sure about Diana.

Maybe something with a straightforward nn choice for dh but a longer full name for you? Are Penelope/Penny/Nell type names worth exploring?

JamieComeHome · 06/12/2011 06:11

Also, for boys:

Matthew
Patrick
Michael

JamieComeHome · 06/12/2011 06:04

These are not to my taste too "posh" and not very "strong" sounding. I can go a bit posh but that's too far, IMO.

I prefer Romy to Romilly
Marcus - bit more interesting than Mark
Vanessa, rather than Fenella

Also, what about

Christina
Marianne
Audrey

Christian (not to everyone's tastes)
Alexander/Alex

SnowPlaceLikeHome · 05/12/2011 20:36

Telegraph reading toffs. No!

MerryMarigold · 05/12/2011 18:37

My friend Diana is 'Dee' as nickname.

shouldnotbehere · 05/12/2011 10:07

The only Fenella's and Barnaby's I have met have been very posh (country estate with house in town posh).

I like the names Catherine and Mark.

lottiegb · 04/12/2011 23:03

I like Romilly quite a lot, unusual, strong but attractive and has no associations at all. Fenella and Barnaby do immediately suggest privelege, I'd expect, after a private education, her to do something expensive in PR and him to become a land agent. Having said that, I quite like them and it sounds from your friends' DCs names as though they will fit in fine. Fennel is a great vegetable, Nell, Ella, maybe Fen all good nn and Barney is quite cute - in fact my only concern is that it's potentially not very dignified for an adult.

Diana will be unusual now and may come back later. Do you want Di as a nn though?

AnotherMincepie · 04/12/2011 21:21

my friends have children called Daphne, Margot, Caspian, Artemisia, Thaddeus, Arabella, Delilah

Can't guess which part of north London the country they live in :o

Original poster
Tiredalready · 04/12/2011 20:57

Totally agree, PercyFilth, about nuance. I'm a teacher in a secondary school (not one I'd send a child of my own to!) and that makes me very aware of the torture at school aspect, but I have quite an unusual name (or certainly it was when growing up) so I think I see it as a positive. It also makes me avoid many, many names as I will have taught someone with that name and the association can be very strong...... Think that also makes me look for something unusual, whereas DH goes purely on names of friends of his.
As for circles child will mix in, my friends have children called Daphne, Margot, Caspian, Artemisia, Thaddeus, Arabella, Delilah, etc, so think will be ok, but as established earlier, all in the individual's perspective.

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PercyFilth · 03/12/2011 12:04

Barnaby would probably become Barney, which is OK. I have a friend called Barney, although it's not his given name, nowhere near it.

I do marvel at the tiny nuances which separate names. People squealing in horror at Ptolemy probably don't bat an eyelid at Jeremy. Is it just the silent P (sniggers) or something else?

WeThreeKingsOfMardyBra · 03/12/2011 11:17

Should read "better than your DH's". I have no opinion about your husband.

HoldTouchEngage · 03/12/2011 10:41

I love Romilly and Fenella is okay - once knew a Fenella although she was nicknamed Funnel Xmas Hmm

Barnaby - not my cup of tea and again would be torture around these woods, for the little one! Has become very fashionable though, so many people must love it.

Love Mark very under used these days. Good Strong name!

WeThreeKingsOfMardyBra · 03/12/2011 03:55

I like your names better than your DH. But I have to say Diana is a good name.

Sane Ptolemy is in a different league

Sanesometimes1 · 02/12/2011 23:53

Sorry - guessing it depends on which circles you enter into but both names would stick out like a sore thumb in my area ! school would be torture for the poor kid and they would be a laughing stock, dd has one boy in her class called ptolemy ( pronounced Tol-lem-ie). and he is very isolated !!!!! plesase do choose carefully !!!!

pchick · 02/12/2011 22:20

Loved both names, especially Barnaby.

PercyFilth · 02/12/2011 21:25

That's another plus for me! a cool song and a wicked nickname!

MerryMarigold · 02/12/2011 21:23

Dirty Diana...(no, no)

PercyFilth · 02/12/2011 21:20

Cruel - why? There are other glamorous Dianas. Diana Ross, Diana Rigg, Diana Dors, Diana Krall ....

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 02/12/2011 21:07

Love Barnaby but hate Fenella and Romily, sorry. Catherine is lovely and Kitty is cute.

Original poster
Tiredalready · 02/12/2011 18:47

Ok, starting to waver on Diana - I do love the name. Does no one think it's cruel? Thanks so much for the list of names to be abbreviated to Nell - will take them into next discussion!!

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ZhenTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 02/12/2011 18:16

Barnaby is lovely.

Fenella just reminds me of the witch in Chorlton and the Wheelies!

There are other names that shorten to Nell if you just love the shortened version:

Helen, Eleanor, Ellen, Eliana, Cornelia, Penelope, Petronella, Antonella, Prunella, Jenella.

AnotherMincepie · 02/12/2011 18:06

Diana is a lovely name - ready for a comeback now!

PercyFilth · 02/12/2011 17:13

Of course they won't. Most people have moved on, there are already people entering their 20s who barely remember Diana Spencer.

MerryMarigold · 02/12/2011 16:18

No they won't! Not if she's dressed in Mini Boden Wink

Original poster
Tiredalready · 02/12/2011 16:17

Thank you - v helpful. I agree Diana is a pretty name but people will think we're Daily Express weirdos......

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