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Baby names

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

Original poster

Florence, Elspeth or Rowan?

45 replies

thetigerwhocametoteax · 03/02/2012 14:59

Just starting to think about names for DC2 due in summer. DH and I had always wanted Rowan for a girl but I close friend of ours recently called their little boy Rowan and I am starting the think of it now as a boys name. I really love Florence but find the lack of nice nicknames and increasing popularity a bit off putting. DH likes Elspeth (nn Elsie) and I do like it but worry about a lifetime of going "no Elspeth ... NOT Elizabeth"

So what do you think? DS is called Arthur. Any other suggestions we might like?

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Clary · 08/02/2012 00:08

Ahhhh love the name Arthur OP.

DS2 was set to be Florence (he is almost 9 btw; since his birth I have met 0 Florences) or Agnes; we also liked Edith and I like Mabel and Agatha.

Of your choices I love Florence. Rowan is a girl to me but DD has a pal (girl) with the name; I know a lot of people think of Rowan Atkinson. Elsie is nice as a given name maybe? I know one who is about 13.

Ooh I forgot about the Camerons with Arthur and Florence, bah nicking all the best names!

moonblushtomato · 07/02/2012 20:44

Elspeth all the way!! I think Elsie is utterly gorgeous tooSmile

CharlieBoo · 07/02/2012 13:47

Agree about Florence, it's very NOW... I know 2 babies born recently called it... How many did we all know 5 years ago?

Elspeth is beautiful!! But I love love love Beatrice.

Psammead · 06/02/2012 13:20

DD's middle name is Rowan. Love it.

Correctmeifiamwrong · 06/02/2012 12:45

My sister is Elspeth, and apart from the short time at school when she had the nickname of 'El Smell' we like it! Love Florence too.

Minty82 · 06/02/2012 12:42

Oh - hadn't realised you had an Arthur - might want to be slightly careful on Florence then or you'll have two matching the Camerons!

Kaekae · 05/02/2012 21:37

Elspeth reminds me of someone with a really bad lisp. Bored of Florence its everywhere, just look at how many threads there are about the name!

Original poster
thetigerwhocametoteax · 05/02/2012 20:15

Wow, so many replies! Thanks, I'm not mad keen on discussing baby names with family and friends after they all pulled faces at the name Arthur for our first. I loved it then and still do now. So its nice to have other input to my hormone ravaged thoughts on baby names! Think it will be Elspeth or Rowan. We might have to wait til little one arrives and see what suits. Now to think of boys names..... Grin

OP posts:
birdofthenorth · 05/02/2012 09:19

PS Really like Rowan, too. Florence is feeling a bit "done" to me, especially after Florence Cameron

birdofthenorth · 05/02/2012 09:18

Love love love Elspeth. Beautiful for an adult and a plentitude of cute nicknames for a child or teen.

duke · 05/02/2012 00:12

I know 3 Florence's born this year. It's getting very popular. Careful she might be Flo whatever your surname is when she goes to school.

leftmymistletoeatthedoor · 04/02/2012 23:13

Flora, Rowan and Elspeth were my 3 favourite names along with Mairead.

PLEASE choose Elspeth. The world needs more little Elsies! Dh wouldn't let me name dd Elspeth i will never forgive him

muffinino82 · 04/02/2012 23:07

I think of Rowan as a boy's name because of Mr. E. Blackadder, but that's me.

I like Florence because it's my nan's middle name (first name Eileen), which is very old lady, but she is 78 so it suits her :o

I like Elspeth and Elsie, not too twee.

Love Arthur btw, always been one of my favourite names.

maddiemostmerry · 04/02/2012 21:44

Elspeth, lovely.

I know Rowan's of both sexes, quite like it.

Florence is quite popular where I am and I think will become rapidly overused.

Scathac · 04/02/2012 21:43

This is a lovely thread - all these names are beautiful! Elspeth is not like elizabeth at all! my fave is florence , and i love florrie as a short version. rowan seems to be a bit of a boy's name these days due to eg rowan atkinson.

4madboys · 04/02/2012 21:41

i like Rowan, but also know a boy called that, but i think its a pretty unisex name.

like florence, thought about it myself but the camerons using it has ruined it for me!

dont like Elspeth at all, purely because of a relative with this name, but she isnt your relative so that shouldnt bother you!

sammie74 · 04/02/2012 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hulababy · 04/02/2012 09:38

Love Florence and think it goes well with your DS being called Arthur.

I don't like Rowan, and not keen on Elspeth (much prefer Elizabeth). Like nn Elsie though.

timetoask · 04/02/2012 07:21

Florence, but a long way, it is lovely.
Elspeth sounds like a type of wheat.

FriskyMare · 04/02/2012 07:12

Know of a female Rowan, lovely name, how about Rowena?

Nagoo · 04/02/2012 07:08

I like Elspeth.

Flora is nice too :)

Rowan is getting given to more boys ATM, but I used to think of it as a girl's name.

For some reason I want to throw Bryony in the pot. I don't know what the connection is Confused

whatsmyage · 04/02/2012 06:57

Florence is lovely, definitely my favourite of these. Agree Rowan is too masculine.

For names kind of similar in feel to some of your ideas what about...

Tamsin
Thea
Flora
Fiona
Faye
Freya
Isla
Elise
Jemima
Lillian
Imogen
Carmen
Helena
Lila
Rhiannon
Harriet
Elodie
Eleanor
Alba
Ava
Beatrice
Lucy

recall · 04/02/2012 00:51

Elspeth....its gorgeous

3boysgirlontheway · 04/02/2012 00:39

Anything but Florence, my little one is going to be called Florence so I am trying to dissuade everyone else from using it :)

woolly76 · 03/02/2012 22:32

Love Rowan for a girl its between Rowan or Rosa for my bump