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Baby names

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

Original poster

Have been told these names are 'downmarket'. Your help please.

80 replies

monkeyandguitar · 12/05/2012 21:13

I like the following names for our DD:
Ellie
Ella
Millie
Molly

However, more than one person has either made comment or pulled a face about them being too common - to mean both overused and downmarket. What are your thoughts? I'd really like some objective and subjective opinions - are these names really awful?!

I don't want to give poor DD a name that people see as 'downmarket' - I just want a nice name that isn't overly complicated, but at the same time isn't overly popular. Any other suggestions are very welcome.

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shattereddreams · 12/05/2012 22:12

Milly
Millie
Molly
Mollie
Ellie
Elly
Maisy
Maisie
Darcie
Darcy
Daisy
Daisie
I am so fed up of twee names where the parent tells you it's spelt wrong.

ExitPursuedByABear · 12/05/2012 22:09

Whoops - nickname Cassie Blush

HolyCameraConfusionBatman · 12/05/2012 22:09

I like Cassie a lot.

What about

Elizabeth - lots of nn potential
Evangeline
Cora
Marla
Marnie
Aliah
Matilda
Maddeline

ExitPursuedByABear · 12/05/2012 22:08

Cassiopeia - nickname Callie - now that would be classy.

mopsyflopsy · 12/05/2012 22:05

All VERY widely used already and people are getting a little tired of them imo.

minipie · 12/05/2012 22:02

Or Amelia or Camilla Thing

AThingInYourLife · 12/05/2012 21:59

They are all very popular, probably past their peak.

I'd say people are just sick of them and that is why they are saying they are "downmarket".

MrsApplepants · 12/05/2012 21:54

Is Millie short for Millicent? I always thought it was

Spero · 12/05/2012 21:52

I think it would be good to have a more formal name and to use one of those as a nickname for childhood. I wouldn't really want to be a 40 year old Mollie or Millie. I think it is fairer to give a child some wiggle room with a name which will hopefully carry them through the next 80 years.

bringbacksideburns · 12/05/2012 21:49

Of the lot of them i would prefer Millie.

Born2BRiiiled · 12/05/2012 21:45

They are extremely popular. When I do registers ar school, I feel like some of the classes are a string of these names, so it depends if that bothers you.
They are not at all "downmarket", but IMO are quite "young" and a full version such as Elinor might be more versatile.

DaisyMaisyJessicaEmily · 12/05/2012 21:41

Have heard of Lilyella too that is quite nice actually

DaisyMaisyJessicaEmily · 12/05/2012 21:41

Petronella nn Ella

Bunbaker · 12/05/2012 21:41

"I would hyphenate"

Now, that is downmarket, at least it is where I live.

BBQJuly · 12/05/2012 21:38

Same with Edie (Edith) and Cassie (Cassandra).

thisisyesterday · 12/05/2012 21:38

common as in very popular then yes, yes they are.

downmarket though? not at all IMO

Edie and Cassie are both lovely. I esp like Cassie

also what about
Lara
Matilda (Tilly for short)
Amelia (milly for short)
Emma
Cora/Cara
Thea

BBQJuly · 12/05/2012 21:38

I wouldn't say "downmarket" but they are all nicknames for more "formal" names. I think it would be more traditionally posh to use a formal name, and then one of these as its nickname.

Ellie - Eleanor, Ellen, Eloise
Ella - Eleanor, Ellen, Elvira
Millie - Amelia, Millicent, Mildred
Molly - Mary

MrsPnut · 12/05/2012 21:34

My perception is coloured because I know quite a few kids called Edie and Cassie, and I dn't like either name.

You could be brave and use Edith with Edie as a nickname. We have an Eloise which my grandmother shortens to Ellie but we never do.

bringbacksideburns · 12/05/2012 21:34

No - they are all lovely names. Not what i'd consider 'downmarket' at all.

What kind if names do they prefer, poncy 'screaming middle class bohemian' prattish names maybe?

1950sHousewife · 12/05/2012 21:31

I think they are all very popular, with good reason, they are pretty. All of them are very 'dateable' except Ellie, which I would consider a popular classic. Call her Eleanor and really you have a timeless name. It's the Sarah of our time.

Edie is VVVV popular at the moment (I know 2 under the age of 3), Cassie less so but because of Skins I am predicting an explosion of them.

startail · 12/05/2012 21:30

Millie short for Amelia or Emilia fine, the others are a bit dull.

Megan? Not rare but a bit feistier!

Original poster
monkeyandguitar · 12/05/2012 21:28

Thanks for your kind words everyone. I probably like Ella the best (what is it actually short for or are there several?)

I have been trawling through the posts on here and have come up with some others:

Edie
Cassie

What do you think? I would like to avoid something that will date badly.

OP posts:
CointreauVersial · 12/05/2012 21:22

Nice names, but there are thousands of them around.

DB called his daughter Ella, after our grandmother, and is cross that it has become so popular.

HolyCameraConfusionBatman · 12/05/2012 21:22

They're not downmarket, but they are VERY popular. I know several of each. I think they'll date badly.

I know 2 little girls called Ellie-Rose

lostinfrance · 12/05/2012 21:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.