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Baby names

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

Original poster

Classic, "normal" girl's names...

60 replies

raininginbaltimore · 26/05/2012 18:16

So we are having a girl. Already have a ds with a classic name. Dh doesn't like anything that isn't "normal" but I don't want anything too popular (my name was top in the year I was born and I hated being one of five in my class)

So names I like:

Alice
Imogen
Phoebe
Evelyn (but worry that Eve/Evie is too popular)

Dh likes:
Charlotte
Hazel

Names ending in a or ee sounds don't go very well with our surname.

Any extra ideas? I don't feel like I've found "the one"

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Original poster
raininginbaltimore · 30/05/2012 15:41

Gnocchi I could, but that is what happened with ds. He has DH's choice as first name and my choice as middle name. And no one ever uses their middle name do they.

Maybe Hazel will grow on me. I don't dislike it. But it doesn't feel like the "one"

OP posts:
CPtart · 30/05/2012 09:57

Louisa.

GoPoldark · 30/05/2012 09:48

Beatrice

Juliette

Longdistance · 30/05/2012 09:39

My daughters are Eleanor Lilly, and Alice Elizabeth
We were gonna have Charlotte, but I wasn't as keen as dh.
We also had Florence, and Francsesca.
Met a lovely lady today and her dd's name was Sophia, she's currently pg, and loved dd1's name of Eleanor, and has put it on her list Grin

Original poster
raininginbaltimore · 30/05/2012 09:37

Yes I suppose. The other name I really like is Lucy. But we had a cat called Lucy (she died two years ago) so seems a bit weird. People might think we named her after the cat!

OP posts:
GnocchiNineDoors · 30/05/2012 09:32

What about Hazel Isobel Surname?

My first name is what my Dad wanted, and it is a VERY common name of the generation I was born, with a few different spellings and my middle name is the almost unique (around these parts) name that my DMum wanted to give me.

I wish it were the other way around, but know if I had wanted to that much, I could have chosen either of the two.

By using both names, your DD has the choice and her name is half you and half your DH (just like her!)

Original poster
raininginbaltimore · 30/05/2012 09:28

SO many nice names. I am going to sound a bit bonkers now. Hazel is my husband's favourite. There is nothing wrong with it. It fits our criteria, it is a lovely name. But I don't feel like it is "the name" or that it is her name. See I sound mad.

The name I come back to again and again is Isobel. But she will be one of hundreds of Isobel's, no one will ever spell it right and she will probably hate me for it. Sigh.

There are lots on here I like. But I love Isobel.

OP posts:
GnocchiNineDoors · 28/05/2012 09:36

Rose
Iris
Esme

WantAnOrange · 27/05/2012 20:01

Abigail
Emma
Laura
Leah

Original poster
raininginbaltimore · 27/05/2012 19:28

I love Isobel, but too popular and too many spelling. Poor girl will have to spell our surname most of the time.

I love Amber, but it is a very high possibility that she will be ginger, so not sure about that.

OP posts:
fi51 · 27/05/2012 17:28

Beth
Abigail
Isobel
Doreen
Rose

MoonHare · 27/05/2012 17:15

I like all of your name ideas. In order of preference I'd say;

Charlotte
Alice
Evelyn
Imogen
Phoebe
Hazel

You wouldn't have to shorten Evelyn to Eve or Evie if you didn't want to. If you as her parents don't shorten it and encourage others not to then she'll grow up only hearing her full name and may also decide she doesn't want it to be shortened. If she does want to shorten it and likes Eve or Evie then that's up to her as the bearer of the name.

Almost every name can be shortened (all the ones on your list for example) and not always in ways that parents would like or intended. I wouldn't worry about shortenings if you love the full name go for it.

Have fun deciding!

BlameItOnTheBogey · 27/05/2012 17:00

OK so I like: Anna, Emma and Zoe. Of your list I most like Charlotte which is a great name with lots of options.

emsyj · 27/05/2012 16:42

Interesting to see Ruth suggested - we have a Ruth Smile. We were looking for something 'normal' but unusual for the same reasons as you - I didn't want DD to be one of 4 in her class at school.

Also love Phoebe, Charlotte, Imogen, Beatrice, Serafina, Maribel, Annabel ('bel' names clash with our surname though), Sarah, Lucy... I like Hazel and Amber, we would use Amber were it not for stupid surname that doesn't go with ANY first names, ever.

StepOutOfSpring · 27/05/2012 09:30

I like Phoebe best from your shortlist, and Evelyn (but yes Eve/Evie very popular). Charlotte and Imogen quite nice too. Not keen on Hazel/Alice.

Original poster
raininginbaltimore · 27/05/2012 08:04

I do like Hazel, and I've only ever known one and she was lovely (I'm a teacher, which makes it harder!)

We live up north, so don't think it will be a problem with the accent.

OP posts:
AuraofDora · 26/05/2012 23:15

From your list I really like Hazel tis a beautiful name. I take Eurochick's point though, it needs the right location.

eurochick · 26/05/2012 23:12

My mum's a Hazel. She hates it. It gets shortened to 'Aze (London accent) frequently, which makes her sound like an air freshener. Which is a shame because I quite like it. You might fare better in another part of the country.

StepOutOfSpring · 26/05/2012 23:11

Julianna
Christina
May
Miriam
Amelia
Susan
Lydia
Zara
Rowena
Georgina
Aurora
Janet
Melissa
Larissa/Lara
Jasmine
Miranda
Serena
Adele
Elspeth
Carina
Karen
Iona
Belinda
Diana
Theresa/Tess

MarySA · 26/05/2012 23:08

Claire
Louise
Iris

I like Hazel.

pigletpower · 26/05/2012 22:38

I love your DH suggestion of Hazel actually.Not too way out and there may not be another one in the class! We have a Hattie,Dexter and Felicity.

FanjoPingpong · 26/05/2012 22:37

Elizabeth, Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Alice, Jennifer, Catherine

BorisJohnsonsHair · 26/05/2012 22:22

Harriet, Elizabeth, Anne, Jane, Rachael, Ruth, Nell, Sarah.

CharlieBoo · 26/05/2012 22:19

I found this when I had dd.. The problem with 'normal' is they can be quite unexciting and maybe even dull or safe... You need a name that fits your criteria that you LOVE.. It's hard I know...

From your list Alice and Charlotte are beautiful and timeless. How about Grace, Elizabeth, Sophie, Niamh, Violet, Genevieve, Erin. Love Beatrice too.

MoonlightandRoses · 26/05/2012 21:59

I'm quite fond of Charlotte, but had a good friend called that, so am biased Smile. If your two lists aren't grabbing you, how about any of:

Annis
Beatrice
Caroline
Christabel
Diane
Edith
Fern (knew a lovely, if slightly eccentric, one of these too)
Frances
Grace
Harriet
Joan
Margot
Margaret
Susan

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