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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which girls' name to choose

38 replies

mammiebee · 26/06/2012 09:46

I am expecting DC in 3 weeks time and we've settled on a couple of boys' names but girls' names are proving more tricky so I'd love your thoughts on these please:

I love Florence but I feel like every other little girl I meet is a Florence at the mo. I know this really shouldn't matter but I'm also not keen on the NNs Flo, Floss, Florrie etc

I also love Madeleine but I wonder if people of our generation will always think of the poor McCanns when they hear it?

I also adore Effie but I wonder if it sounds like a nickname and I don't like Euphemia, which it is short for.

BTW, I also love Tabitha but DP has vetoed this!

Any thoughts?

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Original poster
mammiebee · 27/06/2012 16:20

Sorry, MoonHare / LunaMoon I got you two muddles up! I blame my baby brain!

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Original poster
mammiebee · 27/06/2012 16:18

Babster, your daughters have gorgeous names. Every time I watched Larkrise to Candleford I kept thinking what a wonderful name Queenie is. And Scarlett is so glamorous. Great name for a teenager.

I love Nell too but it would rhyme with the baby's surname and sounds a bit daft!

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Original poster
mammiebee · 27/06/2012 16:13

Thanks Luna. Although I really don't think DP is gonna have a change of heart :( Probably because I have been banging on about it for sooo long now!! I think Tabitha is absolutely beautiful and I love Tabby too so I am very glad that your DH had a change of heart x

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Original poster
mammiebee · 27/06/2012 16:10

Thanks MammaTonic for lots of great feedback. Essie is very sweet and you've given me some food for thought. Esther is a name that I have been to-ing and fro-ing but then it is nice to hear from Spanish that Essie is a name in its own right.

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MammaTonic · 27/06/2012 07:59

Whoops, just read Spanish's post. Estelle means 'star' too, so you have a few more choices with the name :)

MammaTonic · 27/06/2012 07:57

Following on from my last post on this thread, I had a look for Essie but cannot find evidence of it historically being a name in it's own right. In addition to my suggestions, Estelle/Estella, Esther/Esta were suggested as sources of the Essie diminutive.

Of course, if Essie is a name that you like, then go for it as her proper name! After all, Libby, Jamie, etc, started as diminutives and are now fully-fledged names. Essie is so cute (and not outlandish) that I think you'd be able to do it.

Congratulations and best of luck! x

lunamoon · 26/06/2012 23:30

I think Effie is a great name.
I also like Tabitha if your dh changes his mind.
Madeleine is lovely too and I wouldn't be put off the name.
I don't know many Florences, but prefer your other choices.
Altogether I am not much help!

Spanishomelette · 26/06/2012 21:33

Essie is a name in its own right! It is of Persian origin and means 'star'

Effie could be used as a nn for Stephanie which I think would be quite glamorous and unusual these days!

bouncysmiley · 26/06/2012 19:07

Harriet (Hattie), Sylvie, Elodie, Enid............ all of that Ilk...

GnocchiNineDoors · 26/06/2012 19:00

Hmmm...literary.....

Alice
Tabitha
Beth
Rebecca
Daphne
Hermione

FrauGrau · 26/06/2012 18:41

I have heard Effie used as a nn for Frances. It would work for any name staring with F.

Coconutty · 26/06/2012 18:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MoonHare · 26/06/2012 18:32

My DH also vetoed Tabitha but a couple of weeks before she was born - without me having gone on about it - he said he'd changed his mind and was happy to go with it if I still liked it! I did and so DD2 is Tabitha. I will keep my fingers crossed that your DH has a similar change of heart as it is such a fantastic name.

TheBabster · 26/06/2012 16:11

Effie fabulous

I have a not so little Scarlett (9) and a scrumptious Queenie (3)

also liked
Nancy, Stella & Nell

BellaOfTheBalls · 26/06/2012 16:11

DH's aunt is an Elsie, I love it.

Edie can also be short for Meredith?

Original poster
mammiebee · 26/06/2012 16:08

Hi Valerie, yes it is. Even DP likes Elsie (he tends to veto a lot). It's got a very pretty sound.

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ValerieDavis · 26/06/2012 14:13

Elsie is a good shout too x

MammaTonic · 26/06/2012 13:11

Hmmm, I'm not sure what Essie is short for, or if it's a name in it's own right. Maybe Esmerelda? Esme/Esmee? Esmerine? Any name starting 'Es' probably ...

I'll have a look in my reliable baby names books for you and get back to you later on x

Original poster
mammiebee · 26/06/2012 12:48

Very sweet. Think it's getting quite popular since that telly programme (you know, period drama, first series was good, blimey my memory is soooo bad at the mo)

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Original poster
mammiebee · 26/06/2012 12:35

Yeah I appreciate that. I chose my first daughter's name based on a literary connection which I love so I'd have to think about using a possible less flattering one... Hmm

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LaTrucha · 26/06/2012 12:18

Edith / Edie

I think you are right about your other names.

Olive28 · 26/06/2012 12:10

Lucy
Marianne
Penelope/Penny
Susan
Amelia
Eloise
Bethany
Juliet
Emmeline
Aurora
Louisa
Natalia/Talia

GnocchiNineDoors · 26/06/2012 11:53

Elphaba is the name of The Wicked Witch of the West from Wizard of Oz and Wicked.

I love the connection, and would use it as a name but thought I should point it out just incase you went with it Grin and people asked.

Original poster
mammiebee · 26/06/2012 11:25

Ahhaa. I keep seeing Aoife written down but had no idea how to say it. And I wasn't sure whether it was Ell-fabba or Ell-fayba so thank you for saving me from any embarrassing moments!! :)

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GnocchiNineDoors · 26/06/2012 10:53

Elphaba - Ell-Fabba (nickname Elf-ee)

Aoife - Ee-Fa