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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 · 26/06/2012 10:43

Gnocchi, sounds really stupid but how do you pronounce these?

OP posts:
GnocchiNineDoors · 26/06/2012 10:38

I love Effie Grin

Elphaba (Elfie)?

Aoife?

Belmo · 26/06/2012 10:35

We call our Freya Effie!

Original poster
mammiebee · 26/06/2012 10:33

I guess Essie could be short for Elspeth and Esme. I love both of those too. Unfortunately DP vetoed Elspeth too but he likes Esme :(

OP posts:
Original poster
mammiebee · 26/06/2012 10:23

Thanks Yodas. Wise words on both counts. You've given me quite a lot to think about there.

Better get the kettle on...

OP posts:
smokeandglitter · 26/06/2012 10:23

In skins 'Effie' was nn for Elizabeth. I've also heard it (not in children in adults) used for Elodie, Elspeth, Emilia, Eris, Francesca and Esme. Going on that I'd guess you could use any E or F name.

Such a shame Tabitha is vetoed! I think it's so lovely! I do like Madeline. Don't think the McCann thing would be a problem - bit different to Holly/Jessica etc though because she's still in newspapers, and may be for a while.

Original poster
mammiebee · 26/06/2012 10:19

Wow, that link is great MammaTonic, I like loads of those. Essie is gorgeous. Any idea what it's short for? x

OP posts:
YodasMummy · 26/06/2012 10:09

I like Madeleine, it's beautiful.
Some people may think of the McCann's but the same would apply for Holly, Jessica, Sarah etc.

Re: Effie, it could be a nickname for anything beginning with F ("eff"), so you could have Florence for BC and just introduce her to everyone as Effie, so that's the name that'd stick. We did something similar with our DD.

Original poster
mammiebee · 26/06/2012 10:08

Hey Marbles, you've chosen well; I already have a little Beatrice (I've loved it since studying Much Ado at school) and my sister beat me to Matilda for her little girl. Verity is sweet, I hadn't thought of that. Thank you.

OP posts:
MammaTonic · 26/06/2012 10:06

FWIW, I think that Essie is a lovely alternative to Effie x

MammaTonic · 26/06/2012 10:04

Mammie, have you checked out this thread?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1502915-19th-Century-Cutesiness

Effie is mentioned here, so some of the other girls names might appeal to you :)

DottieRose · 26/06/2012 10:00

How about Jemima or Clementine? I like Effie and Florence from your list I think pick the name you love!

missingmymarbles · 26/06/2012 09:52

In line with those names, what about:

Matilda
Verity
Nancy
Amelia
Beatrice
Una
Christabel
Georgina
Georgiana
Catherine