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Baby names

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

Original poster

Unusual Girls name shortlist.. Honest comments please. Not long to go.

88 replies

bagladywilts · 15/08/2012 07:56

We are expecting a dd in the next few weeks but we just need to get the name sorted... stress of name is enough to bring on labour in itself. We like unusual names but they can be a bit marmity and we don't want to burden the poor little thing. Ideally something timeless, not obviously shortened, elegant. Which do you like or hate of..?

Romily
Verity
Serena
Selina
Xanthe
Nancy
Lydia
Beatrice
Cynthia
Fleur
Rowena

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MoonHare · 15/08/2012 17:44

Romily - like
Verity - love
Serena - ok
Selina - ok
Xanthe - not keen
Nancy - no
Lydia - ok
Beatrice - like but it is quite popular at the moment
Cynthia - not keen, sounds a bit prim
Fleur - not keen, too girly
Rowena - like but prefer Ramona

Check out the ONS baby names from 2011 re current popularity and darkgreener.com to have a look at whether names are rising or falling i.e meet your 'timeless' criteria, e.g I suspect Romilly is rising and won't prove timeless in that respect.

Best wishes with your choices!

minipie · 15/08/2012 16:57

Romily - Lovely. I'd spell it Romilly though
Verity - Quite nice
Serena - Lovely
Selina - Lovely
Xanthe - I like how it sounds but not how it looks
Nancy - Ok
Lydia - Ok
Beatrice - Lovely (but Bea is obvious shortening if that bothers you)
Cynthia - Dislike
Fleur - Lovely, but better as a mn IMO
Rowena - Lovely (but Ro is obvious shortening if that bothers you)

EldritchCleavage · 15/08/2012 16:50

I really like Xanthe (and Zita too), love Beatrice.
Have you considered Celia? That's nice.

Moxxie · 15/08/2012 16:47

I rarely look at name threads as invariably I hate all the names, but this is a good list! Whatever you choose I think you'll be onto something, but my view, for what it's worth, is:

Romily - I have no idea why, but this makes me picture a female version of Christopher Biggins
Verity - Nice, but quite prim
Serena - Fine, but not that unusual
Selina - Ditto
Xanthe - I really like this, was on my shortlist but vetoed by DH
Nancy - A bit of a mean thing to say, but I always think of this as a fat girl's name. I went to school with a Nansi though (chubby of course), which is the Welsh spelling.
Lydia - Fine
Beatrice - Nothing special
Cynthia - A bit prim
Fleur - Like
Rowena - Dislike

Arabellasmella · 15/08/2012 16:27

Really don't like Xanthe, it reminds me of Xander which is populaer at the moment and I don't like either, it does seem a bit pretentious.
I very much like Fleur, Verity and Nancy, they are different but quite pretty and honest sounding. Also Beatrice and Lydia are nice.
Have you thought about Cecelia? I like that more than Cynthia
What an eclectic taste you have! I like your list a lot!!

PenelopePipPop · 15/08/2012 15:59

The three names I like from your list are Verity, Fleur and Rowena because I know three lovely people with those names.

I've never met a nice Lydia. Maybe I've been unlucky. Also whenever I meet one I have to fight the urge to start asking about her , but I'm very immature.

amck5700 · 15/08/2012 15:46

Celeste
Tierney
Meredith
Stella
Jenna

LemonBreeland · 15/08/2012 14:09

I really like Xanthe, it was on my shortlist. Also have always liked Lydia.

Kayano · 15/08/2012 14:04

Serena

mumnosGOLDisbest · 15/08/2012 13:59

Rowena (also like Rowan or Ruan) is my fave from your list.
Also like Fleur and Lydia

itsjustmeanon · 15/08/2012 13:56

I like the following names:

Verity
Serena
Selina
Lydia
Beatrice

The others I don't like. Verity is my favourite.

strugglingwiththepreteenbit · 15/08/2012 13:12

Xanthe is lovely! I also like Verity on your list.

Original poster
bagladywilts · 15/08/2012 12:50

Thank you so much.. That is really helping. Xanthe has always been my favourite as it sounds so pretty but are we brave enough to actually use it due to confused reaction from some people? Pretentious? Difficulty spelling? Serena probably front runner as safer option. All further opinions welcome.

OP posts:
iheartmycat · 15/08/2012 12:49

wow, love your list!! Rowena's just too...old womanny? try hard? I can't put my finger on why I don't like it, tho Rowen is lovely! Same goes for Cynthia.

Xanthe, Nancy, Verity, Romilly, Fleur and Selina would be my faves from your list (in that order!).

Let us know what you choose!

TenthMuse · 15/08/2012 12:32

Great shortlist! I adore Xanthe, so this would be my top choice, but Verity and Nancy are also nice. The only ones I actively dislike are Lydia and Cynthia. Rowena nice too, but prefer Rowan as it's less 'fussy'.

Muffincrumpet · 15/08/2012 11:46

Serena or Fleur

neontetra · 15/08/2012 11:39

I know it's a personal thing, but I myself wouldn't avoid a name I liked just because it is quite popular. My name was very unpopular when I was little (though very high in top 100 now!) and I loathed it growing up, and was so jealous of my friends with their fashionable names! Each to their own, though!

Ephiny · 15/08/2012 10:46

I like Serena, and Rowena. Verity is OK. Not keen on the others at all.

GnocchiNineDoors · 15/08/2012 09:58

Beatrice my favourite but Id go for Beatrix.

ArthurandGeorge · 15/08/2012 09:57

I like most of them but some of them are atually quite popular imo. Dislike Fleur.

Cynthia is probably the most unusual.

puds11 · 15/08/2012 09:53

What about celine? Or cecily

Littlecherublegs · 15/08/2012 09:48

Like Lydia and Beatrice the best.

Fleur and Serena are ok.

Not keen on the rest.

curiousgeorgie · 15/08/2012 09:36

Xanthe my favourite! Lovely name, know a zanthie and she is adorable... (much prefer the x spelling though!)

Like the rest except Serena, who was a bitch to me at school haha...

emmyloo2 · 15/08/2012 09:30

Romily - i like this
Verity - like this a lot
Serena - love this
Selina - love this
Xanthe - not my cup of tea
Nancy - nice and not used much
Lydia - ok
Beatrice - love this but more popular than your other choices
Cynthia - love this
Fleur - nah
Rowena - gorgeous!! My favourite

Overall I like your choices a lot, particularl Rowena and Serena.

tiredteddy · 15/08/2012 09:20

LOVE Xanthe such a beautiful name.

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