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Baby names

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

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Original poster

39 weeks - time to make some decisions

36 replies

PollyIndia · 15/09/2012 18:24

Firstly, can I ask a favour, that you don't just say you hate the names on my list as I have been through thousands and these are pretty much the only ones I like.

But it would be great if you could tell me which you like the best... I am starting to have doubts about all names, but the baby can't just be baby for the rest of his/her life. Though it worked for Baby Houseman, kind of.

I am nervous about opening my list up to Mumsnet, but here goes:

Girls

Ela (my grandmother's name)
Viola (though would kids maybe call her Vile Viola?)
Vivienne
Maud
Isis
Joan
Lyra
Theodora

Boys

Gilbert
Jude
Jago
Rafferty
Otis
Francis (nn Frankie)

I don't want anything that sounds pretentious or too 'islington' if that makes sense (which Jago may be....). Or anything too common or hard to spell.

Thanks for being kind, she says hopefully!

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Original poster

PollyIndia · 16/09/2012 17:32

amck5700 I just googled and it can be both. I like the look of theodora more, but actually I've already rejected it I have decided as my surname is 3 syllables and I think it's too much of a mouthful.

Thanks picklesthepottymouthedparrot. Do you know a real life pickles the parrot? I'd love a parrot.

And thanks to the rest of you - looks like francis is surprisingly popular - no-one has said they hate it yet.... i think!

OP posts:

LemonLovesLilac · 16/09/2012 15:35

Really love Rafferty, Lyra, Maud and Viola from your list!

amck5700 · 16/09/2012 14:07

wouldn't it be Theadora rather than Theodora?

biggestregret · 16/09/2012 12:37

Love Francis. Think it is classic but also a bit different.

Love Viola. I had a friend at school with this name and she was fab.

flopsy1974 · 16/09/2012 11:56

I like Vivienne best from your girls list and Jude from your boys

ArthurandGeorge · 16/09/2012 10:29

Vivienne - love this
Maud - like this
Isis - like this

Boys

Gilbert -like this with nn Gil.
Jude -like
Jago- ok
Rafferty - love this
Otis -love this
Francis (nn Frankie) -love this

TudorJess · 16/09/2012 10:23

:o Happybunny12

Not Castlemaine as nickname then?

Happybunny12 · 16/09/2012 10:18

Ps my child is not actually called xxxx, obv.

TudorJess · 16/09/2012 10:18

Ela - OK
Viola - lovely
Vivienne - don't like
Maud - a bit prim
Isis/Lyra - Islington
Joan - like
Theodora - like

Gilbert - a bit wet
Jude - like
Jago/Rafferty/Otis/Woodrow - Islington
Francis - like

Happybunny12 · 16/09/2012 10:17

We didn't decide (short list of 2 though!) till he was handed to me! Then DH said "Xxxx then?" and that was that. Now can't imagine him being called anything else. My faves from your list (in order):

Girl: Ela, Joan, Isis
Boy: jude, Francis (frankie)

PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 16/09/2012 10:10

It can do polly. But not always!

You have a lovely list so just have a look when they arrive and see.

Original poster

PollyIndia · 16/09/2012 10:08

The other one I kind of like is Woodrow, Woody for short.

I love Gil Scott Heron and also Gilbert Blythe (surely everyone's perfect man!), hence liking the name though I do hate Gilbert Osmond (from portrait of a lady).

I like Otis because of Redding.

I am still no clearer to what I am leaning towards I have to say. People with children, does it become obviously once you see them? It's all so abstract when they are still in utero!

OP posts:

LondonInBoots · 16/09/2012 09:25

I like most of your girls, bar Joan, (horrible) and Maud and Lyra are iffy too.

Viola, Vivienne, Isis and Theodora are gorgeous, Ela is really nice but could be awkward - I'd imagine she'd get a lot of I-la and mainly Ella and 'You spelt you name wrong's in school.

Jude, Rafferty and Francis I love for boys, I like Gilbert purely from Anne of Green Gables, bit even then! Otis is iffy and Jago is horrid.

BikeRunSki · 16/09/2012 07:37

Isis and Francis.

Isis was on my list for DD, and I know a very sweet 4 yo Frankie/Francis and a lovely old man Frank/Francis.

Original poster

PollyIndia · 16/09/2012 07:30

Thanks all. Some food for thought there :)

OP posts:

MadBusLady · 15/09/2012 20:47

Ela - like, if pronounced as "Ella". Middle name certainly?
Viola - love (though have the same worry as you about "viler")
Vivienne - love, also love Viv, Vi, V as nn.
Maud - Hm. My great-nan's name and she was cool. But still, not sure.
Isis - like
Joan - LOVE. Definitely due revival.
Lyra - love.
Theodora - love - also love Dora and Dolly as nn

Boys

Gilbert - not keen on the full name but like "Gil" and "Bert" nn
Jude - like
Jago - quite like. Agree is a bit Islington though.
Rafferty - like
Otis - Hm. Could be a very cool child, but I will probably have geeky DC so wouldn't use!
Francis (nn Frankie) - LOVE!

There. No hate at all. Some really nice names there.

Yika · 15/09/2012 20:27

I would go for Ela because of the family connection. You'll never go off it if it's meaningful to you. I also like Lyra and Jude.

RTchoke · 15/09/2012 20:26

I think Isis, Rafferty and Otis are a little "Islington" although inlike them.

I love, love, love Theodora (am thinking if having a Dorothea myself). She could be Thea or Dora.

I also really like Jude. I love Hardy and The Beatles so it works for me!

anamaria22 · 15/09/2012 20:21

Sorry, but what is 'Islington' . Apart from a north london suburb?

rounynotsquary · 15/09/2012 20:17

I think Jago is a bit Isligton. Love Vivienne ad Frankie best.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/09/2012 20:13

Ela (my grandmother's name) - no
Viola (though would kids maybe call her Vile Viola?) - not overfond but better than Ela
Vivienne - like
Maud - awful
Isis - no
Joan - awful: terrible name
Lyra - fine
Theodora - no

Gilbert - horrible
Jude - good
Jago - bad
Rafferty - bad
Otis - really bad
Francis (nn Frankie) - ok only

Vivienne or Jude nicest imho.

YesIKnowILookHugeThanks · 15/09/2012 19:54

Ela - Like the way this sounds (Ee-la) but it's open to a lifetime of confusion over pronunciation and spelling
Viola - Like this, I like Violet too, kids will come up with all sorts of mean nn's no telling if Vile Viola would ever be one of them!
Vivienne - Not so keen, bit middle-aged sounding
Maud - Quite like this as 'old lady name chic' goes, prefer it to the increasingly popular Mabel anyway
Isis - Not really keen on this as a name, Iris is gorgeous though
Joan - May end up being quite cool, bit plain though
Lyra - Phillip Pullman
Theodora - Not keen, in terms of adding an 'a' to a boys name Georgina and Thomasina are nicer imo

Overall I like Viola best from your girls list.

Gilbert - No, sounds a bit feeble
Jude - Like this
Jago - Quite like this too but poss a bit pretentious as you've said
Rafferty - I actually really like this. DH has vetoed in our case and I suppose it could be considered a bit frilly...
Otis - No puts me in mind of the aardvark or lifts
Francis (nn Frankie) - Like Francis but really don't like Frankie

Overall I like Rafferty best from your boys list closely followed by Jude

ALittleBitOfMagic · 15/09/2012 19:24

Looooove Jude

storytopper · 15/09/2012 19:22

Girls - Vivienne, Viola and Lyra are lovely. Can't imagine calling a little girl Maud or Theodora.

Francis (Frankie) and Gilbert (Gil) are great. Would call a puppy or kitten Rafferty but not a DS.

effingwotsits · 15/09/2012 19:06

Vivienne and Otis are absolutely gorgeous IMO

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