Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Prudence?

57 replies

TheOnlyPersonInTheRoom · 25/09/2012 21:00

Thinking of this for DC2 (if girl) with nn Pru.
What's the verdict? Is it a bit too off-the-wall?

Are there many Baby Prus around? Will she be teased ("prude"?) and is it an especially bad idea to do it if we move to France which is currently on the cards?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
A1980 · 07/10/2012 20:44

It sounds like Prune Juice to me..... awful name

UltraBOF · 07/10/2012 01:24

Prudence is brilliant for a cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. But in a person it just denotes over-cautiousness and possibly a tendency to being a tight-wad. So no, not really, sweet though it initially seems. Patience is a bit more user-friendly.

Coconutter · 07/10/2012 01:19

I can't help but think of prunes when I hear Prudence...sorry...

KK8 · 07/10/2012 01:14

Love love LOVE Prudence!

BustersOfDoom · 07/10/2012 00:51

But why restrict yourself to virtue names? Look at your DD and give her a name that suits her rather than force one that fits best. And sorry Prudence is awful. Give her a name that suits her.

Don't end up like my DF's parents who were heartbroken when she changed her virtuous yet ugly name - that had led to years of bullying - by deed poll the day after her 18th birthday.

RunRabbit · 07/10/2012 00:35

Reminds me of Pru in Charmed Grin

MoelFammau · 07/10/2012 00:27

How about Honesty? It's a flower but also a virtue... Honey or Nessie for short.

Sossiges · 06/10/2012 23:14

What BananaBubbles said
Verity = Lovely name
Prudence = Awful

Anonymumous · 06/10/2012 23:06

Or Belle - French for beautiful? Now that's what I call a virtue! Grin

Anonymumous · 06/10/2012 23:04

You could use Felicia if you think Felicity is too close to Verity?

You could also try Honoria on your DH rather than Honor - see if he prefers that?

Not Prudence though - as mentioned before, it smacks of Gordon Brown and nasty po-faced girls in Enid Blyton books!

Original poster
TheOnlyPersonInTheRoom · 06/10/2012 22:49

Sqoosh you make a good point. That was my main worry before I got all these other ones!

OP posts:
IWipeArses · 06/10/2012 22:33

Ooh, was going to say Endeavour!
I love Clement.

Prudence is nice.

How about something a little more dynamic. Gloria?

lots33 · 06/10/2012 17:46

Boys virtue names......

Endeavour and Valiant

Meglet · 06/10/2012 17:45

I love Prudence, Constance and Felicity.

squoosh · 06/10/2012 17:43

Plus of all the virtues to have, being sensible and cautious aren't the most exciting.

squoosh · 06/10/2012 17:40

Please do not inflict this name on your daughter. It's a very 'brown' name. I've no idea what that means really but it just conjures up a brown sludgey image to me. Not pretty.

And as for the person who suggested Temperance . . . . . . . NO to that also. She would be a predestined mega boozer.

Clemency, Honor, Joy, Felicity are all a million times nicer.

manicinsomniac · 06/10/2012 16:20

It's not becoming popular. It was ranked 1729th in 2010 with 16 babies being named it.

Must surely just be coincidence that there are two in one nursery.

I'm afraid I agree with those who think it's horrible though.

Felicity is gorgeous and I think it goes well with Verity, which is also beautiful.

There was a woman named Endurance running in the olympics but think that might be a bit of a stretch for a British baby (this lady was Nigerian or Ethiopian I think). I quite like it thoug!

Original poster
TheOnlyPersonInTheRoom · 06/10/2012 11:00

Now I'm confused... The majority of you hate it and yet it's apparently becoming popular!
I will keep thinking on Felicity and Honor...

OP posts:
Jusfloatingby · 03/10/2012 10:12

I don't really like it.
What about Hope?

AnOldieButNotSoGoody · 30/09/2012 14:56

Very nice.

DessieLou · 30/09/2012 14:32

I know of a couple rather glamourous and eccentric Pru's both living in France. So only good connotations for me!

MNHQ
OliviaPeaceAndLoveMumsnet · 28/09/2012 21:33

I do love it but tis on the rise, much like Ruby I think.
If popularity doesn't bother you, then go for it.
There are 2 in DS's old pre-school.

SomersetONeil · 28/09/2012 21:23

I don't love it. The miserable one in various Enid Blyton stories was always called Prudence.

And of course Prue and Trude take the serious piss out of the name. It's a bit of a comedy name, somehow. I wouldn't bestow it on a DD for that reason alone.

Honor is fabulous, if you can talk your DH round.

zozzle · 28/09/2012 21:14

It's horrid. Might work if kid will be privately educated - but even then likely to be cringey.

But go for it if you love it! Just too UC for my tastes. Sorry but I find posh names a bit pukey.

baskingseals · 26/09/2012 22:26

it's not really my cup of tea. what about Penelope?

also for Constance you could always use the nickname Coco.