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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can't do girls' names... here's my maybe pile

41 replies

BeardyHammerclaw · 02/10/2012 13:52

I've got two boys names I love and if this baby is a boy, I will just go with whichever of those he looks like Grin

However, I'm not so good with girls' names and I'm not sure any of the ones we've come up with are just right. Please let me know what you think of this list and if you can think of any others we might like. We are hoping for a classic English name but not something overused. I don't want a really frilly name.

Meredith
Helena
Harriet
Alice
Martha
Imogen

Helena is my fave really but I am unsure about whether she will spend her life correcting the pronunciation.

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dieciocho · 02/10/2012 17:38

My cousin has been called Helena for 33 years and as far as I know is always called /hel-en-a/, no issues.
Her nickname is Hen.

I love Meredith.

scootle · 02/10/2012 17:27

Helena is gorgeous - just use it and correct pronunciation if necessary. Yours is the more usual way of saying it, I think.

I know one small Helena - and was considering it for dd. Such great nn potential.

MrsJohnDeere · 02/10/2012 17:21

Harriet or Alice

I love Imogen amd would like to it it on my short list but it has soared in popularity round here lately.

chaya5738 · 02/10/2012 17:07

Lovely list. I love Meredith, Helena, and Harriet.

Meredith less popular.

WixedUpMords · 02/10/2012 16:55

Meredith is welsh not English. Just not sure if you knew as you say you want an English name

Nelly232 · 02/10/2012 16:54

Alice is beautiful. Love it.

Original poster
BeardyHammerclaw · 02/10/2012 16:52

Thanks all. I'm glad people think they are nice names. Helen-a is the pronunciation I would use, like the character in Midsummer Night's Dream. I like Eleanor but have a family member with that name, plus the nickname Elly is quite ubiquitous. I like Miriam too...

OP posts:
smother · 02/10/2012 16:14

They are all lovely names!! All gorgeous so too hard to pick a favourite! My least favourite is Imogen. What about Miriam?

nickeldaisical · 02/10/2012 16:02

depends how you pronounce Helena - do you go hell -enna or Hel- ay -na ?

the first would be more likely.

i like it.

if you're worried about pronunciation, you could have Eleanor instead.
(biased here though)
but I like Helena.

OrangeFireandGoldashes · 02/10/2012 16:00

What a lovely list. Helena (pronounced Hel-LAY-na), Harriet and Imogen would be my favourites, but tbh all of them are pretty, classic but not 'fluffy' names.

Ellie7 · 02/10/2012 15:55

How would you pn Helena? As HEL-ena or Hel-ENa? I like both. That's my fav from your list.

Britchic · 02/10/2012 14:48

I love Imogen as being different, beautiful, but not too frilly. Second choice... probably Alice.

Good luck!

ProphetOfDoom · 02/10/2012 14:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Finbert · 02/10/2012 14:05

No, never taught one Smile and I only know one in real life

delilah88 · 02/10/2012 13:59

Finbert is Helena popular in your school?

Finbert · 02/10/2012 13:56

I like Meredith and Helena, but as you say pronunciation could be an issue with the latter. Like all the others except Imogen but all quite common in the school I teach at and unfortunately Imogen seems to becoming 'Chavvy'' in my area (sure I will get slated for saying this as there are some lovely Imogen's!!!!)