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Baby names

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

Not 'girly' girls names. Might as well call her Geoff...

182 replies

OkayHazel · 12/01/2013 03:25

Help! I can think of loads of boys names, and could name about 12 sons given the chance, but I'm really struggling with girls names and am hoping for suggestions to add to my list.

I really like girls names with harder sounds. Lots of consonants rather than vowels and nothing too long - probably two syllables tops. This means nothing girly, cutesy, flowery, overly pretty (Aurelias, Olivias, Florences), ending in I, IE, Y, IA (you get the gist).

The general trend is one or two syllables, ending in En or El (or other 'finite') sounds. Nothing too popular would be fab, but I insist on using a 'real' name and not an improper noun as a baby name. Any nationality is fine by me - open to ideas. (Though Greek mythology probably won't suit me either).

Names I do like include:

Hazel
Bronwyn
Jude
Merle
Morgan
Olive
Violet (Probably bucks the trend, but I like the hard 'let' sound at the end)

I've also noticed that I really I like unisex names, but only for girls. The more masculine/androgynous the name for my baby girl the better. Any suggestions would be very welcome as I've not come across many yet.

At this point in time I'm so frustrated, Geoff is really seeming like a good idea - maybe choose something a little more appropriate with your help :)

Thanks and good luck naming your babies too!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
meala · 12/01/2013 13:04

Innes
Charis
Simone

thegreylady · 12/01/2013 12:50

Seren
Erin
Tegan
Megan
Morag
Ffion
Rhian
Jane
I love Morgan though

Ilovecheeseandlovinglife · 12/01/2013 10:19

I love boys names for girls too.
My DN is called Rory :)

Fern
Beth
Cooper
Elin
Harriet(nn Harrie)
Jude

Selks · 12/01/2013 10:11

Zetta
Tara
Billie

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 12/01/2013 10:05

Stevie.

Yika · 12/01/2013 10:04

Jan
Gael
Carey
Mishal/michal
Ashling
Daryl

DieWilde13 · 12/01/2013 10:00

I love Ffion, Frances, Piper and Lois.

There is a Freddie in my dd's class, not sure whether it's just her nickname, though.

Fearne to me doesn't sound girlie, either.

tourdefrance · 12/01/2013 09:59

My criteria were similar but ended up with two ds so no chance to use them. We considered lots of the names above and also Sarah which I don't think has been mentioned. The final choices though were Jennifer (can be shortened to Jen as well as Jenny) and Miriam. May not fit your criteria as quite long names though

Yamyoid · 12/01/2013 09:54

Scarlet
Marley
Ripley

TheBeanAndTheBee · 12/01/2013 09:53

Liv
Eve
Beth

Yika · 12/01/2013 09:52

Dale
Leigh

(warming to the theme but no patience to come up with a full list before posting - sorry for the multiple posts!)

DontmindifIdo · 12/01/2013 09:50

I like Esther, Beth, Thea and Robyn.

OP - if you like 'boy' type names, how would feel about a long 'girly' name with a boyish nickname?

Was thinking Persephone nn Percy, or names like Christine/Christina nn Chris, Joanna/Josephine nn Jo, Bertina/Alberta nn Bertie. Georgina nn Georgie/George, Francessca nn Frankie etc.

I'm sure if you gave us your favourite boys name list we could find you the feminine versions!

LegArmpits · 12/01/2013 09:46

I love Roberta, Briony, Georgina, Vivienne, Jocelyn. We named DD one of them with similar criteria to you.

Yika · 12/01/2013 09:41

Damaris
Laurel
Meredith

Weissdorn · 12/01/2013 09:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Yika · 12/01/2013 09:39

Malin
Kirsten/kerstin
Meryl

BillyBollyBrandy · 12/01/2013 09:38

Jude

BillyBollyBrandy · 12/01/2013 09:38

Piper

Yika · 12/01/2013 09:37

Piper
Bryony
Elin

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 12/01/2013 09:26

Elliott

MineOrk · 12/01/2013 09:24

We had this with my youngest DD, OH likes American/ tomboy names for girls. Top of his list was Elliot or Finn, the others have already been listed here. I do love Rowan and Iris, Astrid and Juno. I am less keen on boys names for girls but did end up using Robyn as her middle name.

As you seem to like the Welsh influence I hope you don't mind a wee list. I grew up with a lot of Bronwens and Rowenas but you never see them now.

Arwen
Eirlys
Catrin
Carys
Elwen
Bethan
Bronwen
Dilys
Gaenor
Enfys
Ffion
Gwynn
Haf/Hafwen
Olwen
Rhian
Seren
Taryn

Ps I love Hazel!

cryhavoc · 12/01/2013 09:18

I have a Ffion. My criteria was simila to yours, we also considered Tegan, Morgan, Alex, and Harriet.

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 12/01/2013 09:08

I love Olive, and wanted Liv for dd (couldnt decide on just Liv or go.for Olive).

In the end we have called her Meg.

Some other names we liked and I feel arent too girly
*Nell
*Jess
*Stella
*Tess
*Veda

catnipkitty · 12/01/2013 09:06

Harriet (my sister's middle name)
Katrin

baskingseals · 12/01/2013 09:02

Astrid

Lois

Ines

Agnes

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