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Baby names

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

Original poster

Nellie?

45 replies

Gimmeechocolate · 19/02/2013 21:08

We are sorted for boys names and have narrowed our girls list down to 3 names.

Nellie, Ethel and Mabel.

I have always loved Mabel and it was my great grandmother's name. But I already know 3 others under 5. There's a Mabel in Dd1's class.

I LOVE Ethel. I think it is soft and pretty (i know most people hate it) but don't know if i can handle negative reactions every time i introduce her.

I like Nellie... Am I encouraging her to be picked on? Nellie the elephant/ smelly Nellie?! I like Nell but think it is too harsh sounding for a baby.

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mrstowers · 19/02/2013 23:09

Love Nellie and Nell.

WMDinthekitchen · 19/02/2013 22:57

Not on your Nellie! My grandmother's name was Ellen but my grandfather called her Nell, never Nellie.

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 19/02/2013 22:54

Elephant. Sorry.

Starfishkiss · 19/02/2013 22:48

nn for Penelope?

PurpleStorm · 19/02/2013 22:46

Nellie = Nellie the elephant to me, sorry.

Also, we bought a CD of childrens songs to keep DS amused in the car a month or two ago, and that features Nellie the Elephant. So it's not like the song has faded into obscurity.

If you thnk that Nell's too harsh for a baby, maybe Helen / Ellen / Eleanor instead? Nell's a nickname for all those.

Not that keen on Mabel or Ethel either.

Dominodonkey · 19/02/2013 21:49

All quite trendy at the moment and all absolutely horrible in my opinion. When there are so many beautiful names in the world how anyone can saddle a child with the name Ethel is beyond me.

BananaHammocks · 19/02/2013 21:46

Lol @ Nellie Olson, glad I wasn't the only person to immediately think of her! Definitely prefer Nell.

Purpleknickers · 19/02/2013 21:44

My mum was named Mabel absolutely hated it (1930's child) she always called herself Cathy .. Eleanor is a beautiful name in my humble opinion

Allalonenow · 19/02/2013 21:40

I'm not a fan of diminutives used as full names, Nellie is short for Ellen or Eleanor, so give her the full name and see which nn works best for her.

PelvicFloorClenchReminder · 19/02/2013 21:40

Nellie Olsen was a right cow.

I do like Nelly Furtado though, so that kind of balances it out..?

YippeeTeenager · 19/02/2013 21:40

Sorry but Nellie is a no-go, I have a friend who called her DD Nellie and everyone that heard it (outside of her earshot!) said 'like the elephant?! - not being deliberately cruel but surprised. Ethel and Mabel are pretty though Smile

Supersesame · 19/02/2013 21:39

Nella, is daughter on kelle Hampton blog, I think it's a lovely name and music relatef

raisah · 19/02/2013 21:36

How about:
Eliza
Elouise
Lillian
Nerys
Violet
Audery
Vivienne

She may get teased a bit too much for having an OAP name.

CognitiveOverload · 19/02/2013 21:35

I think the link with nellie the elephant is quite strong but these things can be overcome.

imme · 19/02/2013 21:31

Have always loved Nellie. Elephants have never crossed my mind...

hippo28 · 19/02/2013 21:31

Love Nellie!

Leeds2 · 19/02/2013 21:29

Would prefer Nell. Classic, imo. Nellie just invites a reference to elephants.

Original poster
Gimmeechocolate · 19/02/2013 21:17

I already have a Hetty so I think Esther is too close :)

OP posts:
sw11mumofone · 19/02/2013 21:12

What about Esther instead of Ethel - much prettier imo. Not sure about Nellie - I had a friend who called her yellow VW beetle Nellie when we were teenagers! And elephant does spring to mind..

MolotovCocktail · 19/02/2013 21:11

LOVE Nell :) Soft, feminine and oh so cool. Lovely.