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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby names - one week to go - help needed!!

34 replies

DoodleAlley · 02/04/2013 19:30

Right we have one week to go and can't seem to find a girls name.

DS was easy to name, we both liked a name, gave it a roadtest pre birth and were happy.

This time we are dithering.

At present the top two are.. (drum roll please!).... Natalie or Ella.

We have liked Esme but opinions seem split on pronounciation and I always end up spelling the surname at work and dont want to add to this child's woes!

This obviously comes with the disclaimer that I know it's a personal choice and you can't please everyone.

I'd love to hear any opinions, including how popular these names are around you and personal preferences are welcome!

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Coconutty · 03/04/2013 15:21

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Original poster
DoodleAlley · 03/04/2013 15:19

Yeah I didn't really get the lion thing until I read it on mumsnet.

I'm thinking this is going to get less and less as a cultural link. I mean I've never watched Born Free, but I've also never watched Dirty Dancing!

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Coconutty · 03/04/2013 15:05

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Thewhingingdefective · 03/04/2013 14:13

I think Natalie is lovely and quite uncommon nowadays.

Ella is okay but very common.

Esme is fab. My niece (17) is an Esme, pronounced Ezmi, and also gets just Ez.

Elsa used to be my favourite name, but when DD was born we switched to Elspeth, nn Elsie.

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 03/04/2013 14:02

I just think Eleanor is a bit 'formal'. I know - I'm
Being impossible.

I'm warming to Elsa again I have to admit!

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Coconutty · 03/04/2013 13:18

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Gwennan · 03/04/2013 13:14

Natalie!

How many baby Natalies do you know? It'd be really refreshing to hear it on a little girl.

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 03/04/2013 07:49

We can't use names starting with an A unfortunately.

We're as certain as we can be that this name will be used! T least I hope so now I've bought some girlie clothes to water down DS's 'boy' clothes!

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Skygirls · 03/04/2013 00:52

How about Amelie in place of Esme?

soontobeslendergirl · 03/04/2013 00:38

Just checking whether this name was a definite needs to be used or whether it was still 50/50 - hope inspiration strikes overnight :)

sjupes · 03/04/2013 00:37

I lovvvve natalie but it's still a bit '80's scheme' where i'm from :( and i adore ella but i find names with 'l' in them hard to pronounce (no idea why but dd has a double ll in her name and it jars in my throat.) Plud dp vetoed it for dd2.

I'd say of the two i would go with ella or elle lovely 'girly' names that grow up nicely too.

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 03/04/2013 00:33

Well the sonographer said so. Obviously they do get these things wrong.

We're much closer to a decision on the boy's name. Typical!!

Off to bed now but will check in again tomorrow morning. Maybe inspiration will but overnight! Thanks for all the replies so far and your patience with my indecision!

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soontobeslendergirl · 03/04/2013 00:32

Oh, and I know 1 Ella and no Natalies but my boys are 12 and 11 now so I know less babies.

soontobeslendergirl · 03/04/2013 00:30

Are you definitely having a girl?

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 03/04/2013 00:18

No don't apologise. I know there's never going to be one name everyone Iikes or we'd all be using it.

Hearing people's opinions actually helps me realise my own by my response to them! It's the way I work!

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Snazzynewyear · 02/04/2013 23:53

Natalie! It's lovely and atm unusual, whereas Ella is ubiquitous. The Estuary pronunciation could happen with plenty of names. I wouldn't let it put you off one you love.

Snazzynewyear · 02/04/2013 23:49

Natalie! It's lovely and atm unusual, whereas Ella is ubiquitous. The Estuary pronunciation could happen with plenty of names. I wouldn't let it put you off one you love.

soontobeslendergirl · 02/04/2013 23:45

oh, and you could always have Ismay instead of Esme - no doubt on how to pronounce.

soontobeslendergirl · 02/04/2013 23:43

Prefer Ella - Na'hully would really get on my thruppenys - it also comes across a bit "schemey" sorry :(

Anastasia (Tasia) is nicer imo as is Natasha but see that has been vetoed.

...and also Marissa :)

Ihatepeas · 02/04/2013 22:42

Elsa is my all time favorite name!! Love love love it but dh said no Sad I don't think of it as a shortened name.. a gorgeous name in its own right!

I also like Ella although its very popular. Natalie is not to my taste but I like tilly a lot!

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 02/04/2013 22:37

That's about it I'm afraid. I blame DH!

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baskingseals · 02/04/2013 21:41

i really like Elsa, i don't think it is a shortened form of Elizabeth.

i do think that Ella, though lovely will inevitably be shortened to Ellie.

are there any other names you like op?

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 02/04/2013 21:21

Matilda we have wondered about.

Tabitha just says 'cat' to me, much to DH's consternation as he likes it!

Think Elsa comes rom Elizabeth. Or possibly Elsbeth.

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Jellykitten1 · 02/04/2013 21:14

Ah Smile

I take it you must have both crossed Matilda off the list, as the more common long name for Tilly? Tilly is very pretty nn but doesn't come easily off Natalie (IMO)

Do you like Tabitha? (I love it, esp nn Tabby, but not everyone's cup of tea!)

I don't see Elsa as being a shortened name, it is a name in its own right? What's it short for?

Do you like Elise maybe?

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 02/04/2013 21:09

I know it's not technically the right nickname but DH likes Tilly for Natalie but I don't think it's a logical extension.

I liked Elsa too but have a big block against using a shortened name for the whole name.

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