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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thea, Ramona, sylvia, Florence, olive, Elizabeth?

37 replies

emmyloo2 · 03/04/2013 05:53

Ok, new short list for DD. Seems to be an impossible task for DH and I to agree on a name and time is ticking. I don't recall it being thing hard with my son. Requirements are not too popular, definitely not faddy, perhaps little bit quirky, but also not too try hard. We have quite an eclectic short list and I have given my thoughts on each below. Would love any opinions. DS is George and so I want it to go nicely with George.

Ramona - DH's current favorite. Probably my "brave" name in that I think it's a little more unusual and not really a "pretty" name that people will immediately like. But I like it.

Thea - I like the simplicity of this.

Sylvia - not sure about this one.

Florence - I like this but suspect in Australia it's on the way up in popularity and I know it's very popular in the UK.

Elizabeth - my safe name. Classic, lovely but unlikely to raise eyebrows. I know I could safely name my daughter and be quite happy but not quite sure it's quirky enough for me.

Olive - love this because it's short and old fashioned and I love the ok'd fashioned names. Bit too try hard though? I feel like it might be now. 5 years ago it would have been original but not sure now.

Mabel - I adore this. DH not convinced.

Your thoughts?? Thanks so much!!

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racheael76 · 06/04/2013 12:13

alexandra *

racheael76 · 06/04/2013 12:11

love elizabeth nickname elise.
elizabeth is the name to watch around july ?royal baby.could be a middle name.
victoria and mary very classic strong stable names.x

HogwartsIsHome · 05/04/2013 20:50

My sister is a Sylvie, she's 25 and it was practically unheard of then but I do love it!
Theadora I like
Ramona reminds me of Joey, DeeDee, Johnny, Tommy.....you get my drift haha but I DO like it, very rock'n'roll.

Florence reminds me of the machine.
Olive I'm not keen, maybe Olivia?

Snazzynewyear · 05/04/2013 20:47

Or, maybe, Amy

MortifiedAdams · 05/04/2013 20:39

Ramona = Mona or Romy

CPtart · 05/04/2013 20:13

Like Elizabeth, none of the rest.
Esther?

Original poster
emmyloo2 · 05/04/2013 19:57

Thanks all. Florence is now off the list due to popularity although we will replace it with flora which I had gone off although DH loves it. I am reconsidering it as I like the nickname Flo.

So current shorts list is now:

Ramona Elizabeth (loving the middle name suggestion of Elizabeth)
Olive Catherine
Elizabeth Catherine (still think this is a little safe for us)
Flora Alison

Any more thoughts? What nickname would there be for Ramona?

Thanks for everyone's feedback, I am very grateful.

OP posts:
rockinhippy · 04/04/2013 23:05

Ramona is lovely, we thought about it for DD & we've never come across one yet, so that would beamy choice

Snazzynewyear · 04/04/2013 22:52

Ramona Elizabeth! I've told you once! Wink

freerangeeggs · 04/04/2013 22:32

I'm a teacher in SW London and I know a LOT of young Florences. I like the name a lot - in fact it used to be one of my favourites - but I've gone off it now because I've taught so many.

Elizabeth is a bit boring.

Mabel I love; I know a teenage Mabel and it works really well on her.

Olive is very cool.

Thea is pretty too.

My overall favourite is Ramona, which I think is just gorgeous. It has a kind of off-beat feel without being wacky.

Original poster
emmyloo2 · 04/04/2013 22:25

Thanks everyone. Very mixed bag of responses! Really not sure what to go with and we don't seem to be making any progress even though we are getting closer to my due date.

DH is quite set on Ramona but he has said it's ultimately for me to decide. He doesn't really like Mabel though so even though I love it, I think I should take it off the list.

Aaaah this is too hard! Perhaps we should go with Elizabeth which is a lovely safe classic and goes well with George?

OP posts:
GwendolineMaryLacey · 04/04/2013 21:50

I love Ramona and it's the one name that makes me sorry I wasn\t a bit more adventurous with DD2 even though DH vetoed my 'adventurous' name

invicta · 04/04/2013 21:49

If you like Ramona, how about Rowena?

ZZZenagain · 04/04/2013 21:47

Quite like Florence. If you shortened it, what would you shorten it to though?

whyno · 04/04/2013 21:44

Sylvia or Thea

sandberry · 04/04/2013 21:39

For me Ramona is a clear winner, nice, easy to say and spell, not girly girly, not that common, could become trendy but you'd be ahead of the trend

Thea is going to date and already it is slipping and on the decline

Sylvia is nice enough, a bit too close to current trendy Sylvie but okay

Florence is the original old lady chic, trendy 10 years ago, now dated already

Elizabeth is safe but would be my second choice, lots of short forms, traditional, people can say and spell it. Multicultural and would be better than Ramona for that, you see it in all age groups and races.

Olive I just don't like but it is old lady chic and has not really got that popular so could be usable

Mabel was original old lady chic with Florence but only had a burst of slight popularity then faded so hasn't dated. I really like Mabel but I just think Ramona is more of a kick ass name. Mabel is a bit wimpy girl.

thermalsinapril · 04/04/2013 21:14

Florence is lovely, Sylvia is very pretty (and less faddy than Sylvie).

Elizabeth is a safe classic if a little dull. Don't particularly like Liz/Lizzie but Beth is quite nice (or how about Bethany with Beth for short?)

Ramona is OK but the ending does sound like "moaner" - how about Rowena?

Thea OK as nickname for Dorothea or Theodora, although personally I prefer Dora as nickname.

Have to agree with your reservations about Olive. I prefer Olivia, though it's very popular ATM if that bothers you?

Not keen on Mabel but how about Maisie, Maya, or just May? Or Annabel if you like "bel" names?

exoticfruits · 04/04/2013 19:11

Elizabeth is lovely.
Mabel is 'old lady'
Florence is nice.
Don't like the rest.

MortifiedAdams · 04/04/2013 18:54

Most of your names are ones I would use if I had a DD2. In order, Olive, Sylvie, Florence. I also have George as my no.1 boys name, so I think you have impeccable taste Grin

DD1 is Meg, if thats any good to you.

Im.not keen on Thea as I think it could be pronounce Fear (by t'southerners / lazyfolk) and that would bug me.

Mabels a bit too old lady for me but I wouldnt let that put you off.

I really like Elizabeth, and its having a bit of a revival atm. Makes a good MN too.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 04/04/2013 18:50

I mean it's not too try hard! It would be normal in the UK, not sure about Australia ofc.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 04/04/2013 18:49

Theadora is quite in I think. I know two baby Thea. I think they are both Theadoras.

SuburbanRhonda · 04/04/2013 18:44

Ramona (from the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) is a very cool young woman who changes her hair colour every day and that's who the name reminds me of.

Olive reminds me of that poor woman from On the Buses, but that really ages me, I know.

I love Elizabeth, but now you know I'm no spring chicken, that may not be the image you're looking for!

Sylvia is gorgeous, nearly chose that for my DD, who is a Rosemary, my fave girl's name of all time!

Snazzynewyear · 04/04/2013 13:47

I have never liked Ramona before, but having read your OP I said 'Ramona Elizabeth' in my head and think they sound great as first and middle names. Elizabeth is a superb name but I get that it is not quite what you're after - making it middle name adds a classic contrast to the first.

My second choice would probably be Thea.

Don't like Olive or Sylvia, sorry. Florence is ok but popular now. Mabel I think will date quickly as being on a wave of popularity now.

AndWhenYouGetThere · 04/04/2013 12:41

Mabel is FAB - stands out by a mile for me, I love it!

Astley · 04/04/2013 12:33

Romona for me.

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