Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

In your opinion, can people with names like 'Posy', 'Kitty' or 'Dotty' be taken seriously?

391 replies

Stateofgrace · 03/08/2013 13:25

...I happen to think so, but my family and a few friends disagree. Strongly.

Almost every name I have considered is of the 'cutesy' variety - as well as the above three, I also like Polly, Lola and Nelly. I seem to just like girly names. My mother is fond of telling me ''You are naming a person, not a baby'' as if I am not aware that baby will grow up. Hmm

I know that you shouldn't tell people the names before baby is born and present the name as a fait acompli, but I really don't want to pick a name which everyone else seems to hate...

Any thoughts / experiences on this? My mother this morning has just told me that ''she wouldn't trust a Doctor called something ridiculous like Posy'', which is actually one of my favourite names. Confused

Any thoughts/experiences on this?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
CruCru · 08/08/2013 18:35

Posy can be a name - but I would probably use Rosalind or Primrose.

CruCru · 08/08/2013 18:34

Polly is a proper name on its own. I know a high court judge whose daughter (aged 30ish) is called Polly.

Original poster
Stateofgrace · 07/08/2013 17:21

Very smiley today - hmmm, odd for late pregnancy
Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Stateofgrace · 07/08/2013 17:20

CharlieBoo....and breathe! :) I agree with you totally.

We're 90 percent set on Polly now :) I feel good about Polly. It's not quite Posy, but it's still a lovely, pretty name.

Thanks for all help, ladies :)

OP posts:
hollyisalovelyname · 07/08/2013 13:01

Compared with Apple or Rumer they're grand

LondonMother · 07/08/2013 12:13

Oh the irony of someone calling herself PennieLane railing at cutesy names ending in -ie...

CharlieBoo · 07/08/2013 09:53

I hate hate hate these threads, but as I've said on here before there's going to be an entire generation of Poppy's, Tilly's, Daisy's, Freddie's and Archie's! They WILL be Dr's, lawyers, bus drivers, delivery men, business men, receptionists, nurses, teachers...whether YOU like it or not! FACT

PennieLane · 07/08/2013 09:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Queazy · 07/08/2013 09:37

I had no idea that Posy was a name. I've never met a Posy before. I think it's just too cutesy - more a name for a doll or perhaps a bunny rabbit

curlew · 07/08/2013 00:29

Polly is, for reasons that escape me, a nickname for Mary.

mathanxiety · 06/08/2013 22:00

I am with you there Estelle.

Alisvolatpropiis · 06/08/2013 19:27

I rather like Polly.

Though it is very much linked to Polly Pockets to me, I loved them as a child.

EstelleGetty · 06/08/2013 17:15

I don't think there's anything wrong with Polly - if anything, it sounds quite posh to me, not cutesy.

I don't personally like things like Millie, Emmie, Lola etc but I can't see all the cutie names being a problem in the future because, as has been suggested upthread, that will probably be the norm for a lot of groups of people. Or it won't seem all that odd, at least.

My rule would always be: if it don't sound graceful and dignified, or if there ain't no saint with that name, it's a no go. Grin

Original poster
Stateofgrace · 06/08/2013 17:01

It's a shame you think Polly is a horrible name, I think it's pretty (and) inoffensive myself, but then we all like different things, eh? :)

In answer to your question, though, I don't think DD would appreciate being called George Alexander Louis, that might give her more to be teased about than a horrible name like Polly... :)

OP posts:
squoosh · 06/08/2013 10:23

What's your name amotherplace?

LucyTheLittlestLioness · 06/08/2013 09:38

Bear is in a different league to Kitty, Millie etc.

Bear might suit a chubby toddler or big broad shouldered man, but what if your son grew up to be short and very slightly built?

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 06/08/2013 05:28

Polly put the kettle on..... horrible name

Bear is just ridiculous

What is wrong with George Alexander Louis :)

mathanxiety · 06/08/2013 05:24

Arthur John is the given name of a boy who will be known as "Bear" according to Notso's link (first section 'diminutives') and I would guess Arthur John is the one he will be known as when he's older.

mathanxiety · 06/08/2013 05:11

TheCraicDealer I am wondering if Foquett is pronounced as in 'the Foquett residence; the lady of the house speaking'

kaosak · 06/08/2013 00:44

Trouble is we can't see into the future to see what these babies as adults will a) look like b) do for a living.

Bear Grillis (sp?) is fabulously named because he is a rugged adventurer and looks the part. If he had been weedy and worked behind the counter in the local branch of Lloyds bank it would seem utterly ridiculous to have called him Bear.

We shouldn't but we do judge people (sub-consciously) in that first split second that we hear or see their names. It isn't snobbery, it is forming a very ancient set of rules as to where this person belongs in the scheme of things, much as we might take into account clothes, hairstyle, way somebody talks etc. Not being judgemental, well maybe, but it is a totally involuntary thing that we all do whenever we meet someone.

Honey or Tallulah will not be taken as seriously as Catherine or Sarah - the last two names will just be filed in the 'normal' tray whereas I suspect the other two would be chewed over just that bit more and possibly hesitated over in some circumstances.

Just sayin'

Polyethyl · 05/08/2013 23:49

Polly is a superb name.
A high court judge or a prima ballerina - you could be anything with a good name like Polly.

squoosh · 05/08/2013 17:40

For what it's worth my parents think all children should be called Neil or Ruth! But people get used to names very quickly, even opinionated Grannies.

LondonMother · 05/08/2013 17:39

You're right, State. My nephew is 20 and called Max. Not very common then, two a penny now.

I like Polly!

Original poster
Stateofgrace · 05/08/2013 17:38

**BF father, not Mia's father ...Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Stateofgrace · 05/08/2013 17:37

Thanks for more of your thoughts, ladies. I am still a bit torn. Discussed it in depth last night with Himself and have taken Posy off the table sob.

Polly is looking like a strong contender at the moment, the more I say it aloud with her chosen MN (Alice) the more I like it. I don't like Mary, so Polly she shall be, if she indeed, is Confused.

FWIW I think Bear is incredibly cool. I agree with any poster who said that in 30 years these names would mostly be common place. BF daughter is called Mia and 18 years ago when she named her, her father said: ''That's a bit show-bizzy isn't it?'' Grin

OP posts: