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Baby names

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

Original poster

Iris - too "old lady"? Ruby - too common? or Ramona

57 replies

Michellephant · 04/08/2013 16:08

Hi everyone,

We're struggling to think of a name for our rainbow baby. We like the name Iris because it is a flower name (our angel was called Poppy) and it also means rainbow (which is what our baby is) but I'm wondering whether it actually suits a baby? I also wouldn't want people to nickname her Izzy as I think people will then assume she is called Isabelle and I don't like that name.

Ruby is one we had as a potential name when we named Poppy. I'm not sure whether it is too common/popular (however you want to word it).

I really like Ramona and like the idea of using Romy as a potential nickname but I'm unsure about the name.

Ideally I want a name that links in some way to our angel, so flower names were high up in my list but my OH doesn't like a lot of them. The surname would be McDonald so it can easily result in the full name sounding really common. For example, Daisy McDonald sounds a bit farmer-ish to me, as does Rosie... agree?
I also liked the idea of using Opal as a middle name as it is the birth stone of our angel baby, but then I started to wonder whether it is weird to be trying to make a connection between them? What do people think?

I also like Dorothy (Dot, Dottie). The main thing I'm struggling with is imagining myself saying these names to 1. introduce the baby to people 2. shout across the park/playground etc

Anyone else really struggling to pick names for girls?!

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CruCru · 11/08/2013 18:30

Ramona reminds me of some American books my brother and I used to read (Ramona and Beezus). I like Iris a lot as well and would be surprised if it became popular.

Have you considered Sorrel? It is a herb rather than a flower.

formicadinosaur · 11/08/2013 03:42

Iris opal is cute. Adore opal particularly.

Romilly, Isis (eye-sis) Lottie pearl

SnoopyLovesYou · 10/08/2013 16:02

Ramona. V cool name. Love it

rubyrubywoo · 09/08/2013 17:26

My dd is a Ruby, but popularity doesn't bother me Grin I think Iris is beautiful & the personal meaning it has to you will make it all the more special.

celticclan · 08/08/2013 11:46

Iris is beautiful. If we have an unexpected daughter I will name her Iris.

ClaraBean · 08/08/2013 00:01

I have a 12 year old Iris, and her name has never been shortened to anything, and we don't know any others.
I love Ramona too, it was on our list for ds, but he was a ds. Would definitely use in future though. Gorgeous.
Also love Dorothy (also on our list for ds!!), Dottie and Dolly are awesome nn.
Ruby is lovely, but soooo popular, and that would definitely put me off.

notso · 07/08/2013 21:31

I love Ramona and Iris. I always wanted a Ramona, DH vetoed it though and Iris are my favourite flowers.

MrsSolis · 07/08/2013 21:12

Ramona is lovely, I love Romy.

TheRealFellatio · 07/08/2013 09:10

I love Ramona and Iris. I think Ramona could get quite popular, but not overly so. Iris has been around for a while now, so if it was going to become overly common it would already have done so, I think.

Ruby is lovely, but very run of the mill now.

How about Lois, Morwenna or Paloma?

Seren and Merryn are going to become very common indeed. You can't move for people suggesting them on here in the last year or two.

VivaLeBeaver · 07/08/2013 09:05

I love Ramona.

Reminds me of the books and she was one cool kid.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 07/08/2013 09:04

Ramona, love this.

Love Rosemarie/Rosemary as mentioned above too.

toobreathless · 07/08/2013 09:02

Oh not as find of Ruby, meant to add that.

toobreathless · 07/08/2013 09:01

Huge congratulations on your rainbow. I think the idea of linking your girls is lovely.

I ADORE Iris! Also like Ramona & Dorothy.

My girls are Hazel & Celeste, both Naturey (Celeste means 'heavenly')

Or:
Estelle/Stella
Seren
Heather
Willow
Skye

??

mathanxiety · 07/08/2013 04:24

Romy is really more of a nn for Rosemarie (or Rosemary) -- maybe that would be a nice name as rosemary is the herb associated with remembrance?

Other than Rosemarie/ Rosemary / Romy, I prefer Iris over your other choices.

I prefer Renata or Renee ('reborn') over Ramona too. I don't like the 'mona' element.

Wishing you luck whatever name you choose.

Marcheline · 07/08/2013 02:50

How about Violet? It comes to mind when I think of Iris/Ruby. They're beautiful flowers, too.

I'm so sorry for your loss and hope everything goes well for you with your rainbow baby.

Whatwhatwhat · 06/08/2013 23:30

Thanks Michelle. I'd never heard of that term before. It's lovely. It must have been a terrible shock to you to lose Poppy so far on, very sorry to hear.
Best of luck this time and all the names are lovely.

Gimmeechocolate · 06/08/2013 23:14

I have an Iris (6 years old) and she has never been called Izzy or any nickname. I think it's a beautiful name, obviously!

telsa · 04/08/2013 23:47

Iris is old laddish and overused. But Ramona is really cool. Like it.

squoosh · 04/08/2013 17:39

I like Ramona, it's very spirited.

looki · 04/08/2013 17:11

There are so many mentions of Iris on here at the moment so that's putting me off

I honestly don't think the names people suggest on this board are an accurate reflection of the names people actually use. You see the same few names being repeated continuously here and nobody ever suggests a name like Dylan etc. Yet when a thread is started about unpopular names and somebody states the fact that they dislike the name Dylan, you'll find cross mums jumping up saying their son is named Dylan.

Note: Dylan is the first name that popped into my head, I'm not saying its a nice or awful name!

Perhaps look up the CSO figures for actual usage of names?

permaquandry · 04/08/2013 17:06

Iris is lovely, timeless and classic. Ramona is nice too, I think it will be naturally shortened to Mona. I have a lovely friend called Mona so I like that too.

Imho, I don't think Iris will become too popular either. Good luck choosing!

fanjodisfunction · 04/08/2013 17:04

Understand that, it is popular on mumsnet. Do you have any meanings that you would like the name to be?

Original poster
Michellephant · 04/08/2013 17:02

I don't think the "oh" sounds in Ramona and Opal go together. Merryn is a lovely name. I like names that aren't too common. My OH has three Isabelle's in his class next year!

There are so many mentions of Iris on here at the moment so that's putting me off.

OP posts:
fanjodisfunction · 04/08/2013 17:00

Actually I like Ramona Iris MacDonald and I don't think RIM is a bad initial spelling.

fanjodisfunction · 04/08/2013 16:56

michelle I don't think Iris is going to be mega popular, but it will be more common than Romona. I understand the spelling thing if its the middle name.

We have chosen Merryn if our rainbow is a girl, it means joyous, which we thought was very apt.

Maybe Ramona Opal? Or even Ramona Iris Opal MacDonald?

I like two middle names I know some don't.