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Baby names

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

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?!

OP posts:
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Michellephant · 04/08/2013 16:51

Sorry, a rainbow baby is a baby that has been lost in some way too soon. Poppy was born asleep at 22 weeks.

My issue with Iris as a middle name is that the surname begins with M so we'll end up with _.I.M. as initials. So for example, Dorothy would have initials that spell out "DIM" lol.

Iris is looking like it is going to rocket in popularity so I'm thinking I might avoid it.

I really like Ramona and Romy as the nn, I don't like Romilly because we live near a place with a similar name and it isn't particularly nice!

I was so convinced that we were having a boy this time. I think boy names are so much easier!

OP posts:
fanjodisfunction · 04/08/2013 16:43

Rainbow baby is the baby you have after a stillbirth, its because your in a storm after such a loss and this new baby brings light as a rainbow but it doesn't mean your out of the storm if that makes sense.

There is a poem about it but I can't link as I'm on my phone

fanjodisfunction · 04/08/2013 16:41

I'm pg with my rainbow baby too. And I think Iris is a wonderful name and I love the meaning and it fits with Poppy so well, which I know is important. I don't think it will be shortened to Izzy, and also it fits a baby. They are not babies for long.

It would also work as a middle name for the other names you mentioned, which might help with choices? Maybe.

But I really like Iris. Congrats to you, and so sorry to hear about Poppy.

YoungBritishPissArtist · 04/08/2013 16:41

What do you mean by rainbow baby?

I love Iris, I don't think it's old-ladyish at all.

Love Ramona, nn Romy. How about Romilly?

I do like Ruby, but agree that's it's v.popular.

looki · 04/08/2013 16:37

I emphasise with your struggle :)

I like the name Iris a lot (currently considering it myself) I personally can't see why anyone would use Izzy as a nickname?

I don't like Ruby, I think its quite popular - well too popular for me anyway and Dorothy isn't for me at all.

I'm not sure from your post whether you like Ramona or not or just like the name Romy? In which case you could use Romilly etc?

You could also have a third name to make the connection? I don't think there is anything wrong with making the connection but its nice too to make a new start with a new baby, thats what I thought myself after I had a m/c. That said DD has a flower name as her mn and if I'm truthful I like the idea of this baby also having a flower middle name.

Girls names are hard to come up with when you have already used your favourite name!

valiumredhead · 04/08/2013 16:31

Rainbow baby?

Iris is a lovely nameSmile

Whatwhatwhat · 04/08/2013 16:30

What's a rainbow baby?