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Baby names

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

Original poster

Re-thinking our choices... should we go for different names?

92 replies

Linguaphile · 21/08/2013 12:19

DH and I have, for the most part, settled on calling our twin girls Philippa Winter and Vivienne Gray (Pip/Pippa and Vivi for short), but with our induction date looming less than 2 weeks away, I'm getting cold feet.

I really do love the classics (Alexandra, Elizabeth, etc), but we avoided them because our original criteria was to have something out of (or at the higher end of) the top 100--wanted something classic and interesting that wouldn't date quickly. I'm just not sure we've accomplished that with the names we've got!

I suppose I'm looking for either reassurance about what we've got or inspiration for something different. Any suggestions (even out-of-the-box ones) are really welcome. Names like Primrose, Seren, Zara and Persis have been on our list at some point or another, so I'm open to ideas!

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Littlecherublegs · 21/08/2013 16:33

I like Zara.
Not keen on Persis, Vivienne or Philippa.

How about:
Cordelia
Miranda
Florence
Hermione
Veronica
Beatrix
Theadora
Dorothea
Yolanda
Rosalind
Juliette
Yasmina

MacCrackles · 21/08/2013 16:32

I love their middle names, please don't change them.

I also love the flow of their names and the way they compliment each other.

I slightly agree with the comments around Phillipa, names that are similar IMO to Vivienne (which again is lovely):

Francesca Winter
Felicity (Fliss, Lissy?) Winter
Juliette (or Juliet but the former matches the spelling of Vivienne that you've chosen) Winter
Susannah Winter
Alexandra Winter
Cecily Winter
Celia Winter

Ultimately, go with what you both love.

whatsaduckdo · 21/08/2013 16:32

I really liked your original names though OP.

whatsaduckdo · 21/08/2013 16:32

Ooo, AurorasShoes, Cecily Winter sounds lovely.

I'm not really keen on Zara.

followed · 21/08/2013 16:26

I like Felicity Winter and Vivienne Gray personally

EroticTebbit · 21/08/2013 16:22

I'm another who adores Vivi but doesn't like Pippa.

Also, family name or not, I think it's very odd to name a child Winter when it's born in August/ early Sept. It's like calling a CHristmas baby Summer.

NordicLight · 21/08/2013 16:18

I like both Felicity Constance and Vivienne Gray.

If Winter and Gray are just being used as middle names and they have significance to you, then what is the harm? Most people would just perceive them to be additional surnames.

Original poster
Linguaphile · 21/08/2013 15:54

What about Constance in there? Would Felicity Constance be better against Vivienne Gray? Willing to lose Winter as it's a friend'd namesake instead of a family one.

I do like the idea of Persis Alexandra, but don't know what to put with it.

OP posts:
NordicLight · 21/08/2013 15:35

Not sure about Cassandra, she was blessed with the gift of prophecy but cursed with the fate that nobody would ever believe her.

Hatecoffee · 21/08/2013 15:27

Not keen on Zara sorry!

I love both of your original names OP. good luck.

AurorasShoes · 21/08/2013 15:24

Cecily Winter to complement Vivienne Gray

Haddock73 · 21/08/2013 15:14

I like Vivienne and Cordelia.

TenthMuse · 21/08/2013 14:45

Oh, and not at all keen on Zara. Persis OK but a bit 'out there' compared with Vivienne. There are far better names out there imo.

TenthMuse · 21/08/2013 14:44

I love Vivienne, and think it fits your criteria perfectly. Less keen on Philippa - nothing wrong with it, but it does seem a little plain compared to Vivienne (which I think of as being classic but with a vintage Hollywood twist, a la Vivien Leigh). Perhaps go with Vivienne and another 'classic with a twist'?

Cassandra (agree with others that this works well)
Juliet
Genevieve
Juliana
Helena
Serena
Celia
Lucia
Miranda
Cordelia
Beatrice
Evangeline
Eloise
Elodie
Arianne

Many of these are classic in a literary/Shakespearean sense, or have a slightly French feel, like Vivienne. Like both of your mns, by the way.

Original poster
Linguaphile · 21/08/2013 14:42

Okay, obviously mixed opinions. What about the earlier suggestion of Zara and Persis? Better?

OP posts:
squoosh · 21/08/2013 14:24

You know about Pippa's 'translations' don't you? I couldn't do that to a child.

MortifiedAdams · 21/08/2013 14:22

All the viviennes round my way are in their fifties and are often spotted sat on their step avin a faaaaag amd chattin to Doreen before going in to cook the chops. Some go by their full name, some as Viv.

I find it very odd that it is seen as a glamorous name.

redcaryellowcar · 21/08/2013 14:17

I have a lovely friend who is in her early 60's called philippa , she is fantastic fun and a great advert for that name, I think it's particularly lovely as pippi or pippa are good as nicknames and you still have more formal version for job application/ passports etc!
I wouldn't worry about having decided 100% about names pre arrival, we had convicted ourselves we agreed on one boys name but when ds arrived we completely changed our minds!

Choccyhobnob · 21/08/2013 14:01

Ahh not Flick like in Neighbours? (all those years ago!)

Original poster
Linguaphile · 21/08/2013 13:53

Lol, makes me think of Frizz.

OP posts:
followed · 21/08/2013 13:46

I knew a Felicity who was Fizz for short. I've always loved Felicity but not the nicknames so much and then I met Fizz!

Original poster
Linguaphile · 21/08/2013 13:37

Hi Choccy, see above for reason behind middles. Felicity was one of our top choices, but we went toward Philippa because we didn't like the nickname possibilities as much for Felicity... figured she'll probably get a lot more use out of her nickname since 3 or 4 syllables is a mouthful for little friends.

OP posts:
Choccyhobnob · 21/08/2013 13:33

I'm rubbish at making suggestions of my own but like other people's ideas of Talia and Felicity instead of Phillipa (don't know why I don't like that name, think I might have known a really plain girl once with that name?).

Out of interest why the winter themed middle names (which I totally love by the way) for a baby due in September? A question I could also ask my friend whose dd Autumn was born in June...

Original poster
Linguaphile · 21/08/2013 13:33

The middles are meaningful/family names, so not choices made to sound quirky or different.

OP posts:
Onesleeptillwembley · 21/08/2013 13:31

Your first names are ok. Not to my taste but fine. The middle names are pretty bad though. If you changed those they might sound better.

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