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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Rosalind vs Melody

39 replies

ccsays · 04/11/2013 11:04

I'm 33 + 3 with my first, a little girl, and we've been calling her Melody ever since we found out 'it' was a 'she'. Getting closer to the due date now (Dec 20th) and I've been starting to swither quite a bit. I really do love Melody (bonus as me and DP are Dr Who fans) but I worry that it's a good name for a girl not a woman IYSWIM, and that it's the sort of name that won't be taken seriously as an adult. But on the other hand with all the Poppy and Honeys you hear of that doesn't seem like it should be that much of a concern.

Another name I've found myself drawn to myself recently is Rosalind. The more I think about it the more I like it and it feels like a good, 'strong' name. But (and this is where pregnancy hormones kick in) I kind of feel like I'm 'betraying' Melody a bit and it feels strange to consider another name when we've been calling her it for so long!

So what do you think? Which do you prefer? DP seems pretty easy going about it either way. We have also banded about Alice, Anna and Charlotte in the past, all of which are nice but feel a wee bit ordinary to me (no offence to anyone with anyone with daughters with those names!) So I think it's between those two.

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theynevershutup · 07/11/2013 20:29

You could always have Rosalyn if you wanted something a bit different, I like Rosalind but definitely an 'adult' name to me. I think Melody suits a child and an adult

DawnOfTheDee · 07/11/2013 19:59

My DD is a Melody. She really suits it. We had Melody and Sadie as the two possible option but when she was born we just knew she was a Melody.

Not keen on Rosalind....bit too 'reserved' for my taste.

Thecircle · 07/11/2013 19:54

Melody all day long for me.

If I'm ever lucky enough to have another and its a girl she will almost definitely be a Melody

NorthernLurker · 07/11/2013 19:49

I have a Rosalind. It's a fab name. Not much used, the Shakepearean connection is excellent and the meaning v appropriate for your beautiful baby girl - means beautiful rose. Ours is shortened verbally to Rozzi but I would always write Rosalind. Wants the point of calling her a beautigul name and then shortening it to the rather ordinary Rosie

FetaCheeny · 07/11/2013 19:38

I've known two adult Melodys, one was never shortened, the other was a nature loving hippy type who called herself Melo, it really suited her and I love the name.
I like Rose and Rosie, Rosalia/Rosalie?? Not keen on Rosalind, bit frumpy sounding for me.

CruCru · 07/11/2013 18:44

I think Rosalind would suit an adult better. Melody may be a name that she outgrows.

Meringue33 · 05/11/2013 18:33

Love Melody (with sister Harmony!)

It's more unusual and prettier. Tho I do like Rosie too.

What about Rosalind as the middle name?

Oriunda · 05/11/2013 18:29

I like Rosalind. As you like it one of my favourite Shakespeare plays!

SweetCarolinePomPomPom · 05/11/2013 16:16

Rosalind is lovely. Melody is don't like.

TheAwfulDaughter · 05/11/2013 16:15

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invicta · 05/11/2013 16:10

We were going to call our son, William Harry( not actual names) but he didn't suit the first name, so we reversed them. I haven't regretted reversing the names.

MrsMarigold · 05/11/2013 16:04

We were going to call our daughter Rosalind and it was decided months before she was born, when she arrived we just couldn't. We loved the name but it just wasn't the name for her.

I also loved Anna Alice and Elodie but she has a totally different name.

Original poster

ccsays · 05/11/2013 15:56

greeneyes I know an Elodie, so wouldn't want to use the name, although it is pretty.

softsheen Not so keen on Rosamund - I think the 'lind' sounds pretty, whereas the 'mund' sounds a bit clunky.

sunnysummer Thank you! I like the idea of her having a strong name and growing up into a tiny, kick ass feminist Also DP loves Rosie as a nickname.

OP posts:

Sunnysummer · 05/11/2013 02:15

I LOVE Rosalind, she was an awesome Shakespearean heroine, plus discovered DNA, but more importantly it's strong and elegant but also can be a cute little Rose or Rosie for a little girl (or a little lady, if that ends up suiting her better).

To me Melody is pretty where Rosalind is beautiful.

SoftSheen · 04/11/2013 22:28

Definitely Rosalind- have you also considered Rosamund?

SatinSandals · 04/11/2013 22:00

Rosalind is lovely.

fizzly · 04/11/2013 21:49

good friends called

fizzly · 04/11/2013 21:49

Love Rosalind. I have 4 good friends good Rosalind all of whom I have known since childhood - which I think is prob quite unusual as it is not a common name, but there was obviously a blip of naming in my postcode in the late 70s! Consequently I couldn't have it on my name list for DCs, but I think it is a seriously fab name and much better than Melody (sorry). Elodie was on my list though.

greeneyes1978 · 04/11/2013 21:42

How about Elodie? Much prettier IMO even though I am a massive dr who fan!

Original poster

ccsays · 04/11/2013 15:21

Thanks all for your input, nice to see a few in support of Melody! Agree about not being keen on Mel as a nickname, but I figure if she wants to shorten it there's not much I can do.

Seems like it would be a good idea to try and see what name she 'looks' like. Has anyone had experience of that? Having a few names floating about and feeling like one just 'clicks' when they see their baby?

RE: Using one as the middle name, is was going to use my surname as the middle name, so I think that plus another first name would feel a bit clunky.

OP posts:

stripeytiger · 04/11/2013 15:18

How about Charlotte Melody

evelynj · 04/11/2013 15:07

Use one as a middle name? I love Melody & my dd would have been this but dislike Mel for short, (ours is now Florence but called her Jemima all through pg). If you use one as a middle name then you can switch if you want, (bugger what anyone else says-my dd has 2 middle names, wish I'd given her 3!)

WhatABeautifulPussy · 04/11/2013 14:24

I prefer Rosalind, but why not keep both and see what she looks like or what she answers to?

Allalonenow · 04/11/2013 14:07

I prefer Rosalind, it's a classy name that will "grow" with your daughter, childhood nn of Rosa, Rosie, but also a great adult name.
Melody is pretty for a six year old, but not so pretty for a fifty year old.

HenriettaBrain · 04/11/2013 13:54

I much prefer melody. I know a little 1yo Melody and her name really suits her. (Mum and dad very musical- mum sings and dad drums in a band so it really suits her!!)

I agree that Rosalind makes me think of a middle aged woman. It sounds a bit 'harsh' as a newborn name iykwim. Whereas Melody is a beautiful name, and if she feels it's too 'cutesy' when she's older, she can call her self Mel! However as you say, it will be a generation of Honeys and Poppy's and Alfie's and Ruby's, so her name won't look out of place!

And if you have been calling her melody from the start you may regret not using it a few months down the line

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