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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which girls name would YOU choose?

66 replies

EasyCompadre · 03/01/2014 09:54

Our DD1 is due soon, and it feels like we've been thinking of names forever! The only names we have agreed that we both like so far are:
Zara
Emmeline
Harriet
Sadie
We would like to use Emmeline as a middle name (as there is a little Emily already in the family and it sounds a bit same-y). I've liked all of those names for a long time, but now it comes down to choosing one to give to my child, one which I will undoubtedly say thousands of times over the coming years I just can't choose one, I'm stricken with doubt that I don't actually love any of them and there's a much better name out there somewhere. So which would you choose? Why? Do you know any babies/children/teenagers/adults with those names? What do they remind you of?

OP posts:
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snowed · 03/01/2014 18:50

Zara. I've never met a Zara of any age, but it's a pretty and unusual name.

Timetoask · 03/01/2014 18:33

I love Alice (maybe because it was the name of a girl at my school who was so nice, very intelligent but also down to earth)
I like Harriet very much.
I am not so keen on Zara.
Sadie, i am sorry is really not nice at all.

Charotte31 · 03/01/2014 18:23

Alice is beautiful!
Emmeline pretty
Harriet is ok
Zara I don't like
Sadie horrible, sorry!

Wishfulmakeupping · 03/01/2014 18:21

Yy to Hattie as a nn so cute

Wishfulmakeupping · 03/01/2014 18:21

Harriet is a beautiful name I love it such a good strong name

Original poster
EasyCompadre · 03/01/2014 18:20

Ah, same to you then myrtle, how old is your Sadie? Do you still love it? What kind of comments have you had about the name? What made you choose it over every other name in the world? Smile

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missmargot · 03/01/2014 18:18

I love Harriet, Hattie for short

woodrunner · 03/01/2014 18:16

I like Harriet best.

Like Sadie but knew an unpleasant one so that has slightly put me off an otherwise lovely name.

Not keen on Emmeline it sounds pretentious and twee to my ears - like a Victorian version of Chardonnay.

HyvaPaiva · 03/01/2014 18:15

Sadie

NoComet · 03/01/2014 18:14

Harriet
Zara

Sadie
Emmeline too like Emily, and too frilly.
I don't like Isabella, Lauren, Sophia or Alison either, what on earth is wrong with Isabel, Laura, Sophie or Alice? What's with the extra letters?

Original poster
EasyCompadre · 03/01/2014 18:13

How old is your Sadie Having? What sort of reception did you get from family/friends/others when you introduced her?

OP posts:
myrtleWilson · 03/01/2014 18:12

Like Having I'm biased as a mother to a Sadie but also like Hattie as nn for Harriet. My glam-ness varies!

Havingagoodny · 03/01/2014 18:06

Love Sadie and Zara. Sadie is my DD and we are absolutely not council estate as per previous poster. Not keen on Harriet and don't like Emmeline at all, it's very try hard.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/01/2014 18:03

Harriet is my favourite. Like Emmeline. Really dislike, Sadie - sorry.

Original poster
EasyCompadre · 03/01/2014 18:02

I hadn't considered Sara/Sadie, I'll have a good think on that one!

OP posts:
Original poster
EasyCompadre · 03/01/2014 18:02

sighhhh it looks like a pretty even split on which name people favour. To those of you who had more than one 'nice enough' name in the running, but no names that you were utterly in love with, HOW and when did you choose? Is waiting till she arrives going to be the best option? Will it provide some clarity?! I think all of those names have something going for them, but they all have something that is holding me back too.
This. Is. Hard.

OP posts:
TheGirlOnTheLanding · 03/01/2014 14:10

Would you consider Sara, rather than Zara, Emmeline? To me it just works better - also gives scope for Sadie as a nickname as Sadie is NN for Sarah.

Mrsindecision · 03/01/2014 14:07

My preference would be for Harriet.

Theresomethingaboutdairy · 03/01/2014 13:43

Harriet with nn Hattie is, by far, my favourite from your list.

Original poster
EasyCompadre · 03/01/2014 13:35

Gahhh really Saucy ??? Where are you? I'm in Cheshire, though was living and working in North Wales when I taught Zara and Sadie.

Nooo, definitely not choosing names just to have an unusual one Summer , but my family is huuuuuge (Gran has 35+ grandchildren, not including great-grandchildren) so a lot of names have already been taken by cousins. I just meant that in those particular classes, those names stood out to me as pretty and somewhat underused.

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 03/01/2014 13:27

My favourites are Emmeline and Harriet from your list.

Depends where you live- but Zara and Sadie would be council house glam names round here.

(yes, yes, I'm a snob)

Summerfever · 03/01/2014 13:26

The are 2 Zaras in one of my dc's class so I don't think of it as "stand out". I guess you have to consider if you are just choosing a name because you think it is more unusual rather than whether you really love it. I do really like the name Zara and think it goes nicely with Emmeline - no issues with vowels etc. Personally I'm not so keen on Sadie - it's a negative sounding name to my ear.

Original poster
EasyCompadre · 03/01/2014 13:07

Thanks all, it's great to get some outside opinions as we are just going round in circles discussing the same names over and over, and neither of us are willing to share the names in RL as its difficult enough choosing a name that the two of us like, without factoring in the wishes of others too.

So... What do you think about the two vowels together / two E's together in Zara Emmeline, and Sadie Emmeline? Do those names scream that we have no imagination? Are they at all classy/classless??

I'm a teacher and taught both a Zara and a Sadie (but never yet an Emmeline) and both girls were delightful and I thought their names stood out a little amongst the numerous Ellie's and Evie's and Amelia's that were in their respective classes.

MerryChristmas , could you be convinced to share your shortlist? Pretty please? Grin

OP posts:
MerryChristmasyoufilthyanimal · 03/01/2014 12:51

I don't love any of your names (all ok but don't LOVE) except Emmeline. On my short list for a girl.

MoonHare · 03/01/2014 12:48

From your list I would choose Harriet. If I ever have a DD4 she will be Harriet.