Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Why doesn't anyone like this girl name?

103 replies

Mrspedro · 03/03/2014 20:02

I kinda think it's entertaining that nobody likes our girls name suggestion ( well ok it's dh's ..I hate disagreeing with him ALL the time so iv told him I'll go with this one if he wants)

Ivory / Ivorie

I'm guessing you'll comment to say you don't like it ...just explain why pls.
Ivory Rowan Q

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ivykaty44 · 08/03/2014 08:01

I'll be go in

Refoca · 08/03/2014 07:57

It's nice, but like others I can't get past the white/black thing...though if I met you and had this conversation in real life it may go very differently. Your values, friends, community and child's appearance (I know a white, blond haired blue eyed girl called Raven...always seems odd, whereas it would make perfect sense in my head if she was black or had dark hair, iyswim) will all shape how your child's name is perceived much more than the name in isolation.

Bluestocking · 08/03/2014 07:52

Because it's not a name.
Because it calls to mind thoughts about elephant poaching, piles of tusks being destroyed, and the song Ebony and Ivory which is terminally naff.
In addition, if your surname begins with a Q, you might want to rethink choosing a first name that begins with an I. IQ is a fearsome set of initials to have to live up to.

cupofteaplease · 08/03/2014 07:44

I went to college with a girl called Ivory. She was beautiful, very intelligent and a bit alternative. I think it's fine as a name.

AprilS · 07/03/2014 09:45

I quite like it. Elephants are awesome animals so why not name your child after a piece of them.

I do wonder if you'll be constantly correcting people that shes not Ivy though. Something we're trying to avoid with our name choice. But if your OK with that then go with it.

Marcipex · 07/03/2014 07:35

Rowan is lovely and much more used for girls than boys.

Ivory is terrible, sorry, but mutilated elephants is what I think when I hear it.

Would you consider Ivy Rowan or Avery Rowan?

TheZeeTeam · 07/03/2014 01:55

BIL's ex and I thought it would be hilarious if we both had daughters and called them Ebony and Ivory a few years ago. It's probably just as well he married someone else. Blush

YouAreTalkingRubbish · 07/03/2014 01:47

Blimey, OP I bet you are regretting asking now Sad

YouAreTalkingRubbish · 07/03/2014 01:45

I think it not that bad, I have heard a lot, LOT worse mostly on Mumsnet Confused

Unfortuanately, I instantly think of 'ebony and ivory,together in perfect harmony'. and now I won't be able to get that song out of my head Angry

mathanxiety · 07/03/2014 01:37

I think Alba means 'white', and it is another name for Scotland.

CruCru · 06/03/2014 22:43

Would you consider Alba instead? It means Dawn and I think has a similar feel, except is a name (although an unusual one).

SweetPea86 · 05/03/2014 20:49

OP it's a nice name, for people to say it's not a name ehhh sorry if you chose it as a name well it's a name. If gwenth Paltrow can chose Apple as her daughters name lol well why not.

If you like it go for it. :)

ThonHoor · 05/03/2014 11:14

Me too kentish.

A little white toddler called Ebony who comes from a family with obvious UKIP voting tendencies Confused.

kentishgirl · 05/03/2014 11:13

Ebony - I know a white Ebony. Everyone goes Hmm

HerrenaHarridan · 04/03/2014 23:23

Ivory, please no. What if she's ruddy and ginger ffs and why would you associate your kid with that kind of slaughter.

Rowan is lovely, I know both male and female rowans and think its fine for both.

Avery i know is a boy.

I'm all for unusual names, pretty words with nice connotations that are 'not' names although I was forced to veto flint Grin

Amethyst24 · 04/03/2014 22:44

I think the thing about Ebony is it's used in a black pride context. Which is fine. White pride, not so much.

Tartanpaint · 04/03/2014 21:09

Ivy is nicer

nickelbabe · 04/03/2014 18:43

I agree with most of the others - it made me immediately think of tusks, which isn't a great start.

and giving someone time to think of further thoughts would cause the whole ivory trade to come to mind

plus, it's clunky and ugly

sarahquilt · 04/03/2014 18:32

Reminds me of that naff song Ebony and Ivory.

mathanxiety · 04/03/2014 16:36

It's also pretty close to Ivor, which will always remind me of Ivor The Engine.

Mintyy · 04/03/2014 16:36

Ivory - because it immediately makes me think of the barbaric trade in elephant tusks.

MerryWinterfel · 04/03/2014 16:34

How about India or Scarlett?

kentishgirl · 04/03/2014 15:18

It is a real girl's name, I checked.

I agree though that it makes me think of dead elephants and poaching. Would probably get used to it if a girl in my family were named it. It's a pretty name if you put that connotation aside. But I think it's going to be everyone's first thought (and fifth, and tenth, until it wears off).

Burren · 04/03/2014 10:54

I agree with those who have said 'immediate connotations of banned trade, mutilated dead animals, news stories about tusk stashes being destroyed, and white supremacy. (I have some vague feeling that there may have been a US white supremacist girl band called Ivory at some point?) It wouldn't surprise me if a baby Ivory turned out to have siblings called 'Adolf' and 'Aryan', put it that way.

BirdintheWings · 04/03/2014 09:44

I really want to know now what his other suggestions were, if this is the only one you're half-prepared to consider!