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Baby names

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

Original poster

Deirdre or Daphne, can't decide which. Deirdre Ann, or Daphne Helen.

118 replies

Sylviet · 17/10/2014 04:23

These are the front runners at the moment, would appreciate your thoughts.

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watfordmummy · 24/10/2014 18:40

Now reading this thread I feel really sad. I am one the cheeriest people around not at all dreary or dull ConfusedConfused

watfordmummy · 24/10/2014 18:39

As a Deirdre, I've always hated my name. Although I waited until I was 30 when I shortened it!! Don't think I'd saddle a child with it!!Grin

mathanxiety · 24/10/2014 18:33

I know a pair of Irish sisters aged 3 and 1 who are named Bernadette and Dymphna so don't worry, Cleio Smile.

I don't know how Deirdre became less popular than it used to be. There were a lot in my school in the 70s and early 80s and I also had a few neighbours who were Deirdres. Maybe it's because everyone knew a few?

Theas18 · 24/10/2014 10:07

Daphne Helena is lovely.

It's a grown up person name, which is exactly as it should be as this bundle will be a baby for a short time. If she needs a " cutesy nickname" then Little Dee fits the bill.

( though DD has never needed, or from the time she could make herself known, wanted the cutesy nickname every grown up wanted to give her !)

Cleio · 24/10/2014 09:53

Going by this thread we've settled DD2 with a life long trauma over her name Grin

She's Irish though, living in Ireland. Her older sister has an Irish name out of mythology too.

Obviously, we love the name. Had no idea it was so strongly out of favour. Reactions have been positive so far, now wondering if people are sniggering behind my back Hmm

ATombWithoutAFoof · 21/10/2014 16:12

I'm on that thread! Pining for a daughter who I can call Delphine.

bealos · 21/10/2014 15:52

I go for delPHINE. Though I imagine it depends on your accent.

(btw - recently started a thread about French names seeming very trendy. Had a new Delphine and a Mirabelle near me recently).

Nancy66 · 21/10/2014 14:06

Delphines was the name of the posh restaurant Mike Baldwin always used to take his clients to.

Whichever way you turn there's a Corrie connection.

Nancy66 · 21/10/2014 14:05

I like your user name. Sylvie.

lisucbgiberiocnha · 21/10/2014 10:03

I think in peppa pig it's DELphine donkey?

AWombWithoutAFoof · 21/10/2014 09:19

I love Delphine to look at, but I'm never sure if it's DELphine or delPHINE. Which is it?

mathanxiety · 21/10/2014 03:00

Deer-dreh is the correct pronunciation of the name Deirdre. It sounds similar to Deerdra. But 'Deirdra' with an A at the end would be all wrong because it would ignore the broad/slender vowel correspondence rule in Irish spelling.

VeryStressedMum · 20/10/2014 21:43

I'm in NI and I know a Deirdre and its pronounced Deer-Dree
If you want to call her Deer-Dra you could spell it Deirdra otherwise it'll be pronounced Deer-Dree

janie2 · 20/10/2014 21:29

I have a niece called Daphne, age 7! I didn't like it to begin with but as with all names I now associate the name with my lovely niece Smile

My SIL isn't a soap fan but a massive reader so she only associated the name with Daphne Du Maurier.

lisucbgiberiocnha · 20/10/2014 20:54

Delphine isnt an unknown name thanks to her being a character in peppa pig

lisucbgiberiocnha · 20/10/2014 20:40

What about Delphine pronounced Del-feen

mathanxiety · 19/10/2014 22:28

I'm Irish. Don't call her Deirdre. It is very passe in Ireland, and Deerdree is a horrible mispronunciation.
When did Deirdre become so unpopular!
In the late 70s it had run its course in Ireland. Other Irish names that had been popular alongside Deirdre (Niamh, Orla and Aoife for instance) continued to take over the world but Deirdre was left in the dust.

Daphne otoh is gorgeous. I love your original idea of Daphne Helen.

If you're looking for EE and AH sounds, how about Letitia?
(Avoid Sheila though. It's as bad as Deirdre).

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 19/10/2014 20:53

Deirdre is nice when pronounced deirdra in an Irish accent (though the only one I know goes by Dee) but in English it's Deirdree and sounds very dull.

bealos · 18/10/2014 12:47

Love Daphne! (despite the Scooby Doo connection)

Deidre is a bit to Corrie for me.

Deirdre or Daphne, can't decide which. Deirdre Ann, or Daphne Helen.
angeltreats · 18/10/2014 12:23

I met a baby Daphne recently. I didn't like the name before but it really suited her and she was gorgeous so it's grown on me.

My mum is a Deirdre. She's always loved her name funny enough, I think she'd secretly like us to use it as a middle name for our baby due next month if it's a girl, but she's got no chance! There's just nothing nice about it. Sorry mum, I do love you... She does sometimes get called Dee which I think suits her.

FrancisdeSales · 17/10/2014 23:50

Daphne is a great name.

DramaAlpaca · 17/10/2014 22:04

I'd go for Daphne, which has a kind of retro cool about it. I love Delphine, it's really pretty.

Deirdre would be just about OK, but very old fashioned, in Ireland. In the UK it would automatically be pronounced (as others have already said upthread) like Deerdree in Coronation Street - not nice.

Original poster
Sylviet · 17/10/2014 22:00

Lots of you Really love the name Daphne, and I think Helen or Helena gets a positive reception too.

I like the Greek connection. Daphne Helena.

Very sorry to all the Deirdres reading this thread, that your name is currently out of favour.

How anyone can think being called what sounds like an abbreviation of a yoghurt or bacon brand is 'cool', I'm not sure. Dana?!

Nae, I dana like it at all.

Diana is rather stately but also too heavily associative.

OP posts:
WasherCap · 17/10/2014 21:54

*Daphne

WasherCap · 17/10/2014 21:54

Deirdre is dire.
Daphane at a very big push.
Dana is cool, best so far.
Serena is ok
Venetia reminds me of the blinds.

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