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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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neverletgojack · 17/10/2014 19:31

squoosh
'a bit like Deirdre Barlow I suppose'
Grin Grin Grin Grin

free the weatherfield oneWink

OutragedFromLeeds · 17/10/2014 19:30

Deirdre is hilarious. You cannot call a baby that. I think it's in the open mouthed shock/snigger category of name.

I quite like Daphne. I knew a French girl called Daphne at school and she was really sweet, plus there is Daphne from Frasier and Daphne from Scooby Doo so for me it's not an 'old lady' name. More of a 'ditsy' name.

Serena is nice.

Don't like Venetia very much (particularly if your surname is 'Blind').

OneDayWhenIGrowUp · 17/10/2014 19:30

I like both! Like you OP I think Deirdre pronounced Deer-dra and it doesn't make me think of any soap characters or agony aunts. I think it sounds pretty cool and hip-granny-chic same as names like Mabel, Doris, Olive (all babies I've met recently, maybe MN wouldn't like those names either!). I think Daphne is lovely too, quite elegant.

squoosh · 17/10/2014 19:28

Askance in Irish mythology Deirdre was so breathtakingly beautiful that many kings fought to the death for her.

Similar in a way to Deirdre Barlow I suppose........

To me Deirdre is on a par with Aoife and Orla and Niamh all of which seem quite fashionable in the UK at the moment. I find them all equally dull though

RiverTam · 17/10/2014 19:28

Deidre is awful (sorry Askance!).

Daphne's pretty awful too.

There are reasons why some names fall totally out of fashion!

Serena and Venetia are really sloaney names.

neverletgojack · 17/10/2014 19:27

so basically....
Scooby doo or Corrie?

Roseformeplease · 17/10/2014 19:24

Deirdre = dreadful

Daphne, not much better and reminds me of Scooby Do.

What about Penelope?

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 17/10/2014 19:22

I like. Daphne.

YonicScrewdriver · 17/10/2014 19:20

Average age of marriage is closer to 30 than 20.

Even if it were 20, and she does change her name, I wouldn't call 20 years temporary in any context!

Askance · 17/10/2014 19:19

I am plain old Dee a lot of the time Sylviet (upgraded from DeeDee which I was called a a child) but I love it. Sounds friendly and chummy to me but clearly I am delusional in the minority with this thinking Grin.

FixItUpChappie · 17/10/2014 19:18

I have a friend named Deirdre (procnounced Deer-dra) - I like her but have always secretly thought her name not particularly lovely. Also she is forever correcting people's pronunciation of it.

I can't profess to love Daphne much either but I do think its better.

Bowlersarm · 17/10/2014 19:09

Only temporary Yonic because she may marry Mr Smith at 20, and be Deirdre-Daphne Smith for 70 years rending original surname virtually irrelevant.

Obs I know that is extremely unlikely as the DD's of MNers rarely change their names upon marriage.

YonicScrewdriver · 17/10/2014 19:02

Why is DD's surname temporary?

Dahlia? Davina?

YonicScrewdriver · 17/10/2014 19:01

Tina/Christina?

Tessa (is short e ok?)

Original poster
Sylviet · 17/10/2014 18:56

Marina suggests dolphin activities at 3pm.

Maxine sounds hard to me, as does Rita.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sylviet · 17/10/2014 18:54

Askance! Surely you have the sweetest diminutive ever! Do your friends and family call you what sounds like 'dear'?!

OP posts:
Bowlersarm · 17/10/2014 18:52

I think you are limiting yourself OP, with the strict criteria. Does it matter to your dd whether it flows in perfection with her - possibly - temporary surname?

Prefer serena and Venetia to the other two (awful) names.

Marina?

joanofarchitrave · 17/10/2014 18:52

Serena's OK. Prefer Marina. Or Maxine.

YonicScrewdriver · 17/10/2014 18:51

Yes, like both of those.

Nita? Rita? Nina?

OwlCapone · 17/10/2014 18:51

Lol @ Askance

I've only ever known one Deirdre the same age as me and she always called herself Dee.

I far prefer Serena.

Original poster
Sylviet · 17/10/2014 18:47

Do you like the names Serena or Venetia?

I was looking for a name with 'ee' after the initial consonant, ending in 'ah'.

(Hence Deer - dra!)

Though of course Daphne isn't fitting this mould at all.

(Looking for sounds that complement our surname.)

OP posts:
Askance · 17/10/2014 18:47

Gosh, my name is Deirdre. You can all feel free to blush Grin . Didn't realise I was saddled with one of the worst names ever! It has served me well so far OP and it was nice not to have the same name as half the class when I was in school.

NotTheKitchenAgainPlease · 17/10/2014 18:44

Daphne Helena does sound nice Temps.

NotTheKitchenAgainPlease · 17/10/2014 18:42

I'm afraid I have to agree with PP that if it has to be one of those two names then Daphne is much, much better than Deirdre. Sorry.
Deirdre sounds like dreary too.

Frikadellen · 17/10/2014 18:42

Daphne I LOVE it..