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Baby names

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

Original poster

Our shortlist - opinions?

32 replies

ParsleyCake · 03/11/2014 20:27

Wow, turns out that once you are actually pregnant, baby names become a very serious business and long time favorites suddenly don't seem suitable!

Anyway, we are looking at unusual but non-bullying inducing names, ideally with a 'magical' or 'different' feel to them...so far, these seem to be unisex and unusual to the point of being very rare as names.

Boy: Griffin/Griffyn
Girl: Cleo/Griffin

What would you think if your friend named her child one of these?

Also, I would prefer a long verion of Cleo and Cleo just be the nick name, but I'm not keen on Cleopatra! Ideas? I made up Cleophreia (Cleo-freya) but it sounds too pretentious

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AnotherGirlsParadise · 06/11/2014 15:46

I know an Avalon, we call her Faff Grin

Griffin is lovely for a boy. Cleo/Clio on its own is quite enough - it doesn't need lengthening.

shakemysilliesout · 06/11/2014 15:43

Griffin makes me think of puddle lane griffle

florascotia · 06/11/2014 14:55

Lois - I agree that Maeve is nice. In Irish mythology she is a very powerful queen; her name means something like 'intoxicating'. Her adventures make exciting reading. The Irish spelling is Maedhbh. ae = ay; dh=y; bh = v. For more info: www.standingstones.com/gaelpron.html

In England, faint memories of lost/overheard Celtic traditions meant that some Celtic heroes and heroines appeared in English folklore (and subsequently Shakespeare's plays) as supernatural creatures, ie fairies.

loislines · 05/11/2014 13:22

What about Maeve for a girl? Queen of the fairies, I think. It does have a long Irish spelling too, which is where queen Mab comes from.

avocadotoast · 04/11/2014 22:25

I like Cleo. Griffin makes me think of the BNP though.

florascotia · 04/11/2014 17:33

Sorry - 'Gruffuth' should be 'Gruffudd'. Don't know what happened there!
And this link should work:
www.behindthename.com/name/gruffudd

florascotia · 04/11/2014 17:31

OP, I really, really don't want to sound negative, but if a friend of mine was thinking of 'Griffin', I'd say:

  1. I wouldn't use Griffin for a girl. Griffin (or Griffyn) is a version of the Welsh name Gruffuth or Gruffydd, which is based in part on a word meaning 'Prince'.
[http://www.behindthename.com/name/gruffudd]]
  1. The ancient Greek/Roman monster (usually spelled Griffin or Gryphon in English) was also male; it was sometimes called the 'the king of all creatures'.

I think Griffin (or Gruffydd/Griffith) sounds rather good for a boy, but:

  1. Griffin/Gryphon is a very popular name for schools in England. This may not matter - schools are usually good places - but, if you'd like to check, just Google 'Griffin schools' and see.
  1. It's also the surname of a recent leader of the British National Party. But he may no longer be well-known by the time your baby has gown up.
moxon · 04/11/2014 14:38

Can you not get a name with Cleo on the end? So rather than Cleopatra, Patracleo(n). Except obviously not that. I just can't come up with anything. Hmm

Guin1 · 04/11/2014 14:14

I like Griffin (nn Griff) for a boy, but not for a girl.
I'm in Australia where Cleo is the name of a well known magazine, similar to Cosmopolitan, so I can't get away from that association.
Of previous suggestions, favourites are Orion, Ariel, Xanthe and Morwenna.
Another possibility is Elowen (Cornish name meaning elm tree).

CiderRules · 04/11/2014 14:14

Cleo could be a nickname for Cleone? (Possibly pronounced Cleeonee, not sure!)

Viviennemary · 04/11/2014 14:09

Never heard of Griffin for a child. Nor Cleo. Don't like either of them very much I'm afraid. Do you like any other names.

Original poster
ParsleyCake · 04/11/2014 14:06

Xanthe, Torin, Briar also good. I like Orion too but its already in use as my friend's cat's name lol

OP posts:
Original poster
ParsleyCake · 04/11/2014 14:04

SlinkyB, Thank you, I love Merryn!

OP posts:
Riverland · 03/11/2014 23:43

Cleodagh.

Imo Cleo is good enough to stand as it is, doesn't need to be lengthened, but Cleobel is rather nice.

Griffin is a nice name for a boy.

TempsPerdu · 03/11/2014 23:33

Sorry, just read your criteria and realised most of my suggestions are on the long/flowery/pretentious side! Will have another think...

TempsPerdu · 03/11/2014 23:30

Cleo is fab, although personally I'd spell it Clio, like the muse (or the car, I guess, but I still prefer this spelling!)

Griffin is good too - sounds cool, without being too 'out there'. Makes me think of Harry Potter and Hippogriffs. Not great for a girl though.

Rowan is my other favourite of the suggestions so far - genuinely unisex, but especially love it for a girl.

A few more:
Calypso
Persephone
Xanthe
Morwenna
Aster
Calliope
Avalon
Elysia

Orion
Caspian/Cassian
Zephyr
Torin

mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 03/11/2014 23:11

If my friend used these I'd say; Cleo isn't the worst I've heard, but Griffin, really, have you lost your fucking mind?

Pandora37 · 03/11/2014 23:07

Also thought of Raven for a girl. Or Rowan? Could easily be for a boy or a girl. Aubrey, Indie, Dakota, Devon?

Ye110w · 03/11/2014 22:59

what about Cassiopeia instead of caliofreya.

Cassiopeia way too bonkers for my taste! I like Clio though

Pandora37 · 03/11/2014 22:56

Wren for a girl?

Mel0Drama · 03/11/2014 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trisarahtops · 03/11/2014 21:20

Hmmmm - how about:

Girls: Briar, Eden, Nova, Ember

Boys: Carter, Hunter, Orion, Dale

SlinkyB · 03/11/2014 21:14

Fern
Bracken
Meadow
Merryn
Mirren
Fox
Arlo
Bran
Rickon
Tyrion

Yes I like Game of Thrones!

Original poster
ParsleyCake · 03/11/2014 21:05

Thanks. I prefer Griffyn for a boy too, it's just that I first heard it as a girl's name (spelled '-in')
Ariel - I actually know an old lady called this, if you can believe it! Do like it a little tho
Titania and Columbine - far too posh for our surname
Merlin - don't like it sorry
Oberon - already considered as a middle name actually, but too posh for hubby lol

Think, short, unisex and very unusual but need to not sound posh or pretentious. Our crossed off list includes Kestrel (girl) for instance

OP posts:
babyblabber · 03/11/2014 20:51

Griffin unusual but nice for a boy. Definitely not for a girl. Cleo is lovely itself, no need to lengthen it just for the sake of it.

Cliona is pronounced cleena or cli-uh-na so nothing like Cleo

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