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Baby names

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

Original poster

Do you like Ottilie?

116 replies

Marmaladedandelions · 06/04/2015 21:06

For DD due in the summer?

I'm really struggling with names and just can't decide - go from one to the other. I don't know any other Ottilie's but at the same time it isn't vastly unusual, I don't think.

If you don't like it, feel free to make other suggestions!

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fruitpastille · 08/04/2015 00:04

What about Matilda/Tilly?

HolgerDanske · 07/04/2015 23:50

I never thought of that either, heh.

Seriously though, I love the name. And I reckon most people wouldn't make the marg connection. It goes better with the other names than Summer and Skye would - as others have said, they are really not from the same end of the spectrum IMO.

Original poster
Marmaladedandelions · 07/04/2015 23:43

Probably because it rhymes with 'silly' :)

OP posts:
HolgerDanske · 07/04/2015 23:41

If it never crossed your mind then it's probably going to be ok - It hadn't crossed mine either till I read this thread. But now there is an unfortunate margy association in my mind. You could try it when baby arrives and see if anyone notices. If not, you're alright. If hundreds of people start making margarine jokes you might have to come up with a nickname Grin

I've never considered Tilly a ditzy name, but these things are subjective I guess Smile

Original poster
Marmaladedandelions · 07/04/2015 23:29

I have to admit Ottilie and butter isn't something that had crossed my mind - not sure really about Tilly. It's okay as a nickname but it's a bit 'ditzy' sounding.

OP posts:
HolgerDanske · 07/04/2015 23:27

I like Ottilie a lot. If I was going to have another daughter it's my first choice. But yeah, together with Flora it might not be ideal. In your shoes I'd probably use Tilly as a nickname to avoid the marg connection.

Janethegirl · 07/04/2015 23:24

No, I do not like your choice, however it's your call!

tilbatilba · 07/04/2015 23:22

I love all your names but Otillie is beautiful and goes very well with the other two.

Original poster
Marmaladedandelions · 07/04/2015 23:17

I only really like Imogen from the above list Blush it is a possibility, but it's quite popular round here. I don't mind popular exactly but I wonder if it might be a little dated?

OP posts:
1944girl · 07/04/2015 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

switchitoff · 07/04/2015 22:21

I don't like the name Ottilie. I can't hear it without thinking of Utterly Butterly. And combined with Flora, you would have a rather awkward "margarine" theme going on!

Here's my suggestions which I think go well with Flora and Edward:

Thalia / Talia / Natalia
Xanthe
Susannah ("Susie")
Annabel
Imogen

tilder · 07/04/2015 22:16

I love Edward and flora, but am not a huge fan of ottilie. I would assume you were a mumsnetter though; in a similar vein to someone with a baby called romilly.

Original poster
Marmaladedandelions · 07/04/2015 18:59

We don't generally go massively for nicknames here for some reason. Ed and Flo sounds a little too like 'ebb and flo'!

I'm still not decided - I wish I could name this child once and for all!

OP posts:
Pookamoo · 07/04/2015 18:59

Argh, phone typing! Sorry!

What i was trying to say is we had never heard of it, but there are others of all ages in our quite small town.

Pookamoo · 07/04/2015 18:56

Love it.

We have a 3yo Ottilie. Nn ottie rather than Tilly. We are not posh.

Chose the name from a baby names book and had never even heard of it before. Apparently there is anoth similar age in our small town, twoolder, teens, one adult) similar age,

Alisvolatpropiis · 07/04/2015 18:46

I do but pronounced the German way (it is of German origin). I really don't like the more commonly heard French pronunciation.

ZeroFunDame · 07/04/2015 14:03
Easter Grin
Sossidge · 07/04/2015 14:03

I know, zero, but some names only work in one accent, my relative is considering a name for her kid that I cannot pronounce at all (it's an English name), at all some names get brutalised by those of us who crunch our vowels or roll/don't roll Rs, drop H's, etc. but it's something to think about, I remember a thread where someone wanted to call their kid something beginning with H, but lived in a city where H's were dropped, so she heard lots of little 'arry, 'ope, 'arriets getting screeched at in supermarkets!

ZeroFunDame · 07/04/2015 11:50

But Sossidge people from anywhere in the world can travel as well. I'm not sure running every name in every language through a worldwide brummieometer (say) is entirely practical or even desirable.

Sossidge · 07/04/2015 11:02

The problem with that name is it sounds awful if anyone outside of Southern England tries to say it. I'm in N.I. Where T's in the middle of words aren't pronounced, so it would be 'oddilly', the people in coronation street (Manchester?) would say 'aw-illeh', imagine it in Scouse, Geordie, brummie, etc. etc. and European accents, she could end up anywhere in the world in her life, and it does sound a bit like 'utterly'...

Original poster
Marmaladedandelions · 07/04/2015 10:13

I don't like any of them Blush sorry! Quite like Odette (love ballet)

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florascotia · 07/04/2015 10:12

Ottilie = originally German and a version of Odilia (and originally pronouned Ott-teel-ee-yah); often pronounced Ott-eel-ee in France and UK, however

What about Ginevra, Jessamy, Dorothea, Richenda, Juliana, Mirabel ...

ZeroFunDame · 07/04/2015 08:14

Oh goodness - had forgotten about that!

Original poster
Marmaladedandelions · 07/04/2015 08:12

Not sure about them though I don't know why, although I suspect not really liking Esme is because of twilight!

OP posts:
ZeroFunDame · 07/04/2015 08:10

It's one of my favourite ever names. But I love Ottoline as well.

Your previous names are very short and simple so you may not want to use Annunziata or Clemency or anything gloriously cumbersome. Cosima might be a little too grand as well.

Something like Hebe or Esmé as alternatives?