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

Are these girl's names too strange?

59 replies

MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 13:42

I've not discussed names with the other half yet - he's from the UK, I'm not (European/Israeli roots). I'm looking for a name I could use on the continent as well as here. I have a feeling my taste in names is a little too weird for the UK though :) Would really appreciate it if you could have a look at my 'long list' and let me know if they'd be too out-there! Which are your favourites?

Imogen
Yuna
Indra
Elisheva
Celeste
Delta
Orla
Tirza
Yara
Ophelia

Thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ashesandfire · 08/08/2015 21:58

Imogen is a brilliant name ;) (it's my name)
I also like Celeste and I think Elisheva is lovely.

LibrariesGaveUsPower · 08/08/2015 19:04

Elisheva is lovely, but may have pronunciation issues, if that bothers you.

The others vary from rare to popular but are all perfectly useable.

Nice list.Smile

ShadowStar · 08/08/2015 18:44

Tuna is surely just a spellchecker thing though?

Original poster
MaddieUK · 08/08/2015 17:53

Final Fantasy :) Can't say I played them all but I'm definitely a gamer, so I wouldn't even mind that too much. Can't shake off the Tuna reference now though!

OP posts:
MiaowTheCat · 08/08/2015 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

potap123 · 08/08/2015 09:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drinkscabinet · 08/08/2015 09:18

I like most of those names and don't think they are too out there. Indra is probably my favourite but DD1 has a similar name and I work with a lovely girl with a similar name so I'm biased.

Original poster
MaddieUK · 08/08/2015 09:12

Ha it doesn't mean 'foreskin' exactly - there's a biblical term referring to 'uncircumcised fruit' (and therefore not to be eaten I think) that is called 'orla fruit'. It's a good point though - 'Orli' is quite a normal name in Israel and Orla might be too close to that, but I think Orli sounds quite masculine.

OP posts:
Pandora37 · 08/08/2015 07:39

Orla apparently means foreskin in Hebrew so with Israeli roots I'd probably drop that.

I don't think the rest are too out there at all. You might have pronunciation problems with Elisheva but it's very very pretty.

HighOverTheFenceLeapsSunnyJim · 08/08/2015 06:05

The only Indra I know is a boy, it's a Hindu god I think.

I wouldn't worry about names being too 'out there', unless you are going to live in a tiny rural village somewhere. We live in a city (not London), I would guess that about a third of my child's school class have names from non-British cultural origin.

lunalovegood84 · 07/08/2015 22:49

I've never heard Elisheva before, but I really like it. Definitely my favourite.

MamaLazarou · 07/08/2015 19:58

They are all lovely. Imogen is very popular in the UK at the moment - noy sure if this bothers you.

tomatodizzymum · 07/08/2015 19:10

When I was teaching in the UK I taught an Imogen, Orla and a Yara. The others are not all that odd either.

TopCivilServant · 07/08/2015 19:08

I hadn't heard of all of them but they seem easy to pronounce which I think is helpful and they all have a nice sound to them. I think they are lovely names! Don't feel the need to pick an anglicised name.
The only one I didn't immediately know how I would pronounce is elisheva.

Original poster
MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 19:05

Yes like Una (UK pronounciation)... it's a popular Japanese name as well. But terrified now of the Tuna association!

OP posts:
JakeyBurd · 07/08/2015 18:51

I really like Delta and Elisheva. Also like Yara, although not a GoT fan so I wouldn't have made the association either.

Yuna is I take it pronounced like Una? I've never heard of anyone associating that with fish!

Original poster
MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 15:04

All the female members of my family (i.e. me, my mother, grandmother etc) have a form of Elisabeth as a first/middle name. The 'Elisheva' form has been my favourite since I was a child. Always thought it would be too uncommon as a first name though, so really considered it as a middle name. Surprised to see people like it!

(And I love GoT - completely forgot about Yara though! Seems the producers/George Martin have too ;)

OP posts:
marinacortina · 07/08/2015 14:59

Imogen and Ophelia are in Shakespeare.
Celeste and Orla are not that unusual. Orla is quite popular now.
Delta is quite familiar from the singer Delta Goodrem.
Indra - quite similar to India which has been popular, and Indira.

This leaves:
Elisheva - Hebrew form of Elizabeth, I like it a lot.
Tirza - probably more familiar as Thirza or Thyrza. Unusual but not unknown.
Yara - there is a character of this name in Game Of Thrones.
Yuna - is the only one I find completely unfamiliar.

HelenaJohannsen · 07/08/2015 14:13

Orla Celeste is lovely

Original poster
MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 14:11

Haha thank you :)

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 07/08/2015 14:03

I absolutely adore Elisheva and Indra. Your list is awesome!!

FelixFelix · 07/08/2015 14:01

Celeste is my favourite girls name at the moment. If I had another dd she would be a Celeste Smile

whatarethose · 07/08/2015 13:58

I love Celeste and Ophelia!

Glindathegoodwitch · 07/08/2015 13:58

Make sure that you show him them written down as well as spoken.. I found this helped with my DH!

Original poster
MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 13:56

Thank you very much for your comments so far - I'm a little bit insecure sharing the names I like with the husband for some reason. Almost as if it's too personal? Having said that, it's really helpful to read that you actually like some of these :)

OP posts: