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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girl's name help: if we like these...?

34 replies

bingeddybongo · 20/03/2016 13:28

I'm 36 weeks pregnant with DD and my husband and I have as yet failed to come up with a name for her that we really love. I'm happy to have a top three or whatever to choose from when she arrives, but we decided on DS's name (a proper grandad name) the day we found out he was a boy, so didn't have to put any effort into coming up with names at all. This time we're totally stuck and I'm really frustrated I am spending so much time worrying about it!

We'd like a name that works well in English and German and isn't wildly popular in either country. The names we quite like so far include:

Anna
Anya
Lana
Lara
Rosalind
Marlene (pronounced the German way: Mar-ley-na)
Lila (Lee-la)
Lilja
Lilianna
Julianne (Yu-lee-ah-na)
Emily
Matilda

I would be so so grateful for suggestions along these lines! Thank you :)

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AutumnRose1988 · 23/03/2016 07:03

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JudgeJudySheindlin · 21/03/2016 22:34

My German cousin is married to an Englishman. They have DDs named Laura (pronounced L-ow-ra) & Ingrid. They live in the UK & so they're forever having to say how Laura's name is pronounced! As you're in Germany I wouldn't worry about that issue.

I love Marlena & Lila out of your list. Try not to stress about it because the names you have listed are all beautiful

JeanGenie23 · 21/03/2016 12:33

I had the pleasure of looking after a beautiful Marlene (German mum) I only needed to be told once how to say and spell it, it's not that difficult!!!

smartyclogs · 21/03/2016 12:29

Liria......li-ree-ah
Liala.....lee-a-la
Lilia......lilly-ah
Are all names of women I know, bit confusing when we're all together!!

SchoenbrunnGelb · 21/03/2016 10:30

Personal experience says that Flora and Isabel work perfectly well in both cultural contexts if you like either of those?

JamieVardysParty · 21/03/2016 10:21

My two favourites at the moment are Vera and Adelaide.

How would these work in German?

Sgoinneal · 21/03/2016 10:17

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Original poster
bingeddybongo · 21/03/2016 09:41

Thank you all so much! Gretchen is considered a bit old school over here (and not in a cute way Wink) but I do like some of these other suggestions. We have taken to writing names and name combinations down and sticking them around the kitchen to see what grows on us. Hopefully she'll just come out looking like one of them!!

OP posts:
ByronBaby · 21/03/2016 06:47

Lena? Miranda? Ine?

HackerFucker22 · 21/03/2016 06:34

I think you'd have to change the spelling of Marlene to make sure you get the correct pronunciation. If I saw it written I'd think 'Mar-lean'

Sgoinneal · 20/03/2016 19:45

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WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 20/03/2016 19:29

Thewolf I actually prefer your spelling!

thisismypassword · 20/03/2016 18:34

I like Leela but that is how I'd spell it because Lila is pronounced Lie la and you/ she will forever be correcting people. My daughter has a phonetic name, said as its spelt and even though it's unusual people still ask how it's pronounced which i don't get.

MyBreadIsEggy · 20/03/2016 18:28

Not German...but I have a Dutch friend whose DD is called Eline, I think it's beautiful Smile

MadameJosephine · 20/03/2016 18:27

Missed the bit about you living in Germany do ignore me, go with Marlene

MadameJosephine · 20/03/2016 18:25

Love Marlene but I'd worry about the pronunciation as I think there's probably more people familiar with only fools and horses than Marlene Dietrich Sad

How about Annaliese?

Original poster
bingeddybongo · 20/03/2016 18:20

Hahaha I have no idea how you know how old I am but that's a very good point!

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 20/03/2016 18:02

If you are in Germany use it!

Marlene Dietrich is old to me, and I'm way older than you. Your 2016 born DD's peers won't have a clue.

Original poster
bingeddybongo · 20/03/2016 17:59

Ok thanks thickandthin, I was sort of hoping Marlene Dietrich might still be well enough known to have it pronounced right... oh dear, makes me feel old!!

But yes we do live in Germany and will probably stay here.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 20/03/2016 17:47

Could you spell it a different way .

Do you live in Germany op? If that's your Dds normal setting I wouldn't worry too much if it's her norm, and she just has to correct in the UK.

Thewolfsjustapuppy · 20/03/2016 17:45

Sorry Waitrose Blush I probably would have checked on the spelling before naming my imaginary DD Meriel!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 20/03/2016 17:43

With Marlene - I would hesitate before saying Mar-layna?

I think your average Brit would say Mar-lean.

Original poster
bingeddybongo · 20/03/2016 17:37

Oh wow, thank you everybody, for both input and suggestions, there's some lovely names there :)

And good point iyamehooru and ThroughThickAndThin01, thank you - my brain is obviously fried because that had been something I'd been thinking about and actually I like two of those three names only in German (Lila and Julianne) so I should have just crossed them off the list. My own name's not exactly complicated but I've had to spend my whole life spelling it, which has been really annoying. I do really love Marlene though - do you think it would get mispronounced a lot in the UK?

OP posts:
WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 20/03/2016 17:33

My name is Meriel I have never seen it spelled Merielle! Have had a life time of Muriel, Merrel, Mirrel and even Melvin though...

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 20/03/2016 17:32

Absolutely love Lana!