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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls name help, strict criteria!

40 replies

Acunningruse · 26/05/2016 15:50

I'm 6 months pregnant with DC2 who we have been told is a girl. We are really struggling with names due to having a difficult surname. Our ridiculous criteria is as follows:

  • must go with our surname which is double barelled and begins with a 'shu' sound
  • Ideally one that wouldn't be given a short version/nickname
  • A classic name eg. Not Millie, Tilly, Molly etc

Ones we like but not sure they will work for reasons given above:
Eleanor (would inevitably be shortned to Ella/Ellie which I don't like )
Imogen (not sure it goes with 'sh' surname
Sophie (ditto?)
Nina (someone made 'neenaw' noise and put me off Angry)
Lucy (Ds name ends in 'y'/'ee' sound so not sure if twee together
Laura (sil name)
Emily (best friends Dd name)
Lydia (love this but just know family will do Hmm face)
Abigail (would be shortened to abby?)
Olivia (too popular?)

Any thoughts welcome!

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merlottime · 26/05/2016 17:39

Fleur
Rose
Maria
Emma
Grace

neonrainbow · 26/05/2016 17:11

Claudia
Aurelia
Francesca it can be shortened but lots oh nickname potential.

Dogolphin · 26/05/2016 17:07

Antonia
Alexandra
Frances
Henrietta
Louisa
Marianne
Ophelia
Penelope
Roberta
Tatania

Luckystar1 · 26/05/2016 17:06

Ruth?

Liska · 26/05/2016 17:04

I know two Imogens and I'm afraid both have been shortened to Imo. I love Lydia.

Niklepic · 26/05/2016 17:00

I have an Olivia. She very quickly became Liv.

Pythonesque · 26/05/2016 16:59

Meant to say, if you can't see Anna - does Hannah, or Annabell(a) appeal at all?

Pythonesque · 26/05/2016 16:57

Names that can't be shortened sometimes get lengthened instead, I don't think you can entirely avoid nicknames. You can control them to some extent though. My two have 3-4 syllable names and have mostly not been shortened, I also have only rarely been shortened (my husband remembers his 1 syllable name being lengthened at primary school though!!). Another option is to have a name with a nickname/ pet name that you like and use that deliberately when they are little. And of course some names have a large number of alternative forms to choose from. Agree that it's good to try to think about how names work together / avoid particularly obvious nickname problems!

My niece is a Charlotte followed by a Sh sound - but they have deliberately called her Lottie which makes it pronounceable!!

AdoraKiora · 26/05/2016 16:45

Alice
Lillian
Eliza
Beatrice
Lucille
Marianne
Rosa
Juliet

Love Nina, though!

CatladyC · 26/05/2016 16:43

P.s I really like Imogen

CatladyC · 26/05/2016 16:42

Niamh (Neave)
Erin
Ivy

Can't really think of anymore that can't be shortened.
That's a tough one!

(Congrats btw!)

CPtart · 26/05/2016 16:41

Natalie, Alicia, Louisa, Faye, Erica, Cara, Meredith, Esther.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 26/05/2016 16:39

I don't know what to advise really. Classic names are usually long and long names do tend to get shortened, which you seem to have an issue with. I mean you can say till you're blue in the face. It's Abigail not Abbie, but your DD might want to use Abbie.
Anyway. I'll try.
Mary
Clara
Grace
Jane
Rose
Rosa
Emma
Lucia
Amy.
Most of these names though, can be messed with. Jane (Jay) Lucia (Lou)
Emma (Em) my sister is Aimee., she's just Aim.
I'm a Clare and you can't do anything with that.

ABitAsleep · 26/05/2016 16:29

Hazel
Harriet
Hailey
Juliet
Jemima
Joanna/e
Alice
Elise
Erin
Tara
Tamsin
Samantha
Serena
Rachel
Rhian
Mia
Maia
Martha
Wendy
Nancy
Norah
Lauren
Leanne/a
Claire
Clara
Keira
Katrina

Original poster
Acunningruse · 26/05/2016 15:54

Should also have added 'Anna' which DH absolutely loves and it does meet our criteria I just can't imagine calling DD it, just not keen can't really articulate why.

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