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

please rate these names?

41 replies

1horatio · 21/06/2016 22:01

  1. Clarissa (my favourite. But I didn't really consider it up to now because MIL doesn't like it...)
  2. Carlotta
  3. Miranda
  4. Erika
  5. Louisa (so so lovely, used to be a name I wanted for DC when I was in middle school. But it's a little bit... ordinary, imo. MIL loves it)

Godparents will be Raychelle and Brigham.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
1horatio · 24/06/2016 08:33

I've akways liked the name Louisa. Even when I liked fashionable edgy names (as a teen) Louisa was still a name I liked.

Using it as a middle name seems wasteful. What if we have another dd (wasteful seems harsh. I hope it makes sense ).
I once read that the oldest kid is usually the one with the greatest urge to fit in... So maybe Louisa or Clarissa would be better. But now that I have the chance to use L it has lost some of its appeal.

OP posts:
julfin · 24/06/2016 02:16

Hello Horatio!

I think you should go with Clarissa. Lovely name (and cute nicknames too). Ignore Mil - not your problem, and she'll soon get over it when she starts to associate the name with the baby.

The only one I don't like is erika (especially with the k, but either way to be honest).

I still love Louisa, I remember that being on your previous list. I'd suggest it as a middle name, but with Clarissa I think that's too many similar sounds - L S A.

Original poster
1horatio · 23/06/2016 18:54

But as long as any other LOs we'll (hopefully! I hope I didn't just jinx it) have don't have M names as well Miranda M probably wouldn't be too bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
1horatio · 23/06/2016 18:46

Annabella was on a namelist.... But ultimately didn't make the cut. Although it is super pretty! You're absolutely right.
Annika is Pippi's sidekick (to me) :)
But yes, I love (!) feminine, slightly elaborate a names. I think that's also maybe cultural. There's no female family member (I can think of) whose name doesn't end in a vowel, which usually happens to be an a... And even in my case my family adds an a, -ntine becomes -ntina....

OP posts:
Joinourclub · 23/06/2016 18:10

So you like 'a' names? What about: Camilla, Tessa, Annabella, Henrietta, Anika,

Original poster
1horatio · 23/06/2016 17:53

I personally don't like the name Miriam (because of the name's meaning but mainly because of 2 Miriams I know...)

I agree, Miranda is super lovely. But DD's last name will also start with an M... So, Idk. But there are just soo many lovely m names. Minerva, Magnolia, Mafalda, Morwenna, etc... But Miranda was the one that was just too lovely to rule out, despite the last name issue.

OP posts:
ShortcutButtons · 23/06/2016 11:23

I'm going to go with Miranda although I prefer Miriam.

Clarissa reminds me of the Two Fat Ladies. I
like the nicknames you suggested though.

Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 23:30

Louisa makes me think of white busy lizzies, for some reason (I honestly don't know why... ). Which I used to love. Now it's a bit 'meh'... :/
But yes, Miranda is imo gorgeous and not boring at all.

OP posts:
akorda · 22/06/2016 20:04

Miranda and Louisa are both gorgeous and far from boring...

Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 17:25

Louisa used to be my first choice. But I just don't really like it anymore. Or don't 'feel' it anymore. But Louisa is probably the most liked (or least disliked) of these top 5 names.

But thank you for taking the tine to comment.

OP posts:
pilates · 22/06/2016 16:55

I like Louisa out of your list, not keen on the others.

Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 12:53

I'm positively surprised by the feetback for Clarissa :)

Carlotta was given the boot, btw. Car lot is just too... easy to tease.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 22/06/2016 11:38

My opinion stands, then, fwiw. Wink

Go forth with baby Clarissa!

Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 11:15

I guess it's you're right. But if my sister (or my DD) have children and were to call one of them the name of my grandfather (who was an abusive arse) I'd be rather upset. But then again... Clarissa was not abusive, just a grinch, aparently... But no, I've never met her. Neither has DH, btw. (his greatgreat aunt was dead before he was born).

OP posts:
purplefox · 22/06/2016 11:07

If you didn't/don't know her and don't associate the name with her I don't see why it's relevant. Your MIL just needs to get over it, it's your baby not hers.

KoalaDownUnder · 22/06/2016 11:06

God no! Clarissa is beautiful. If you love it, use it. She'll have to deal (and she will, because she will totally fall in love with baby Clarissa, and the name will just become 'her').

Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 11:03

So, you guys don't think naming DD after MIL's grouchy great aunt is cruel/rude?

OP posts:
purplefox · 22/06/2016 11:00

I hate Carlotta, it just reminds me of a car parking lot. Potential for name calling at school?

I like Clarissa and Louisa, also Vanessa as someone else suggested.

Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 10:48

Yes! Clementine is so so lovely. But my own name ends in -ntine, plus DH's godchild. So this one is a nono.
Erica flowers are really pretty and I like the name. But seeing as its not my favourite and apparently American sounding (not that this is bad. The godparents are actually Americans)... Anyhow, I don't mind the criticism. You probably just wrote what people would think IRL. Which is the advantage of the internet in this case.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 22/06/2016 10:42

Also love Clementine, by the way!

KoalaDownUnder · 22/06/2016 10:41

I love Miranda to bits, and also like Clarissa. Actually prefer Carissa (without the 'L').

Louisa is pretty.

Carlotta sounds a bit masculine (no idea why; maybe just because I know a few boys called Carlo?)

I hate Erika, spelled either way. Dated, harsh, ugly. (Sorry - brutally honest opinion from total stranger!)

Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 10:38

Vanessa is such an 80ies name where I come from. Just like Jessica, Leonie and Jasmin (ok, those are more early 90ies late 80ies). All pretty names. But just not old enough to be cute again. If this makes sense....

But Vanessa is very pretty :)

OP posts:
saffronwblue · 22/06/2016 10:31

Love Clarissa and Miranda. Would you consider Vanessa?

Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 10:29

Well, DH and his sibblings went to private schools (I didn't go to school in the UK. But I did go to a private kindergarten and primary). So, "private school girl sounding" is not negative imo (but prissy, snobby etc obviously is).

My SILs kiddo (DH's goddaughter) is called Clementine (if it matters). Nns are Minty and Apricot (and Apree)... And Apree only has a rather vague fruity connection to the name Clementine...

OP posts:
Original poster
1horatio · 22/06/2016 10:19

Issa, Issie, Rissa, Clary/Clarie, Claris, Clee, Clover, Clare, Clay, Clar (like car but with an l), C, CC (ceecee), Keekee...Or some mix up between first and middle name.
Or a nn that doesn't derive from Clarissa at all. DH's nn doesn't seem to have a connection to his first name... But I don't really worry about finding a nickname, to be honest. Nicknames will be found (or invented) when needed. At least imo.

OP posts: