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Baby names

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

Original poster

Strong girls' names

133 replies

Rainatnight · 05/12/2016 20:45

I'd love to ask for your thoughts on strong girls' names. I'm not madly keen on the Poppy/Millie/Esme girly names that are popular at the moment, and would like something strong and elegant.

(Not much to ask!)

We are adopting and never thought that we'd have the chance to name a child ourselves, but it's looking like we're about to be matched with a young baby whose name the social workers will advise us to change for security reasons (if we are lucky enough for the match to go ahead Smile)

Many thanks!

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Waterfeature · 13/01/2017 22:02

Your shortlist is lovely.

Best of luck with your new family!

HopingForALittleOne · 13/01/2017 20:02

Congrats Rain and thanks for the update. All the best to the start of your new little family and all your final
Choices sound good xxxxFlowers

Sophronia · 13/01/2017 19:22

Congrats! I like Margaret and Frances best from your shortlist.

sartra · 13/01/2017 18:25

Katherine
Isabelle
Victoria
Charlotte
Emma
Eleanor
Sarah
Beatrice

All good strong names

Original poster
Rainatnight · 13/01/2017 18:15

Hello,

Just a quick update on this following everyone's good wishes. We've been officially matched with our little girl! We've met her and she is completely amazing. She's coming home soon.

On the names, we really have to make our minds up!

Shortlist is
Florence (by far the girliest but the one we have the strongest agreement on)
Margot
Margaret
Frances

OP posts:
Marcipex · 05/01/2017 03:32

Zoe is lovely.

Rowan
Caroline

Mclaren37 · 05/01/2017 01:50

Camille, Jemima, Georgia, Margot, Cecelia, Agathe, Meredith, Stella. All strong names that I also love. I think a strong sounding name also has to have some style and whimsy to it for me to really like it. There are plenty of strong sounding but imo slightly unexciting girls names.

HopingForALittleOne · 05/01/2017 01:14

Fingers crossed for you xx

I read somewhere that a 'K' sound can be strong. Perhaps the kardashians have heard this too so any of their names if you could be tempted or perhaps

Camilla
Cornelia
Claudia

You could also look at list of top women in business and see if any jump out at you.

Like you I would like a strong name rather than soft or flowery so paying attention to letters / consonants in names. ( this sounds really stupid but I find names that end in 'ee' sound make my mouth start to form a smile at end so in my head seem softer ( Sophie, poppy, Emily Chloe etc) I seem to prefer ones that end with 'a' sound ( Diane, Claudia, Theresa )

Perhaps what sounds strong also depends on people you know/ experiences / your perception

Best of luck xxx

xkxate123 · 30/12/2016 09:06

Stella and Bella seem strong names.
Georgia, Anna (not Annie!)
Also I think Georgie. X

GoldenWorld · 20/12/2016 21:37

I'm going to try and suggest some I don't think have been mentioned yet, or not been mentioned much. Sorry if any are repeats!

Cleo
Zara
Laura
Claire
Xanthe
Margot
Evelyn
Theodora
Sophia
Ruby - lots would class it as cutesy but I actually think it's quite strong sounding
Julia
Alice
Caroline
Tabitha
Georgia
Claudia
Beatrice
Eleanor/Nell
Florence

DoYouRememberJustinBobby · 20/12/2016 20:58

Very excited to hear your match is going ahead. I hope it goes as smoothly as possible.

Beebeeeight · 20/12/2016 20:05

Names that don't end in vowel sounds tend to sound stronger eg

Helen
Astrid
Cerys
Anne
Beth
Alex
Hazel
Charlotte
Miriam
Enid
Eve
Ruth
Lauren
Morgan
Kate
Lynn
Harper
Piper
Taylor
Tyler
Shannon
Carol
Jean
Quinn
Louise
Bridget
Vivian
Yvonne

Manumission · 20/12/2016 19:52

Seren
Scarlett
Eve
Alix

Girlwhowearsglasses · 20/12/2016 19:42

I love Hero, Boudicca, Hera, Hedda, Frida

I'd go with 'in top 100' though as suggested upthread. Even something like Anna or Sara are quite strong-sounding and not so unusual.

Very best of luck with it all

darksideofthemooncup · 20/12/2016 19:21

Hero. I have a friend called Hero and she is one of the best people I know

ViewBasket · 20/12/2016 19:16

Cara
Natasha
Bethan
Olivia
Lois
Carla
Pearl
Gemma
Thea
Jessica
Kirsten
Rhona
Tabitha
Darcy
Tara
Kathleen
Catriona

AutumnalLeaves38 · 20/12/2016 14:42

Flowers Wonderful Christmas news for you all to hear the match is going ahead.

Wish you and your daughter a very happy life together!

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 20/12/2016 13:28

I know a Meredith and think its a really nice name, I also like Bonnie but thats an 'ie' so out obviously Xmas Wink

My friend recently had a Bronwyn which is a good strong name.

Clara
Hannah
Lydia
Matilda
Harriet is nice Xmas Smile

Good luck op

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 20/12/2016 13:18

Rain, how wonderful, all the very best.
Ellen
Rosanna
Maude
Frieda
Ida
Harriet
Susan

Original poster
Rainatnight · 20/12/2016 13:00

lovelearning We had never planned to change our adopted child's name and I'm fully aware of the importance of supporting our adopted child's identity and making sure that we support them to make sense of their life story. We have done considerable training on this and it will be a priority for us throughout our child's life.

At the same time, social services have asked us, for security reasons, to change the child's name, so that's what we'll be doing.

OP posts:
srslylikeomg · 20/12/2016 11:38

Oh also, Beatrix is wonderful!
Alexandra
Cleopatra
Ramona

srslylikeomg · 20/12/2016 11:34

Love learning: the op has stated the social workers have advised changing the name. You even quoted it! Advice on the name was asked for nothing else.

lovelearning · 20/12/2016 10:33

a young baby whose name the social workers will advise us to change for security reasons

Every adoptee faces adversity in life. That is the nature of adoption. As an adopted parent, you have a duty to do everything within your power to minimise that adversity.

Many adoptees are profoundly unsettled by loss of Identity. Change the baby's name, and you are not only compounding the problem; you are quite possibly creating it.

Forego your own desires, and do what's best for your child.

Be honest with her about where she came from and who she is.

Don't change her name.

WutheringFrights · 19/12/2016 22:49

How about Meredith? When my Meredith was born my Dad said it was a strong name ... she is certainly strong willed Grin

Original poster
Rainatnight · 19/12/2016 22:45

It looks like the match is going ahead Smile Thanks again for all your good wishes.

I love Beatrix and Harriet.

Ms Definitely strong sounding rather than specifically after a strong woman. (Though now that you've mentioned it, I wouldn't rule it out).

getting Victoria is lovely but wouldn't work with our surname sadly.

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