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Baby names

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Original poster

What do you think of these names? (please judge these as harshly as possible. That would be really awesome)

164 replies

ChippieBeanAndHorro · 11/03/2017 21:34

Carina
Susanna/h
Arielle
Ariella
Millicent
Helena
Eliana
Amynta
Serena
Louisa
Annabella
Annabelle
Erika
Antonia

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Pencilvester · 12/03/2017 19:13

I think you should go for Millicent, you really seem to love it!

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ChippieBeanAndHorro · 12/03/2017 19:10

norma

Eh, nope. :) That's one thing where anybody could say as much as they want, Elisabeth wouldn't get a z (I'm not trying to be rude, I really appreciated anybody taking the time to comment. You are all so lovely and helpful!!).
But Elizabeth with a z sounds pretty bad in German. And German is my first language (the language I also speak with DD but admittedly not with DH...)so, if it sounds weird in German it's just not going to happen, tbh. Blush

Yika I think so too. But not too delicate, if that makes sense.

raaah Louise reminds me of the film Charlotte & Louise, which used to be one of my little sisters favourites and I also really enjoyed it. (I was obviously too grown up to watch it alone. But this way I had an excuse... :) )

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Raahh · 12/03/2017 19:06

Forgot to say, of the rest of your list, I like Louisa. But have always had a soft spot for Louise. ( But I grew up when it was a very common middle name).

NormaSmuff · 12/03/2017 19:05

I would have to have Elizabeth with the z

Raahh · 12/03/2017 19:03

I have a Millicent, shortened to Millie. she's 10.5. She loves the name Millicent, and she is far from fuddy duddy, or tweeGrin.

Yika · 12/03/2017 19:01

I love Daphne. It sounds delicate, ethereal.

I also like Elisabeth.

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ChippieBeanAndHorro · 12/03/2017 18:49

Plus, I actually like the nn Millie. It's adorable imo Blush

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ChippieBeanAndHorro · 12/03/2017 18:48

Is Daphne really that bad? The only Daphne I know went to law school with me (not in the UK). And she's beautiful, elegant and really really smart. So, I guess I just associate great things with that name?

pencil
Well, at least the chambermaid would have a pretty name? imo of course Wink

flora (btw, I wish I could use that. But that name is absolutely and 100% taken in my family. Twice...).

Corisande is nice, but not that nice.

Melisande is nice. But Idk. I think Millicent is the prettiest one of these versions. And one with the least spelling issues. Hopefully...

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florascotianew · 12/03/2017 18:39

OP - have just read your cri de coeur on p 3 of this thread.

If you really like Millicent, but have - thanks to Mumsnet - been warned off because of its alleged disadvantages, including the very popular nickname Millie, then what about the French original of the name, which is Melisande or Melisende? A similar sort of name which would also go well with Clarissa is Corisande.

Early 20th cent English author J B Priestley wrote a book with the heroine's name as yet another variation: Melicent.

Pencilvester · 12/03/2017 18:17

Carina - I like this name a lot.
Susanna/h - ditto (definitely with the H)
Arielle - nice, unusual but not weird, easy to pronounce... A winner, IMO.
Ariella - nah. Too frilly.
Millicent - a silly joke name for a hen or comedy chambermaid
Helena - nice, but a bit too serious for a baby maybe. I'm thinking of the indominatable Helena Kennedy QC
Eliana - daft and made-up sounding
Amynta - a whatta?
Serena - love this
Louisa - a fine name
Annabella - v twee
Annabelle - nice enough but a bit daffy
Erika - she would spend her life correcting that spelling.
Antonia - LOVE

AmysTiara · 12/03/2017 17:56

Daphne is nearly as bad as Millicent

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ChippieBeanAndHorro · 12/03/2017 17:28

I sense a Little Mermaid theme here

I've actually never watched that movie!

But I used to have a picture book with the little mermaid original story of Hans Christian Andersen and I used to love it. Still really like that story, tbh...

Actually, I love fairytales in general. The original Grimm ones (or oother ones) are awesome and I tell them (like I remember them, I could read them, but it's different. Plus, having a book and a child in my arms... eh, nope) to DD when I have time;)

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WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 12/03/2017 17:22

Carina-Quite harsh sounding
Susanna/h-Nice, not too overused
Arielle-Just no
Ariella-Sounds like areola Shock
Millicent-Very old, wears cardigans and smells of mothballs
Helena-Lovely
Eliana-Meh
Amynta-Prefer Araminta
Serena-My favourite from this list!
Louisa-Boring
Annabella-Boring
Annabelle-Boring
Erika-I sense a Little Mermaid theme here Wink
Antonia-Nice but would get shortened to Toni

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ChippieBeanAndHorro · 12/03/2017 17:20

FatOldBag

when I read the handrubbing I expected much much worse, tbh ;)

Antonia- Toni for short ...just like the 80ies, again!

Well, if the LO ends up being Ellie (at least in our family) then that's one lucky child. DH's family give each other the weirdest nicknames. Then again, it seems to be a think in England. So, I'll just take it as a charming English custom Wink

DD is Chip/Chippie, after all ;)

What's wrong with being plan old Ellie, Kiki, Tori, Millie, Binky, Duffy, Buffy...? I'm genuinely curious, btw :)

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FatOldBag · 12/03/2017 17:12

Daphne is truly awful. 30 years ago for a Scooby-do character, fine. Now, not so much.

I wouldn't be sad at losing Eliana either tbh, it doesn't sound nice or princess to me! She'd end being plain old Ellie anyway.

FatOldBag · 12/03/2017 17:09

As harsh as possible you say?

Elisabeth - Nice, fine with an S
Susanna/h - It's not the 80s anymore.
Millicent - God no, this is an awful sounding name.
Helena - Lovely
Amynta - People will think you can't spell Araminta, also just no.
Serena - Meh, I've heard worse.
Louisa - Nice
Erica - Again, the 80s have finished now.
Antonia - Toni for short ...just like the 80s, again!

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ChippieBeanAndHorro · 12/03/2017 17:07

Although, saying goodbye to Eliana does make me a bit sad.

But I feel like having two girls, Clarissa and Eliana? THe Eliana sounds so overwhelmed by the sound of Clarissa.

Plus, the LO's name will be long, complicated, weird and imo quite harsh sounding. So, a very soft and frilly name? Wouldn't that be weird?

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ChippieBeanAndHorro · 12/03/2017 17:06

Shoot.

Daphne was supposed to go on that list.

I also like Eliana. I feel like it's a beautiful name, like a fairy tale princess. But it's just too whimsical and frilly, if that makes sense. Although it's a shame, because it is really very beautiful. Plus, the two possibly meanings are lovely and I like the fact that it's a name that sounds beautoful in Italian (my mother's first language).

Unless I feel in the mood for a fairytale when the LO is born? Probably not going to be Eliana...

Carina is one of my favourites. But if the name starts with car and if there's literally a car called (toyota) carina? Then that's just a bit too much "car", unfortunately. Which is a shame, because I do truly love it. But yeah, it's a child, not a motorised vehicle... (grumble. Why did toyota have to do that? Idiots.)

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ThoraGruntwhistle · 12/03/2017 16:49

Aww shame Eliana is gone, I thought it was lovely. I will now have to say either Susannah or Elisabeth, which is very pretty with the S instead of Z.

CakeRattleandRoll · 12/03/2017 16:39

Just read your revised list and my two favourites (Carina and Eliana) have gone! And what happened to Daphne? I like that too. Of the others, my favourite is Erica.

PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus · 12/03/2017 16:37

Susanna/h - ok, nothing special
Arielle - quite like this
Millicent - I like Millie but less keen on this. Makes me think of maiden aunts
Helena - my favourite from your choices, elegant, agree with your DH about the Hel-ayn-a pronunciation
Eliana - nope
Amynta - nope
Serena - dislike
Louisa - lovely, 2nd favourite choice
Annabella - reminds me of posh girls in Tatler who are snapped because they have famous parents
Annabelle - dislike but because of unpleasant person I know with this name
Erika - okay but glad you've been persuaded to the Erica spelling
Antonia - prefer Antoinette, Antonia sounds middle aged.

Really love a PP's suggestion of Aurelia.

FourKidsNotCrazyYet · 12/03/2017 16:33

My daughter is called Elaina (Elaine-ah) . Out of interest is Eliana pronounced Ellie-are-na? I actually think most of your names are pretty.

daisypond · 12/03/2017 16:32

Elena is quite a "foreign" spelling to my ears - very Spanish/Italian/Greek. Which is fine if that's what you want. I prefer Helena, but you'll get problems on how it's pronounced - Helen-a or Hel-ay-na.

Mathena · 12/03/2017 16:19

Also like Elena not Helena. My tastes are very normal. Araminta dreadful. The worst by far.
Antonia has lots of nns. Ana. Tania. Tonia. Anya. So versatile.

Mathena · 12/03/2017 16:18

Like Susannah, louisa, annabel (not annabella - too frilly with extra a)
Millicent is ok imo! Not sure but i dont dislike.
Love Marielle! (Another poster suggested)
serena is ok
carina - a car.

Arielle/a just too disney