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

Opinions on our vintage baby girls names please

60 replies

JonesSchool · 05/07/2017 15:36

I'm overdue, I'm hoping if we can finalise a name it might make baby want to come out (getting desperate here)
I would really appreciate people's views on the name choices below.
At risk of outing myself surname is in the username.

Am I a terrible parent to even consider giving this poor child the initials BJ?

Any other vintage type suggestions, or other mix up of names would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks

Nell Avaline
Betsy Rose
Florence Ava
Esme Nell
Nell Esme
Ruby Agnes

Rory Albert (I've included our one name suggestion for a boy, but reasonably happy with it)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
CamilleDesmoulins · 08/07/2017 10:53

I am a BJ. I have never had any issues around it. Also have no issues around my Nell's name.

roamingespadrille · 08/07/2017 10:51

In ds's swimming class this morning the girls were:
Pearl
Iris
Ida
Betsy
Ruby
Violet

Very popular types of name here!

Topseyt · 08/07/2017 10:49

Florence Ava for me.

glitterlips1 · 08/07/2017 10:45

I like Florence Ava

I can't stand Besty.

Other names
Sadie
Ivy
Iris
Primrose
Violet
Eliza
Rita
Dotty

MrsPringles · 08/07/2017 05:53

I'm currently loving the names Penelope and Alba

I like Nell and Betsy from your list the best Smile

nooka · 08/07/2017 05:01

I don't like diminutives as first names and think they look even odder as middle names. Nell is a bit abrupt with a short surname like Jones, but I assume you don't like Eleanor? Eleanor Jones sounds quite elegant to me. Elizabeth instead of Betsy gets rid of your BJ issue. The advantage of having a longer name with a few diminutive options is that rather than being known as (for example) Nell J your dd could choose Eleanor, Elle, Ellie or Nora if she wanted (my dd used a different variant of her name to avoid being one of a few popularname X's).

I'd also try quite hard to avoid a popular first name when you have a commonly used surname as your dd might be one of a few popularname Joneses which would be a bit sad.

Do you like Avaline or Agnes enough to use as a first name instead? I would have thought they are likely less common. Darker_Green only goes to 2015 but gives a good idea of trends.

NuffSaidSam · 08/07/2017 04:23

Love Betsy Rose, but wonder if Betsy is a bit cutsey on a adult?

Love Nell, but would go for a longer name and Nell as a nn.

Love Avaline too.

I think Florence and Esme are very 'now' and don't have a vintage vibe (but then neither does Rory). Ava is too popular, so overused.

Quite like Ruby.

Don't like Agnes.

How about:

Penelope Avaline (nn Nell)
Eleanor Ruby (nn Nell)
Margot Avaline
Nora Rose
Nina Avaline or Nina Ruby or Nina Rose
Faye Avaline
Dorothy Avaline (nn Dot or Dotty....Dotty Jones is ridiculously cute!)
Clara Betsy
Flora Rose
Hazel Avaline

Marcipex · 08/07/2017 03:47

No to BJ.
I like all your names except Nell. I know one who unfortunately does smell.

IntegritasAdSalutemVocat · 08/07/2017 00:25

Definitely Esme or Ava

27Harper · 07/07/2017 21:49

Lovely boys name choice OP! I personally am not a fan of Betsy. The rest I don't really like or dislike. Out of your list I would go with Esme maybe? I wouldn't give her BJ initials, kids can pick on imaginary things, nevermind quite obvious things. I really like Ivy. I know it's not on your list buts it's really pretty and seems to go with the rest of your name choices. Good luck OP! xx

autumngold6 · 07/07/2017 11:18

Ruby Agnes

Bellybootcut · 06/07/2017 22:45

Louisa Rose Jones sounds timeless. Also love Adelaide.

But from your list I like Ruby. Middle name Nell.

Not keen on Esme. There's loads at my DD school.

Kittykatmacbill · 06/07/2017 22:37

Love Agnes and nell.
Ruby, Ava and Florence are all really overused.

octoberfarm · 06/07/2017 17:56

Not sure whether anyone's mentioned it yet, but have you considered Adeline if you like Avaline?

ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap · 06/07/2017 11:56

Love Esme (prefer it with -MAY pronunciation, rather than -MEE, but the name's great whatever).

Love Nell, too. Works fine as a standalone name, IMO.
After all, the (very!) popular Mae was originally only ever used as a NN for Mary, wasn't it?

So I vote either Esme Nell, or Nell Esme.
Rory is also nice.

MammieBear · 06/07/2017 11:34

Nell Avaline lovely!

IrregularCommentary · 06/07/2017 10:21

Ruby Agnes for me.

hophop333 · 06/07/2017 10:16

Love the name Nell, we were going to use it for our dd2 (also overdue 😬), however for some reason it just sounded a little incomplete to us. Would be my favourite out of your list, though they are all nice!

SuperBeagle · 06/07/2017 09:56

roundthehorn I'd hasten a guess that you'd be in the minority pronouncing Esme as es-mee. Most people - Australian or otherwise - pronounce it Esmay.

SuperBeagle · 06/07/2017 09:54

I like Ruby best, but not Agnes.

Ruby Avaline would be gorgeous.

Not a fan of the rest of the names, honestly. They're just too old for my taste.

auntym · 06/07/2017 09:47

I like Florence or Esme best.Good luck OP!

mathanxiety · 06/07/2017 06:56

And a big NOOOOO to the initials BJ.

mathanxiety · 06/07/2017 06:56

Florence Ava is the only one I like.

BewareOfTheToddler · 05/07/2017 20:40

I think I like Florence Ava and Ruby Agnes best. Esme and Nell are both lovely names but I think each merits a longer middle name.

Esme Florence would flow beautifully Smile

You definitely can't give a child the initials BJ (even with an R in the middle)!

JustNotCoping123 · 05/07/2017 19:56

I like Nell, but given your surname I'd be mindful that Nell Jones was one of the Manchester bombing victims. This isn't an issue necessarily, but it's all so recent that it may attract comments/criticism you'd prefer not to have?

Ruby Jones works well too.