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Baby names

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

Original poster

Another 'help me with girls names' thread!

38 replies

clevername · 03/08/2017 12:39

I'm due in two weeks with my second and still haven't made a decision on names. Frankly, its making me jittery and I thought I'd turn to you guys for help...

If the baby is a boy we are pretty set on Wilfred. We totally love this name for so many reasons (not least the vast array of lovely shortenings) but we haven't found a girls name that we can use that we love as much. Feel like I've looked at EVERY SINGLE GIRLS NAME THAT HAS EVER EXISTED TOO...

Can't use (but do love):
Mabel
Polly
Flora/Florrie

Names that DP has vetoed:

Cecily
Pearl
Maud
Aphra (might be able to get this in as a middle if it works with chosen first name)

Names that we do really like and are on list:

Tabitha
Olive
Prunella (love that this can be shortened to Pru or Nell)
Constance (Connie - sounds really nice with surname)
Winifred (Winnie)
Dorothy (Dot)
Imelda (not sure on this one - don't really like 'Immie' or 'Mel')
Arabella (think we've more or less discounted this one though)
Edith (too popular?)
Agnes

DP suggested Vespa this morning which I think is awesome but a bit too out there... also can't shake images of scooters, bond girls and wasps!

DD1 is Violet. I seem to like vintage names that aren't too popular (had no idea Violet was so on the rise when we chose it for DD1. Ho hum) and that have lots of options for shortening. Surname is 2 syllable and begins with 'Cl' (which rules out a few I like, e.g. Cleo).

So, do any of you have any thoughts on current ideas or any suggestions? Please be relatively gentle... I'm hormonal and a bit sensitive at the moment!

Thanks!

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Original poster
clevername · 04/08/2017 09:17

Thanks yet again.

Not a fan of Margaret, I'm afraid, although I agree the myriad potential shortenings are awesome.

LOVE Posy. Think it can be short for Primrose (which I adore but can't have) or Josephine (which I'm not a fan of).

Hmmmmmm... so much to think about.

OP posts:
LostInTheColonies · 04/08/2017 00:43

If you like Margot, what about Margaret? Meg, Maggie, Peggy, Daisy, ... heaps more.

SuperBeagle · 03/08/2017 23:58

early30s Yes, Livia was the wife of Roman Emperor Augustus. It'll be quite a strong association for anyone who has studied Ancient Rome.

TheScottishPlay · 03/08/2017 23:41

I love Tabitha and Winifred.
What about Marion, Harriet (Hattie) or Rita.

early30smum · 03/08/2017 23:38

I don't love Olive, but agree Olivia is too popular. I know a child named Livia, nn Liv which I love! Apparently it is an ancient Roman name. I love Edith nn Edie, don't know if you like that? I love the name Posy, not sure what it could be short for though. Constance nn coco or Connie is really lovely. Isadora or Thea are also lovely, and Emmeline...

SuperBeagle · 03/08/2017 22:24

I like:

  • Tabitha
  • Olive
  • Winifred
  • Arabella

Not a fan of the others, particularly Prunella, Constance, Agnes and Imelda.

BlueChampagne · 03/08/2017 22:21

Mabel
Myrtle
Ida
Freda
Roberta

Though think Constance your best bet!

friedegs · 03/08/2017 22:01

Fenella nn Nell

Cornelia and Violet

Violet and Willa

ButterflyOfFreedom · 03/08/2017 21:39

Olive is fab!

As is Greta & Margot.

Dorothea
Una
Iona
Lillian
Eadie
Rosa/ Rosalie
Freda

Original poster
clevername · 03/08/2017 21:35

Wow! Loads more lovely suggestions and opinions - thank you! Unfortunately I can't have lots of them because they are already in use by family or friends (selfish fuckers...). E.g. Margo, Primrose, Clementine.

Indeed, I do like granny names! I think I'm the archetypal '100 year rule' baby namer - completely unintentionally but I suppose you can't change what you like.

I think maybe Prunella is a no, judging by the reaction here...

But Constance (with the equally gorgeous nns of Connie or Coco) is definitely a serious contender.

Tabitha is still up there, too (not bothered by the cat association for some reason. I also seem to be drawn to names that are often used for pets e.g. Rex (another one that I couldn't have as it's already been taken...))

And Olive - is it different enough from Olivia? Bizarrely I feel it is, even if they are only 2 letters removed from each other.

I do still love Winifred but I understand the 'holding out for Wilfred' argument... although I have zero intention of having another child (but things happen I suppose).

Mavis should have been DD1s middle name but we chickened out and went with May (seriously regret this now - we might even deed poll it!).

I do like Daphne but it makes me think of Ozzie soaps c. early 90s!

I LOVE Floriana but there is a Flora in the family - they share the same surname, will go to the same primary school, live in the same village etc so I can't do it, can I?

After all this, it'll probably be a boy... Ha ha!

OP posts:
akorda · 03/08/2017 20:48

I know a couple of Violets

Their sisters are called Iris
and Daphne

Personally I love Daphne and have only ever met one other little one with that name. Would you consider that? Means laurel tree.

17caterpillars1mouse · 03/08/2017 20:34

Firstly, I love Wilfred!

Now to the names

Tabitha - I cant shake off the imagery of cats. Have you considered Talitha which is similar?

Olive - love. It's on my list. Think the nn Liv is cool but also like Oli on a girl

Prunella (love that this can be shortened to Pru or Nell) - brilliant but I wouldn't be brave enough to use it. Plus I do slightly prefer Prudence

Constance (Connie - sounds really nice with surname) - lovely and sounds great with Violet

Winifred (Winnie) - hold out for a Wilfred lol

Dorothy (Dot) - gorgeous. It's one of my daughter's middle names

Imelda (not sure on this one - don't really like 'Immie' or 'Mel') - not a fan

Arabella (think we've more or less discounted this one though) - I like Arabella alot but prefer some of your other names

Edith (too popular?) - lovely but Edie is becoming rather popular

Agnes - like but prefer Agatha

My vote is for Olive or Constance. Or Prunella if your brave enough

I'll suggest...

Talitha
Mavis
Enid
Ethel or Ethelyn
Evangeline
Agatha
Meredith
Eden
Hazel
Arabel
Floriana

Horseshoe1 · 03/08/2017 19:53

You like granny names! I like Constance and am beginning to like Winifred. Dorothy and Agnes are both cool.
How about...
Joan / Joanie
Margot
Patience
Cora
Sadie
Emmeline
Vera

early30smum · 03/08/2017 17:43

Or Evangeline or Christiana?

early30smum · 03/08/2017 17:43

LOVE Wilfred!

I know a baby called Constance nn Coco so that definitely could work. I love Edith nn Edie.

What about Felicia? I like that with Violet. Or Josephine?

harrietm87 · 03/08/2017 17:13

What about Vesper (rather than Vespa)? Or Hester.

Love Prunella.

Also maybe Helena, Evangeline, Eleanor?

ConstanceCraving · 03/08/2017 17:01

Arabella is gorgeous. I would just go with that if it were me.

Jooni · 03/08/2017 16:14

Love Olive, Constance, Tabitha and Agnes.

Sorry OP, but I too think Prunella is dreadful! How about Fenella instead?

Or:

Felicity
Verity
Isolde/Iseult
Ingrid
Jessamy
Agatha
Bridget
Lilith
Alma
Amabel
Dinah
Blythe
Millicent
Louisa
Adelaide/Adeline
Celeste

Susiethetortoiseshellcat · 03/08/2017 15:57

I first thought of Constance to go with Violet and see that's on your list. Connie is very sweet.

Love the nn Nell but not Prudence. What about Helen to go with Nell? Could that be called vintage yet or is it a bit 80s?

SarahJonesS · 03/08/2017 15:43

Dulcie
Elizabeth variations Betty/Betsy/Beth/Lizzie
Berengaria
Bettina

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 03/08/2017 15:11

Noelle (Nell).
Ida
Blanche
❤️ Connie
Miriam
Vivienne (Vivi)
Valerie
Adeline

Chaffinch4 · 03/08/2017 13:59

Penelope with nn Nell could be possible?

Celestia26 · 03/08/2017 13:48

Constance (Coco) and Prudence (Pru) are lovely. Prunella really is awful (sorry op!), it sounds too much like Prunes! Greta is also a lovely vintagey choice and not too popular.

Original poster
clevername · 03/08/2017 13:19

Ha ha!!! Pruney!

OP posts:
Sequence · 03/08/2017 13:18

I really like Constance, Edith, Agnes and Greta.

I like Nell as nickname for Eleanor, rather than Prunella (which reminds me of prunes).

Cassandra (Cassie)
Felicity
Georgiana
Belinda
Esme
Rachel
Wilhelmina
Kathleen
Victoria
Hannah
Cora
Vanessa