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Baby names

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

Original poster

Do these names sound stupid with our surname?

104 replies

SurnameSchmurname · 25/08/2017 15:32

We're starting to compile a girls' name list and coming up against potential problems with our surname, which is W@terhouse.

Sone of our favourites are Flora, Iona and Wren but we're worried they sound a bit silly:

Flora W@terhouse = too horticultural?
Iona W@terhouse = sounds like "I own a..."
Wren W@terhouse = DH thinks this sounds like a birdbath?!

What do you think? Are we overthinking?
(@ is so this doesn't come up on google if we do go with one of these!)

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WaxOnFeckOff · 26/08/2017 01:38

Sticking with the generally Scottish/island theme, how about Ailsa, Vaila or maybe Lorna?

I don't think you could have Ophelia, oh feel ya w@terhouse. Sounds like wanting to cop a feel of your fanny.

SleepingStandingUp · 26/08/2017 01:11

John Major managed without being Jonathan

Tony Blair want known as Anthony Blair

Can I be Queen please because I have a proper name? Don't tell Kate...

Each to their own on preference of names but giving them a long one so they can be a Prime Minister of Queen seems a stretch

Puffykins · 25/08/2017 23:36

If you like Iona, what about Fiona? Or Ianthe?

Twistandshout77 · 25/08/2017 22:53

Argh no each to their own but I can't stand kids having nicknames as their full names. Meg for example would have to be Megan or Margaret in my eye.
I think you limit your kids if you give them a name that can limit them - think of them being a prime minister or queen and they'd probably need a full proper name.
You don't have to call them it on a daily basis and you can even register them at drs, school etc with their known as name but gives them options. Maybe that's why you think some of the names are too formal cos you aren't thinking of nicknames properly - jemima for example could be Jem, Matilda could be Tilly. Anyway maybe consider this and you might find a few more names open up to you.

PaganGoddessBrigid · 25/08/2017 22:49

lol at Penny Waterhouse! That'd be a no.

PaganGoddessBrigid · 25/08/2017 22:47

What about Florence Waterhouse (nn Flora)

PaganGoddessBrigid · 25/08/2017 22:47

I agree that your fears are not totally unfounded.

Lydia Waterhouse
Julia Waterhouse
Phoebe Waterhouse
Zoe Waterhouse

MakChoon · 25/08/2017 22:44

Flora and Wren both sound great. I'm actually not keen on Wren usually but it's pretty cool with your surname.

early30smum · 25/08/2017 22:39

Saskia was our original top choice for DD. We went for something else in the end but I still LOVE the name. Different without being weird. Saskia Waterhouse sounds lovely IMO!

BhajiAllTheWay · 25/08/2017 22:08

I'd go for a short name as the surname is quite long..
Jade
Sasha
Amber
Rhian
Deanna
Simona

NataliaOsipova · 25/08/2017 22:01

Iona is a definite no then, Flora a maybe, Wren a probably not.

My thoughts exactly! Flora W@terhouse is quite nice, I think.

Batteriesallgone · 25/08/2017 22:00

Helen apparently, according to an old MN thread.

Helena is nice as is Harriet

Batteriesallgone · 25/08/2017 21:57

Lara
Tess
Georgia
Theresa
Love Nell - is that sometimes short for a longer name?

Original poster
SurnameSchmurname · 25/08/2017 21:46

A close friend has a Freya so that's out

OP posts:
Original poster
SurnameSchmurname · 25/08/2017 21:45

I like Saskia!

OP posts:
3boysandalittlemummy · 25/08/2017 21:45

I like the name Freya, it's quite like flora xx

NikiBabe · 25/08/2017 21:43

I do think though that Iona may work as a middle name.

Alexandra Iona Waterhouse

For example

It doesnt sound like I own a waterhouse as much when paired after another name.

NikiBabe · 25/08/2017 21:42

You could have some fun with it.

Iona Scarlett Waterhouse
Iona Rose Waterhouse
Iona Violet Waterhouse

Grin

Isabella Rose Waterhouse

Is a bell a rose waterhouse?

Just kidding it's an awesome surname.

Plenty of lovely suggestions.

early30smum · 25/08/2017 21:41

OP I really like all the other names on your list except Zosia.

Some other suggestions, sorry for any repeats!

Phoebe
Zoe
Luna
Xanthe
Sylvie
Coraline
Cora
Ottilie
Margot
Seraphina
Cecily
Alice
Lara
Rebecca
Saskia
Lydia
Annabel
Clara
Josephine
Alexandra

youarenotkiddingme · 25/08/2017 21:37

Pippa and Zara are nice with surname.
Not keen on Meg but like Megan.

Backhometothenorth · 25/08/2017 21:37

Nell and Zara sound lovely

NikiBabe · 25/08/2017 21:35

Just choose and old timeless classic?

Elizabeth
Alexandra

Doilooklikeatourist · 25/08/2017 21:32

I don't think any of your chosen names work very well , though the least bad is Wren which I don't think is a name anyway
I would suggest ... Jennifer ( Jenny Wren )
Emma
Annabelle/ Arabella ( Belle ?)
Angharad ?

Original poster
SurnameSchmurname · 25/08/2017 21:23

Thanks for all the input!

We will be using a middle name but I want first + surname to sound OK too as that is used much more often in my experience. Iona is a definite no then, Flora a maybe, Wren a probably not. Backhome "Rainwater" hadn't occurred to me but I do see what you mean...

I'm not wild about any of the suggestions, sorry! Thank you for trying, though. I think I am quite fussy and like a lot of names in theory that just don't feel right in practice, IYSWIM. Miriam, Matilda, Eleanor, Emma, Anna, Kate, Cecily, Esme, Ida, Jemima - I like all of these but just can't see myself with a daughter called one of them, don't know why. Some of them feel a bit formal, maybe?

Other names I like are Meg, Nell, Merryn, Pippa, Zara, Zosia so we do have some options (though DH not on board with several of these) Angry

OP posts:
MammieBear · 25/08/2017 21:01

You can use them just put a middle name in to break it up.