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Baby names

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

Original poster

What do you think of these names?

66 replies

Cattenberg · 16/12/2017 23:26

My unborn baby is probably a girl, and I didn't think I'd struggle to name her, but I'm really undecided right now. My ideal name would be fairly unusual, but still easy to pronounce and spell, and feminine, but not too "frilly".

What do you think of these names? Do you associate any of them with a particular age group/generation? (I can't find much name data for the UK that goes back before 1996).

Oh, and feel free to be brutally honest. One of my friends has successfully put me off a few names by claiming they sounded like certain diseases.

Antonia
Serena
Selina
Esther
Rosa
Raina
Lila
Nina
Rialita
Marisa
Jacinta

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PhuntSox · 17/12/2017 15:42

Antonia is perfect, even better with Nina as a middle name!

margepowermum · 17/12/2017 15:36

Selina and Marisa are my favorites!

WhispersOfWickedness · 17/12/2017 15:08

Rosa! I have a 6yo one, never met another, hardly anybody has trouble with the spelling or pronunciation (aside from hcp when she was 6 weeks who called her Rozzer Confused). I love that it is strong sounding but feminine and has 'strong woman' associations. Mine is certainly living up to it with a very strong sense of justice already Grin

paddypants13 · 17/12/2017 14:59

I like Antonia, Rosa and Esther in that order.

snowbellina · 17/12/2017 14:55

I like Nina, Esther and Jacinta from your list.

SpecialAgentDaleCooper · 17/12/2017 12:29

I like Esther and Nina (which might be swayed by knowing a lovely adult Esther and Nina)

(I don't really like Rialita, Raina, Lila or Selina and the others I have no strong feelings about)

glitterbiscuits · 17/12/2017 12:23

My vote goes to Esther.

WowserBowser · 17/12/2017 12:16

I love Esther

dotdotdotmustdash · 17/12/2017 12:14

There was a Nina in school with me, she'd be late 40s now.

My DD18 knows a Rosa and Selina in her age group.

I know an Antonia aged 13.

I have a Leah. Might that suit?

Smoliver · 17/12/2017 12:10

Okay, I love your list. Four of those names are on my list at the moment and there's two that I like but can't use on your list too.

My favourites are (in order of preference):
Rosa
Lila
Esther
Marisa
Raina
Nina

CatInTheChristmasTree · 17/12/2017 11:37

Rialita and Jacinta are awful. Rialita doesn't sound like a name- it sounds like a disease.

I like: Antonia, Serena, Rosa, Lila, Nina and Marisa.
Serena and Lila are quite popular, modern-sounding names.

Esther is dull and Raina doesn't sound like a name. Why not just Rain, or Rana?

userabcname · 17/12/2017 11:15

I know a Nina in her early 30s. I know plenty of Roses/Rosies of all ages but I don't know any Rosas. I don't think these names are very common (where I live anyway). I am a secondary school teacher and can't think of any girls I've taught with these names either....if that helps!

Original poster
Cattenberg · 17/12/2017 11:08

It's really interesting to hear the opinions so far. I had no idea that Rialta was a brand of motor home, it just reminded me of Venice! I didn't know that Jacinta is unfashionable in certain countries either.

I've found the ONS data that suggests Esther peaked in the early 20th century (so that one might be ready to come round again).

I'm still not sure if Antonia, Serena, Rosa and Nina are associated with particular generations. If you know anyone with these names, how old are they roughly?

OP posts:
Codlet · 17/12/2017 10:26

My favourite is Esther (nn Tess or Tessa).

Also like Antonia, Lila and Marissa.

Dislike Raina, Jacinta and Rialta.

diddl · 17/12/2017 09:30

Marisa.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 17/12/2017 08:41

My neighbour, in her eighties, is called Jacinta (Jacy), I do quite like it.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 17/12/2017 08:40

Marisa, Rosa and Selina, are all very lovely !

MrsMoastyToasty · 17/12/2017 08:33

Definitely not Rialta. It's a brand of motor home.

Navegante · 17/12/2017 08:29

Antonia and Serena are my favourite. I wanted Antonia for my dd but we have a friend called Anthony who would be convinced we'd named her after him (he's just that type) so didn't go for it Sad

holidayqueriwifi · 17/12/2017 08:02

Selina is beautiful.

ImADingleDangleScarecrow · 17/12/2017 08:01

I like Nina & Rosa from your list. Serena is quite nice too. Really not keen on Lila or Esther.

userabcname · 17/12/2017 07:57

I love Serena - I think it's a beautiful name. From the others on your list, I like Rosa but the rest I don't think are as pretty.

ChocolateCrunch · 17/12/2017 07:55

I like Marisa from your list.

Koala2018 · 17/12/2017 01:29

My opinion:

Antonia - A strong masculine name with a lot of expectations. I'd hate to imagine an unattractive Antonia because it's already so masculine.

Serena - Beautiful name, not common and one I'm considering myself.

Selina - Uncommon, no associations with older generations. I could become quite fond of this if my DD would have a friend called this.

Esther - An older name, as obvious as it may be to me and you, I don't think everyone will pronounce it properly and your daughter may have to spell it out alot.

Rosa-

Raina - Sounds like a gypsy traveller name, do not like one bit. They often call their daughter things like this and 'Rainy'. Avoid.

Lila - Pretty but quite boring and it's very feminine and conventional, she's going to need a big personality to not be stereotyped as such. Also, she'll be asked to spell it as people may assume Lyla or Lilah.

Nina- Will be teased as it sounds like Neeenahh Neeenah the police/ambulance are coming!

Rialita - First time I've seen this, first opinions ugly and trying too hard to be unusual at the risk of giving DD a silly name she won't like.

Marisa - Neutral feelings towards it. Curious to what the nickname would be?

Jacinta - I don't like this one at all.

Bare in mind these are just my opinions, everyone will have different ones. Hope this is useful!

PinkCrystal · 17/12/2017 01:17

I like these ones
Serena
Esther
Rosa
Raina
Lila
Jacinta