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Baby names

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

Original poster

Isadora, Dorothea, Callidora, Minodora...?

83 replies

horatioisabrick · 04/01/2018 10:54

What do you think about these and other "dora" names?

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MakeItStopNeville · 04/01/2018 16:32

I love the name Pandora. However, the Pandora at my school used to get a lot of comments about the guys “getting into Pandora’s box”. Obviously this was circa 1992. Hopefully schoolboy humor has improved circa 2036!

Original poster
horatioisabrick · 04/01/2018 16:26

My now-teenager isn't keen on her own name but one summer we sat down and explored alternative names or nicknames that she could introduce when changing schools if she wished

that's one of the reasons I like longer names. The nn options...

Adora is nice but too "adorable" imo. Thanks. :)

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autumnkate · 04/01/2018 16:14

Adora? It’s a real name.

Pythonesque · 04/01/2018 15:59

I didn't like Dora enough even for a middle name which was a problem as my husband was keen - maternal grandmother's name. In principle I would have liked some of your suggestions which might have been a good way round it; however actually none of them had manageable initials. We wanted to avoid doubling our own initials, and have a surname that absolutely rules out several other initials - so all in, A,E, I, K, P were all definite non-starters, and a few others a bit suspect too. Wondered about Dorothy but Dotty is such an obvious shortening - and again would have had adverse consequences with our surname. I had enough teasing as a child with my own surname that I wasn't prepared to risk it!

Good luck coming up with the right shortlist. My now-teenager isn't keen on her own name but one summer we sat down and explored alternative names or nicknames that she could introduce when changing schools if she wished - and she didn't like any of them either so has stuck with it!

Original poster
horatioisabrick · 04/01/2018 15:45

Tinty
No problem. Boy's names are sorted ;)

(We already have two DDs and I genuinely love their names, which makes finding a 3rd girl's really difficult...)

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MaisyPops · 04/01/2018 15:38

They're a little too twee for my tastes.
Isadora is quite nice and gives multiple options for nicknames

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/01/2018 15:38

Dorothea is lovely. What about Dorothy? I like both. I would go for Dot or Dotty or Thea for a nickname, though. Not that keen on Dora, so not very helpful to you, OP!

Tinty · 04/01/2018 15:37

Pandora is lovely. I also like the nn Panda Blush. Now what do you do when DC is born and you discover she has grown a winky sorry all biological terminology correct mumsnetters, I of course, mean a penis and is a boy! Grin.

RatRolyPoly · 04/01/2018 15:33

The myth wouldn't bother me at all; in fact I might even quite like its mythical connection.

Medora's nice too, although it makes me think of Midori, the delicious, dayglow-green melon liqueur; which isn't an entirely bad thing Wink

Original poster
horatioisabrick · 04/01/2018 15:32

Pemba

Yes, Dora is a lovely nn imo :)

I rather like that Pandora doesn't have any religious connotations, tbh. (well, unless someone happens to worship the Greek deities.)

But the possible stigma (because of the Pandora myth) does worry me a little.

Is Callidora "too much"?

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Newrules · 04/01/2018 15:14

Really not keen on any of them but love Pandora!

Pemba · 04/01/2018 15:10

Pandora has a nice sound, and I don't think the myth would bother anyone, but does nobody else think of Adrian Mole? Pandora was his love object, she had 'treacle-coloured hair' apparently and eyes like his dog!

'I'm profoundly in love with Pandora
My poem has an intellectual theme
The tenderness with which I adore her
Goes all bouncy in my dreams'

As in the Ian Dury theme tune.

buttercup54321 · 04/01/2018 14:56

just Dora. The others are too fanciful.
Doreen?

Original poster
horatioisabrick · 04/01/2018 14:44

rat

Pandora really is lovely, isn't it? I'm glad DH suggested it.

Would the Pandora myth bother you? But then again, people still use Eva / Eve...

Medora is interesting. Thanks :)
www.behindthename.com/name/medora/submitted

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Pemba · 04/01/2018 14:40

Oh! I see you do want Dora as a nickname.

Agree that Amadora is also nice.

Pemba · 04/01/2018 14:38

There is Medora. It came up in a Ruth Rendell book (character wasn't very nice though!) and apparently the charcter's parents got it from a poem by Lord Byron. I think it's quite pretty, and as it's shorter, less likely to be shortened to just Dora.

I also like Isadora and really like Dorothea.

RatRolyPoly · 04/01/2018 14:30

My dd is four months old; is it too late to change her name?

RatRolyPoly · 04/01/2018 14:28

Pandora, Pandora! Absolutely brilliant name in my opinion.

Original poster
horatioisabrick · 04/01/2018 14:17

If you like Dora just call her Dora

It's a bit short, there's exploradora and I'm not too fond of the nn Dory, tbh.

Anesidora?

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Original poster
horatioisabrick · 04/01/2018 14:15

I’d avoid Nymphodora.

Oh, definitely. I've never considered Nymphodora (or Metrodora).

Pandora a lot but I don’t know if Dora is a common shortening

I also like the nn Panda, tbh Blush

Would the Pandora myth bother you?

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IvorBiggun · 04/01/2018 14:01

I’d avoid Nymphodora.

I like Dorothea but I prefer Thea to Dora as a shortening. Isadora is really pretty but clunky. I like Pandora a lot but I don’t know if Dora is a common shortening.

If you like Dora just call her Dora.

Onceuponatimethen · 04/01/2018 13:59

Couldn’t do Isadora as Isadora Duncan died so horrifically.
I like Theodora

firawla · 04/01/2018 13:57

I like Dora! Isadora amadora Theodora are all lovely options I think. Personally I’m less keen on Pandora

Potteryprincess30 · 04/01/2018 13:54

Isadora is really nice, but I'm an Isadora Duncan fan so probably biased Smile

Original poster
horatioisabrick · 04/01/2018 13:51

honey

The other two sound 'made up' and people will think they are, even if they are not.

Yes... :-/ But they honestly aren't. (Menodora, Nymphodora and Metrodora were actually early Christians)

I like Pandora as well.
Amadora, Pandora and Theodora really are lovely "dora" names imo.

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