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Baby names

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

Help with name for DD2

42 replies

chiruri · 03/02/2018 11:50

DD2 is due in a few weeks and we're really struggling for names! DD1 is Alexandra (known as Alex), and we want a name that fits well with hers.
Absolutes:
Long name with nickname options
Not too unusual/crazy. We're fairly traditional and a bit middle class!

Would be nice but not 100% necessary:
Not hugely common
Unisex or androgynous nickname (to fit with Alex)

Struggling to find something that fits with the last two preferences! Possibilities we're considering are:
Emilia (Emmie/Millie) - current front runner but not 100% on nicknames. Worry Emilia is a bit too popular.
Charlotte (Charlie) - Charlotte is SUPER common, don't know how common Charlie is as a nickname though
Penelope (Poppy) - DH isn't hugely sold on Penelope, and Poppy is such a feminine nickname when compared to Alex
Francesca (Frankie) - we have no ties to Italy and I worry it's too ethnic
Samantha (Sam) - ticks the boxes, just not passionate about it
Eloise (Elle/Ellie) - Absolutely adore Eloise, but don't want her to become just another Ellie in a sea of them

We're Scottish with Polish heritage and a Polish surname. Family middle name which is non-negotiable so not really fussed how they sound together. Thoughts/suggestions? It was so easy picking a name for DD1, don't know why it's so hard this time!

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chiruri · 04/02/2018 16:59

I hated not being organised! And I think hubby was getting fed up with my indecisiveness.
We’ve decided that Philippa is a name that we both really like, and we hadn’t really considered. NN is most likely going to be Poppy (hubby loves it, which is really cute).
Although Francesca was the overall favourite I think I was making up excuses cos I didn’t love it.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 04/02/2018 16:37

Blimey that was quick.

I was going to suggest

Harriet - Harri, Hattie, Ettie, Etta

Elizabeth - Eliza, Lizzie, Libby, Beth, Betty, Betsy, Buffy

ladybirdie26 · 04/02/2018 16:37

I have an Imogen- shortened to Immy :) x

BellMcEnd · 04/02/2018 16:31

You can’t leave us hanging!! Which one was it? Grin

chiruri · 04/02/2018 15:49

Thank you all for your fab suggestions and comments. Hubby and I have, we think, finally settled on a name! It was a suggestion by a couple of people, but not on my original list.
Thanks again x

OP posts:
Peppaismysaviour · 04/02/2018 10:48

Louisa nn Lou
Or Eloise nn Lou instead of Ellie

Afreshcuppateaplease · 04/02/2018 10:01

Francesca nn Frankie

Alex and Frankie sounds good

BrutusMcDogface · 04/02/2018 09:55

I think Francesca is lovely, with frankie for short. I also think Penelope with penny for short (rather than poppy) works well with Alex/Alexandra.

Marv1nGay3 · 04/02/2018 09:33

Ursula - Lula

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 04/02/2018 09:31

Eloise could be Lo for short maybe.

17caterpillars1mouse · 04/02/2018 09:28

If you love Eloise why shorten it? It's a short name and it really doesn't matter if DD1 has a nn and DD2 doesn't. Just seems a bit silly to not use the name you love because you don't like a shortening and you have decided you must use a shortening. Eloise is a short name anyway

Just my thoughts

On a different note I love Samantha and Francesca though would use Sammy and Cesca as the shortening myself

ThunderR0ad78 · 03/02/2018 21:35

Annabelle

LarkDescending · 03/02/2018 18:15

Susannah or Louisa?

VioletCharlotte · 03/02/2018 17:47

Georgina
Samantha
Charlotte
Harriet
Belinda (Billie)
Danielle

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 03/02/2018 17:45

Jaqueline
Deborah
Daniella

Frontstep · 03/02/2018 17:14

Caroline or Carlotta (Carrie)
Harriet (Harry or Hatty)
Anastasia or Stephanie (Stevie)

PhuntSox · 03/02/2018 17:07

Henrietta
Euphemia
Frederica
Frances
Dorothea

millymae · 03/02/2018 17:05

No -one has mentioned Beatrice - Bea

BellMcEnd · 03/02/2018 16:59

Constance - Connie
Eleanor - Nell
Petronella - Peta / Petra / Nella / Nell
Elizabeth - Beth / Liza / Liz / Lizzy
Fenella - Fen / Nella / Nell
Roberts - Robbie / Bobby

mum2be2boys · 03/02/2018 14:56

Francesca is a beautiful name (it was our chosen girls name but we had two boys!)

I know 2 Francescas. 1 is a Frankie (age 21) the other is a Chess (age 3) Neither are Italian.

windchimesabotage · 03/02/2018 14:50

Tabitha- Tabby
Madeline- Maddie
Henrietta- Hettie
Dorothea- Dotty/Dot/Thea
Eleanor- Ellie
Isabelle- Izzy/Belle
Annabel- anna
Matilda- Tilly
Rosalind- Rosie/Ros
Charlotte- Lottie
Rhiannon- Rhia

JuliannaBixby · 03/02/2018 14:48

Arianna or Ariadne - nn Ari or Anna?

Francesca is lovely FWIW.

MancUnicorn · 03/02/2018 14:44

Emilia (Emmie/Millie) - Not a fan, but goes well with Alexandra
Charlotte (Charlie) - Not a fan, but goes well with Alexandra + good nickname
Penelope (Poppy) - Not a fan
Francesca (Frankie) - know a few Francesca's with no ties to Italy so dw, I didn't even think of that until now
Samantha (Sam) - Lovely
Eloise (Elle/Ellie) - could you shorten it to Lou?

Other names (some may be too short):
Aurora - Rory
Georgina/Georgiana - George/Georgie
Philippa - Pip
Stephanie - Stevie
Charlene - Charlie
Matilda - Mattie
Maxine - Max
Antonia - Tony
Christina - Chris
Katherine - Kit

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 03/02/2018 14:27

Katherine (Kate)
Elizabeth (Beth)
Theodora. (Teddy. Thea. Dora)
Robyn (Robbie)
Georgina (Georgie)
Victoria (Tori)

ChickensGoBoak · 03/02/2018 13:45

The Alexandra I know has sister Georgina (Gigi)