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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Made the mistake of telling people my favourite girl's name. Opinions please.

88 replies

Ridiculousness · 02/06/2018 08:03

I'm expecting a baby girl in October, and there is one clear name I like - Tessa. However, when I tell friends and family I don't seem to be getting a positive response. What are your thoughts?

I already have one child called Jack and our surname is fussy and double-barrelled, so something shorter suits it. If you have any suggestions as well as responses to the name Tessa that could be helpful.

OP posts:

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GlennRheeismyfavourite · 19/06/2018 20:09

Love love love it - wanted it for my baby girl but my husband said no

chilly32045 · 19/06/2018 20:08

Reminds me of ten ton Tessa! That would be a no from me!

OVienna · 17/06/2018 18:03

It's s lovely name @Ridiculousness just ignore the comments. Very weird people don't like it.

Oysterbabe · 17/06/2018 07:41

I quite like it.

TheDowagerCuntess · 16/06/2018 21:49

And here's a thought.

If you call her Tessa, you could even think of nicknaming her ... Tess!

TheDowagerCuntess · 16/06/2018 21:48

It wouldn't make my shortlist but it's a lovely name.

No good can come from telling people prospective names.

When it's a prospective name, people feel free and easy about giving options - and no name is universally liked, so you will get negative comments.

When the name has been bestowed, people usually have cop on enough to be polite, no matter their real thoughts.

Blondemother · 16/06/2018 20:52

I think Tessa is fab and if you love it you should use it, friends and family be damned.

You’ll never find a name which gets universal approval so use something you and your partner love and everyone will get used to it!

My mother in law said ‘oh god you’re joking, that’s awful’ when we told her our daughters name. Great excuse not to see her for a few days after we got home from hospital!

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 16/06/2018 15:04

I like it, and - unlike many others - I prefer it to Tess. It's uncommon these days and simple and sweet and travels well - there will be very few, if any, places where people can't pronounce it.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 16/06/2018 14:57

Tess is better imo.

TidyDancer · 16/06/2018 14:17

I love Tess. It's so beautiful. Not as keen on Tessa, but it's still quite nice.

2good · 14/06/2018 12:44

It's lovely- please don't change it!

gracielacey · 14/06/2018 12:38

Tessa makes me think of middle aged politicians - Tessa Munt, Tessa Jowell

I love Tess though

user1485342611 · 14/06/2018 11:31

I really love this name. It reminds me 1950s type children's books. Tess is nice too, but Tessa is prettier.

SemperIdem · 11/06/2018 20:19

As it goes, Tessa or Tess are not to my taste.

However when I, very late on, told a friend the name we were likely to go for, her response was “that sounds like a stupid girls name, you know the quite pretty but dim sort” and my mother proclaimed it “dull and unimaginative sounding”.

They both flat out deny saying such things now, 3 years on and have done since the day my daughter was born

So, essentially - your chosen name isn’t dreadful, ugly or likely to cause lifelong spelling issues - use it.

trueblueari · 11/06/2018 19:11

I like Tessa! Choose the name you like - you can't please everyone.

My favourite girls name gets negative reactions too, but it's the name of someone I love and admire, and also (in my opinion) a beautiful name, so if I have a DD in the future I'm using it regardless.

With the exception of truly awful or ridiculous names - the likes of Ptolemy or Balonz - other people's reactions are irrelevant. As a PP said it will soon become her name. A friend of mine named her DD Karen which I secretly thought was quite dull and dated, but it suits the now 7 month old so much, I can't imagine her being called anything else.

Ceebs85 · 04/06/2018 23:11

Also due in October, also love it.

None of our parents liked the name for our first child and I've no idea what they think no because it doesn't matter

Tessa might be going on my shortlist

Carouselfish · 04/06/2018 22:52

It's the perfect counterpart to Jack. Unfussy, country, curly-haired (for some reason), possibly a bit more practical than elegant but it's certainly not overused. Go for it OP.

Maximusmomma · 04/06/2018 21:53

It's a lovely name and it's not that much of a common name... Stuff what other people think, your child your choice of name

IsadoraQuagmire · 04/06/2018 16:09

I love it, mostly because of The Constant Nymph, which is one of my favourite books. I'd always assume it was short for Theresa/Teresa though.

AKP79 · 04/06/2018 14:56

Love it, it's on our list for our baby.

Alexia05 · 04/06/2018 09:21

I like Tessa or Tess. If you really love the name, don't worry about what others think. There's nothing wrong with this name. I don't think you'll ever find a name everyone likes. So if you really love this name, do it. You might regret it later if you don't.

kaytee87 · 04/06/2018 01:33

It's sweet, don't know any children with the name but i do know a Jessa.

Candyflip · 03/06/2018 06:05

I hate it. It’s my name 😂. I am called T though.

Original poster

Ridiculousness · 03/06/2018 05:58

Sugarpiehoneyeye that is perfect. We're English but living in Wales so would love a one syllable Welsh middle name. Hadn't thought of Wren. Cheers!

OP posts:

greendale17 · 02/06/2018 19:27

It’s alright.

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