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Baby names

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

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.

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BB2018 · 02/06/2018 09:21

I like Tessa a lot. Go for it!

Peachbubble · 02/06/2018 09:05

I know a 12 year old Tess and have always thought it a lovely name. Tessa is nice too!

ragged · 02/06/2018 08:55

I would put Theresa on b-c and use Tessa as nn, because I like it when one name has lots of variations.

waterlego6064 · 02/06/2018 08:54

It’s lovely. I didn’t realise it was a name in its own right- I know a Tess, short for Theresa.

WTAFIGO · 02/06/2018 08:46

My name is Tess/Tessa and I really like it. I rarely meet someone with the same name as me but it's a proper name that people recognise and I never get asked how to spell it. It's unusual without being 'out there'. Go for it!

MrsEricBana · 02/06/2018 08:46

I like it too and don't really know why it isn't used any more but it definitely isn't round here. FWIW my parents put us off a name for my dd for ridiculous reasons and so we went for a slightly safer, pretty option. So far so good except the name is very overused now. Go with your gut feeling.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 02/06/2018 08:42

There was another thread exactly the same about a week ago, so Tessa/Tess must be the next Mabel!

OakIsBetterTho · 02/06/2018 08:41

Tessa is lovely. I am slightly biased as I know a lady called tessa and she is simply the most gorgeous, classy and kind woman.

n0ne · 02/06/2018 08:40

Oh, and my family (spesh DM) were all WTF about DD1's vintage name. But very quickly got over it as it's just her name now (and suits her perfectly)

Marbles321 · 02/06/2018 08:39

Absolutely love it. One of my top picks if our baby had been a girl!!!

n0ne · 02/06/2018 08:38

Lovely name, classic but unusual, easy to spell and pronounce, suits all ages, works across cultures. Ticks all my naming boxes!

wtffgs · 02/06/2018 08:36

Tessa is lovely.

Tell everyone you've had a change of heart and pick another "name". Then when baby arrives "you knew on sight she wasn't an 'Ermintrude' so you went back to Tessa Wink

Job done!

Irksomeness · 02/06/2018 08:31

That's a lovely name. Its really pretty. It's strange that it's not popular at the moment.

You have my seal of approval 🏵😊

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 02/06/2018 08:31

I'm also due in October and it's on our girls names list Smile I think it's a lovely name.

BeyondThePage · 02/06/2018 08:30

My SIL is Thérèse- shortened to Tessa (why? I do not know -Thérèse is lovely...) though she is French/Italian so says Tessa as Tesssssssss - a, which sounds very pleasant...

3luckystars · 02/06/2018 08:30

Well it’s too late for you now but hopefully this thread will help someone else in the future.
Never EVER tell your names to anyone beforehand

Because this is always the reaction. You think people are interspersed but they just try to put their feelings on to you and influence your choice.

I just wanted to wish you the best. If you like the name then pick it and everyone will love it (afterwards)

Cuppaand2biscuits · 02/06/2018 08:24

I really like the name. I met a Tessa recently and wondered why it's not used more often. As others have said it's classic and timeless.

NancyJoan · 02/06/2018 08:21

I love it. And funny enough, was reading a book by Tessa Hadley this week, and thought what a lovely name it was, and that if I were to have another DD, it would be on my list.

Popskipiekin · 02/06/2018 08:20

I think it’s a lovely name. My parents had slightly negative reaction to the names of both our DC - one we told before, one we only revealed after he’d been born. They now claim to have forgotten this and say they’re the best names ever Grin your friends/family will adapt.

kingseat2016 · 02/06/2018 08:20

I love both tessa and tess.

BiscayTrafalgarFitzroy · 02/06/2018 08:19

I like Tess - it's lovely

RedPandaMama · 02/06/2018 08:19

I love Tessa, would have been one of my choices.

ShutTheFridgeUp · 02/06/2018 08:19

It was on my girls list. I think it's a lovely name.

TellMeDinosaurFacts · 02/06/2018 08:17

It’s lovely!

BestBeforeYesterday · 02/06/2018 08:15

It's a classic name, nothing weird, so don't let other people's reactions put you off. You could be giving your daughter the most popular girls' name of the year and there would still be people who didn't like it.