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Baby names

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

Original poster

Tentative shortlist

59 replies

Picknickers · 21/06/2018 21:06

Help! We have agreed that these names are good for both of us...I'd really appreciate some honest feedback and mumsnet is as honest as it gets! Which are useable and what are the pitfalls? I've already asked about Vera but it's a real contender so it's on the list...
Vera
Keziah
Phaedra
Thalia
Marla
Dinah

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disappearingninepatch · 23/06/2018 08:48

Vera - not keen, but there are worse names so if you like it...
Keziah - I never know how to pronounce this.
Phaedra - I think it sounds ugly, whichever way it's pronounce.
Thalia - Love this! I would use it. Tahlia or Tally-a (with stress on the ee), either way - lovely!
Marla - Okay
Dinah - Okay

Original poster
Picknickers · 22/06/2018 23:37

I only knew one Phaedra and she pronounced it Faydra which is the pronunciation we like. Dinah is off the list along with Thalia...capricious husband...and Vera remains the favourite. Thanks for the input. Mikeuniformmike better to try too hard than not at all!

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TatianaLarina · 22/06/2018 20:35

The French Phèdre is also pronounced Fedre.

Booboostwo · 22/06/2018 19:40

Phaedra and Thalia are still in use in modern Greek, pronounced Fedra (the Greek δ doesn't quite correspond to d) and Tha-li-a (again the Greek θ doesn't quite sound like th). Greek people shouldn't have any problem pronouncing either but you and your DD are in for a lifetime of correcting spellings and pronounciations - I have an unpronounceable Ancient Greek name as well.

daisypond · 22/06/2018 19:26

Vera - yes, I love it.
Keziah - yes, but prefer Kezia.
Phaedra - no, terrible. Do you know the story of Phaedra?
Thalia - yes.
Marla - no.
Dinah - hm, I quite like the name, but the Old Testament character didn't have a happy time of things.

starkid · 22/06/2018 15:56

I love Dinah!

Not keen on the rest though, sorry

letsallhaveanap · 22/06/2018 10:50

Phaedra is Greek and yes tragic story as with many classical Greek names BUT I love it so much because of the Nancy Sinatra song...
'Some Velvet Morning'

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 22/06/2018 08:52

I quite like Dinah but would worry she’d get fed up of everyone assuming she was Diana .

StrawberryCat · 22/06/2018 08:49

They are really not to my taste I'm afraid. Although Dinah is nice (but I prefer Diana).

Would you consider:
Deanna
Marnie
Thea

AtticaRose · 22/06/2018 08:08

Phaedra is the name of a character in an Ancient Greek play. I really wouldn't use it because of the plot...

Usually FEE-dra or sometimes FEYE-dra (first syllable rhymes with eye).

(I studied this play at uni!)

Forfolkssake · 22/06/2018 07:18

Phaedra and Thalia are lovely!

victoryvee · 22/06/2018 07:08

Love Vera, that was a serious contender for us. And I like the others, no name will be to everyone's taste.

Soloooo · 22/06/2018 06:47

Only like Thalia but without the ‘h’

toomanyeastereggsurghh · 22/06/2018 06:43

Really don’t like Vera or Phaedra as I think they’re both quite ugly sounding names. Marla and Dinah are just a bit dull. Keziah (but spelt Kezia) is quite nice, I’m a teacher and we have one at school.

Love Thalia best though -definitely pronounced Tar-lee-ah although I have come across a Chinese girl who pronounces her name (spelt same) as Thay-lee-ah.

yikesanotherbooboo · 22/06/2018 06:17

I like Vera
Second favourite Keziah
Phaedra ok
Not keen on the others

FastWindow · 22/06/2018 02:44

All your names are lovely but have you considered :
Kasharna
Tohajalie
Julietta
Skylar

TheOriginalEmu · 22/06/2018 02:41

Phaedra is Greek and pronounced Fay-druh as far as I’m aware. I like it.
Keziah I also love, reminds me of one if my favourite books, the didikoi.

TheOriginalEmu · 22/06/2018 02:35

Hmm Roger Federer has 3 syllables in his surname. fed-uh-Ruh.

moredoll · 22/06/2018 02:33

Kezia (never seen it spelt with 'h')
Maria

Phaedra's okay. I don't like the others, sorry

TatianaLarina · 22/06/2018 00:04

Don’t like any of them (love Greek names but not Phaedra) - Thalia is most ok.

Vera is awful.

DiegoMadonna · 21/06/2018 23:57

I like Vera but none of the others.

Joeybee · 21/06/2018 23:52

Vera - Lovely, sweet name that's coming back into style again.
Keziah - Sounds common and made up, sorry.
Phaedra - As above
Thalia - As above
Marla - Okay, a bit plain.
Dinah - I like this name, however some people would pronounce it like 'Dee-nah', some would pronounce it like 'Diner'. That would annoy me about this name.

MikeUniformMike · 21/06/2018 23:49

They seem a bit try hard.

Original poster
Picknickers · 21/06/2018 23:49

Typo...pp not po

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Original poster
Picknickers · 21/06/2018 23:48

Ha ha I love you all even the haters! Thank you especially Paranoixia who sums up beautifully why I love Vera. We'd pronounce Keziah as Kezeea so maybe drop the h? And Phaedra we'd say Faydra. Thalia = Tarlia. Vera is probably my favourite and oh's Keziah...and for the p.o. asking why solicit opinions, it's because I need a sounding board and want family and friends to have a surprise ( or judging by the responses a shock!)

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