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Baby names

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

Critique my shortlist

67 replies

Theverywherebear · 24/08/2018 19:29

Expecting a baby girl.

Please do your worst to my short ish list

Nieve
Mary
Frida
Madeline
Alice
Betty
Julia
Dorothy to be known as Dot

Im not overly fussed on muddle names but will probably pick a family one possibly Elllen.

Want something not super popular but not too out there hence these choices.

Welcome any other suggestions Smile

OP posts:
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Shadow1234 · 09/09/2018 01:18

Definitely Neve, beautiful name.

foxtiger · 27/08/2018 15:29

Nieve - I would avoid as there are so many ways to spell it and people would be sure to get it wrong.
Mary - I like it, but not with the MN Ellen - it sounds a bit like a cliche. If you'd be prepared to use one of the other names on your list as a MN, Mary Alice would sound good!
Frida - I like the associations but not the sound
Madeline - love it but prefer the spelling Madeleine
Alice - love it
Betty - cute, but I think I'd go with Elizabeth as the official name
Julia - love it
Dorothy to be known as Dot - still seems a bit old-fashioned to me and not quite ready for a comeback

plusonefail · 26/08/2018 12:22

Nieve - a bit dull these days
Mary - love it. Underused but classic.
Frida - noooooo.
Madeline - a bit dull
Alice - one of my most hated names. I find it really weak and boring sounding but I don’t think many agree with me.
Betty - I only like it as a nickname.
Julia - lovely
Dorothy to be known as Dot - I adore Dorothy but not Dot as a nickname. Dorrie or Doro, however, I do like.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 26/08/2018 12:03

Frida is fabulous !
Mary would be my second choice.

Enko · 26/08/2018 09:28

Nieve - I like this name but hate the spelling please go for Niamh if you are going to use it.
Mary More middle name for me I find it dull.
Frida Ok but not something I think ohh wow over
Madeline like Frida ok but not something I am wowed over
Alice I never liked this name and I have no reason why I just can't get around it.
Betty Cute
Julia Nice enough prefer it to Julie Would likely use Juliet personally
Dorothy to be known as Dot nice enough.

Ginandplatonic · 26/08/2018 03:53

Lipstick that was really rude. Particularly from someone who can't spell Kahlo. Frida is a perfectly acceptable spelling of a name which can also be spelt Frieda or Freda (but NOT usually Freida)

OP I like Frida but my favourite ever girls' name is Elfrida.

Ozgirl01 · 26/08/2018 03:29

Nieve - like, but much prefer Neve.
Mary - not a fan
Frida - pretty
Madeline - lovely, but very popular
Alice - love! It's one of my favourites, but it is becoming very popular all over the English-speaking world.
Betty - not my favourite Elizabeth nn.
Julia - feels a bit dated to me. I prefer Juliet.
Dorothy to be known as Dot - not a fan personally, but I can see the appeal. Dot is cute.

Some other suggestions:
Clara
Cora
Esther
Mabel
Margot
Marnie
Oona
Sylvie
Thea
Vivian

MrsFoxPlus4 · 26/08/2018 02:59

Nieve - Would spell it Neve. Would avoid the Irish spelling unless in Ireland because lots of people butcher it.
Mary - I think it’s massivly dated.
Frida - Very bold strong name.
Madeline - No!
Alice - Nicest on the list tbh.
Betty - Nope! Prefer Betsy.
Julia - Beatiful.
Dorothy to be known as Dot - Boring.

moredoll · 26/08/2018 02:49

Mary, Alice or Niamh. Don't think it's culturally appropriating to spell it the right way. More like a homage.

Broccolibravado · 25/08/2018 21:12

I have a Maddy, which my husband hates as a nn. She is a Madeleine which is different in pronunciation to Madeline (mad u lin v mad u line) so just make sure your spelling fits the pronunciation. Obv this is my first choice Grin

cheesegobbler · 25/08/2018 21:04

Neve is top of my girls names but we have found out we are having a boy so that's out of the window haha. I love the Irish way because of my Irish blood but it's just too difficult to spell. I also like Betty x

Andthatsthat · 25/08/2018 20:39

Nieve. Ok, but definitely not spelt this way. Much prefer the traditional Irish spelling.

Mary. It’s a Granny’s name, but not in a retro cool way.

Frida. Awful.

Madeline. I like it, you do not have to use Maddy.

Alice. Quite pretty, probably my favourite on your list.

Betty. I think this is cute. But I feel she would need to be a confident soul to pull it off, and this you cannot guarantee.

Julia. I can’t understand the mn fascination with the Julia/Juliet/Juliette names. I find them middle aged. I don’t know a young Julia.

Dorothy. No. I do like Dotty though! But not Dot.

coffeekittens · 25/08/2018 20:37

Nieve - spelt Niamh is fine, I don’t like this spelling makes me of the word naive.
Mary - it’s ok, a bit too old lady and boring.
Frida - awful sorry, sounds witchy to me.
Madeline - meh
Alice - my favourite, I know a gorgeous and very intelligent toddler Alice and two beautiful, kind and successful grown up Alice’s.
Betty - as a nn for Elizabeth it’s fine, not as a stand alone name.
Julia - awful, Juliettes Ok.
Dorothy to be known as Dot - makes me think that you’re trying too hard with the current granny chic trend, sorry!

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 25/08/2018 20:28

Frida.do you mean as in Khalo?

Mumshotel · 25/08/2018 20:27

Omg Not for me. At a push alice but even then.

MrsRachel85 · 25/08/2018 20:26

Nieve: prefer spelling Niamh or Neve
Mary: too old fashioned and not in a good way
Frida: not keen, reminds me of a murderer in Orange is the new black!
Madeline: very pretty but seems quite safe compared to others on your list.
Alice: as above. Quite popular now if you’re ok with that?
Betty: lovely but prefer as a nickname
Julia: nice, how about Juliette?
Dorothy to be known as Dot: not to everyone’s taste but I like it. I worked with a really cool woman in her 20s called Dotty

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 25/08/2018 20:24

Nieve why purposefully misspell a name.if you can’t spell it or say it don’t use
Mary yuk. Dowdy
Frida you’ve misspell this too.if you can’t spell it don’t use it.do you actually mean Freida? Frida is not Freida. FreeDah is not FridAh
Madeline ok
Alice ok
Betty yuk. Old fashioned
Julia a bit blah
Dorothy to be known as Dot. Cotton.dot cotton

TillyTheTiger · 25/08/2018 20:12

Nieve - I'd avoid it, just based on the spelling issues.
Mary - Nice name but some people use it as slang for vagina which puts me off.
Frida - Makes me think of Abba. So I like it.
Madeline - Love it, it's beautiful.
Alice - Really sweet.
Betty - Would you use Elizabeth on the birth cert? Would give her more options when she's older.
Julia - Not keen.
Dorothy to be known as Dot - No.

mintich · 25/08/2018 20:10

Nieve -love, but only if spelled Niamh
Mary - cute, maybe a bit dull
Frida- don't like this, reminds me of food...I don't know why!
Madeline - like
Alice -ok but bit popular at the moment
Betty - cute!
Julia - like will be nicer as she gets older
Dorothy to be known as Dot - Not sure if Dot is a bit boring

Icklepup · 25/08/2018 20:01

Love Alice and wouldn't say it's boring.

Moominfan · 25/08/2018 19:56

Frida is really cool, the rest girls frilly and wet

Kittykatmacbill · 25/08/2018 19:53

Only one I even slightly like is Ellen. Such a lovely under used name!

itssquidstella · 25/08/2018 10:23

I like Mary, Alice, Julia and Dorothy. Really dislike the others.

MikeUniformMike · 25/08/2018 10:20

Nieve - not this spelling
Mary - great
Frida - ok
Madeline - no
Alice - great
Betty - not sure
Julia - no
Dorothy to be known as Dot - brilliant, love it.

bridgetreilly · 25/08/2018 10:17

I think it's more culturally appropriative to take a name and re-spell it, tbh. If you want to call her Niamh, call her Niamh.

But my choice from your list would be Frida. Unusual, interesting, easy. Also possibly consider Winifred, nn Freddy.

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