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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sidwell (girl's name)

64 replies

KathDayKnight50 · 03/10/2018 17:59

Found this name in a Victorian novel and think it's really pretty.

I don't have a baby to name.

What do others think of it?

Just interested.

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QuickWash · 18/10/2018 06:55

The Exeter connection is strong, there's a school called St Sidwell's, and Sidwell Street is well known. Unfortunately it hosts a lot of charity shops and social issues.

MikeUniformMike · 17/10/2018 20:31

Sidonie is quite nice. Not keen on Sidwell but if you like it...

Kokeshi123 · 17/10/2018 00:46

It sounds like a boy's name to me. How about Simone?

foxtiger · 16/10/2018 21:23

I live not far from Exeter and I never realised the saint was female! It sounds much more like a boy's name to me, and it's not really my cup of tea. I kind of like Sidonie though, if you want a name with a "Sid" connection...

Rebecca36 · 04/10/2018 18:27

Vile

3ChangingForNow · 04/10/2018 18:26

I like it

Eeevvvveee · 04/10/2018 18:23

Sounds like a place in kent

manicinsomniac · 04/10/2018 17:30

I'm not sure. I'm not very keen on it but I don't hate it.

I like Sydney though so don't see why Sidwell shouldn't be taken seriously. It does sound very masculine to me though.

daisypond · 04/10/2018 16:59

The Odd Women is really interesting - my favourite Gissing.

Dazedandconfused1988 · 04/10/2018 15:02

I couldn’t do it after working in Exeter for years and teaching urban regeneration to school children.
St Sidwells was a run down suburb in Exeter with most of sidwell street containing closed gritty and run down shops, mainly pawnbrokers and bookies.
It’s up and coming now though with lots of newer shops and John Lewis, and they’ve re built the mosque and school!
Whoever mentioned some people would think it was hipster heaven and some think it’s awful are fairly spot on!!
Cute name after a saint though if you’re not in devon and your kid won’t go to Exeter uni

Original poster
KathDayKnight50 · 04/10/2018 14:48

@whatausername

Hope you enjoy it! "New Grub Street" is probably one of his most famous works.

Another interesting one is "The Odd Women" about emancipated women - early feminists - who don't want the usual marriage/children route offered to them. Really interesting stuff IMO.

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moredoll · 04/10/2018 14:47

I almost like it. Goes on to the list of Possible Cats' Names

whatausername · 04/10/2018 14:42

@KathDayKnight50 I need some new books to read, I'll give Gissing a go.

Pemba · 04/10/2018 13:54

The character Sidwell in the book may have been admirable, but she still had an ugly and weird name. Like pps said, it sounds like an obscure village or area of a city.

Original poster
KathDayKnight50 · 04/10/2018 13:48

Thanks for all the further information on the name everyone - so interesting.

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florascotia2 · 04/10/2018 12:59

This site (below) says that Sidwell is an English version of an older British name, Sadfyl. I don't know how accurate the site is or how to pronounce the name. Perhaps Welsh-speakers could help?
catholicsaints.info/tag/name-sadfyl/

I don't mind Sidwell. Might be good to have a couple of different-style middle names, however, to give flexibility.

bitheby · 04/10/2018 12:32

I don't mind it. I'd prefer to be called that, nn Sid, than what I'm actually called (traditional female name).

Rebellia · 04/10/2018 11:07

Makes me think of Sidwell Friends - the elite Quaker private school in DC that Obama sent his daughters to

Original poster
KathDayKnight50 · 04/10/2018 10:53

Glad to have found another Gissing fan! I love Victorian novels in general, but have really got into Gissing the last few years.

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Original poster
KathDayKnight50 · 04/10/2018 10:52

I know what you mean daisypond.

I have read the book several times and the name no longer strikes me as strange. I have come to rather like it.

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daisypond · 04/10/2018 10:39

Well, I like it. It's the name of a saint, so it has provenance, and it's unusual. I think it sounds nice too - strong and not cutesy. I know the George Gissing character too - she's a good heroine.

Original poster
KathDayKnight50 · 04/10/2018 09:51

In the book, Sidwell is an upper-class girl, very well-educated, and she knows her own mind. She turns down a suitor she had fallen in love with because he lied to her and her family. She has principles and despite getting quite old to find a husband (in Victorian terms), she will not compromise. I admired her for that.

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Original poster
KathDayKnight50 · 04/10/2018 09:00

In the book, Sidwell is better than her sister's name - Fanny!

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Original poster
KathDayKnight50 · 04/10/2018 08:59

Just wait until high school, "I bet she'd sidwell on a ck"...she'd be rather open to a lot of tasteless jokes

[grin} Wow, that never even occurred to me and I have a dirty mind!

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Sophronia · 03/10/2018 23:55

Sidonie is much nicer.