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Baby names

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

Original poster

Apolline and Mercedes

28 replies

navyblue7 · 17/03/2019 05:16

looking for some middle name help and suggestions for Apolline and Mercedes.
i’m not really a fan of flower names but quite like Apolline Iris, i’ve struggled a bit more for Mercedes..

any help or feedback is appreciated,
t.i.a, x

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Sparkly124 · 23/03/2019 15:35

Apolline is a beautiful sounding name!

TatianaLarina · 23/03/2019 10:26

Polly is a cool dim of Apolline.

Tomtontom · 23/03/2019 10:02

Mercedes is in the same league as Chanel or Chardonnay. Smug in an epic fail kind of way.

Apolline will be misheard as Pauline.

Topseyt · 23/03/2019 09:56

I can't work up any enthusiasm for either.

Apolline - never heard of it. I don't think it could grow on me. I'd think of Apollo all the time, though I guess it is an attempt at a feminine version of that. People would often be confused about the spelling and maybe the pronunciation. Some might shorten it to App, or Appy.

Mercedes was once a girl's name, but is now definitely a make of car. I do know of someone called Mercedes, and think of the cars every time. It is in the public consciousness and inextricably linked.

Original poster
navyblue7 · 23/03/2019 09:40

i completely understand that my naming choices won’t be everyones and each to their own opinions but i didn’t know Lenore is a fabric softener! (from aus)

OP posts:
abiirthdaycake · 21/03/2019 14:38

I don't get how Mercedes is chavvy. To me it feels super Catholic, if anything - it makes me think of elderly Spanish ladies.

Apolline is lovely, I prefer it for sure. Iris over Isla too.

KathyS901 · 21/03/2019 13:05

Mercedes is (I'm sorry I hate this word but I can't think of another way to say it) very very chavvy. Appoline is okay, I don't think it's very nice though, and paired with Mercedes I think it's quite OTT and a bit try hard. But I think Appoline could get by okay in life, whereas Mercedes would probably be teased and judged for her name. Kids are cruel and adults judgemental. I would think of a new name altogether for Mercedes, and for Appoline I wouldn't use Isla as a middle name as Isla is soooo common and quite faddy and so it sounds pretty weird next to the very unusual Appoline.

TatianaLarina · 21/03/2019 10:13

You’re being ‘daring’ with a child who has to take the consequences - not very fair.

IWouldBeSuperb · 21/03/2019 05:45

Mercedes Lenore

I think a car AND a fabric softener might be pushing it -

People will think you ran out of ideas and just started wandering around your house choosing random words -

Although Hyundai Fairy does have a certain ring to it...

Rtmhwales · 21/03/2019 03:37

Mercedes is one of my middle names. I love it now, but people routinely take the piss when they discover it, so I can't imagine how a little girl would fare as an adult with it as a first name. Just a heads up. I went through a whole phase where I was embarrassed to say it aloud and just made up a less out there name.

Original poster
navyblue7 · 21/03/2019 02:59

thanks for all your replies! the names i like tend to be more on the daring side which does put a lot of people off.
i have found a few more:
Apolline Isla (similar to Iris)
Mercedes Lenore

OP posts:
Decormad38 · 21/03/2019 02:26

I once went to school with a girl named Mercedes back in the 80s. Isn’t it Greek? Anyway I lived the name then. Her best friend was called Tuesday!

NuffSaidSam · 21/03/2019 02:11

If you like the car theme there is someone on another thread thinking of Sierra? Could steal that?

Mercedes Sierra

TatianaLarina · 20/03/2019 23:16

Apolline Iris = gorgeous. Mercedes = car.

Mercedes really pulls the short straw on the name front.

Bumblebeesmum · 20/03/2019 22:15

Looks like appalling to me too
Hate both but I’m very unfashionable in lots of ways

FenellaMaxwell · 20/03/2019 08:22

To you maybe, but to people seeing it written down or hearing the name for the first time, it often will.

123Flopsy · 19/03/2019 21:22

Apolline (ApoLEEN) sounds nothing like appalling!

FenellaMaxwell · 19/03/2019 21:17

You run the distinct risk that people will pronounce it ‘appalling’

bridgetreilly · 19/03/2019 17:34

The problem with Mercedes is that it is so strongly associated with the car. It would be like calling a child Peugeot or BMW. I know, I know it was a girl's name first, but now, for most English-speaking people at least, the first and strongest association is the car.

Ribbonsonabox · 19/03/2019 15:14

I think they are both lovely names and really think Apolline Iris is gorgeous!

Sparkly124 · 19/03/2019 15:12

Apolline Joy

Mercedes Isabella

aliceandkids77 · 18/03/2019 22:00

ooh I love the name Iris its my DD’s name! How about
Mercedes Grace
Mercedes Eve
Mercedes Jane
Mercedes Victoria
Mercedes Faye
imo Mercedes Grace is darling x

Zogsyoungersister · 18/03/2019 21:32

Apolline is a great name! Might nick that one.

Less keen on Mercedes. I feel like it would be a bit of a hinderance as a name.

MikeUniformMike · 18/03/2019 14:40

Apolline Pastry and Mercedes Benz

Sessy19 · 18/03/2019 12:57

Except that Mercedes is related to ‘Mary, Mother of Mercies’, do maybe not Mary as a mn