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Baby names

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

Original poster

Looking for a nice English classic that won’t date.

67 replies

Celiajosephine · 14/04/2019 19:01

Which do you prefer?
Also which is least “chavvy”? Sorry I know that’s controversial but this is first baby so don’t really know what the new chavvy names are...as I’m out of the loop.

Lily or...Lilian/Liliana (nickname lily) vs Hannah.

No other suggestions please as these are the only names my partner and I agree on!
Thanks in advance

OP posts:
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JumpingFrogs · 14/04/2019 20:23

Anna
Rachel
Katherine
Elspeth
Frances
Julia
Marianne
Louisa

Original poster
Celiajosephine · 14/04/2019 20:18

How is Liliana viewed? I’ve never met a Liliana before...

OP posts:
CadburysTastesVileNow · 14/04/2019 20:18

Lillias is the Scottish form of Lillian. Any good?

gotmychocolateimgood · 14/04/2019 20:14

Alice is my favourite. Hannah 2nd.

Clownfish123 · 14/04/2019 20:10

Liliana is beautiful and uncommon and means you can still use Lily (which is clearly your favourite) Lily is a classic name but it has been used a lot over the last 10 years which makes it feel less classic.

Smoggle · 14/04/2019 20:10

Lily/Lilly/Lillie-Mai/Lily-Rose etc are so common now, I would probably go for Lillian.

I prefer Hannah, less common now but was very late 80s (along with Emma & Rachel).

whitehalleve · 14/04/2019 20:06

Hannah

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 14/04/2019 20:03

Lillian is gorgeous IMHO. Lil or Lily.

Hannah is dull

Calixtine · 14/04/2019 20:00

Hannah is lovely and timeless.

I find Lily bland but Lillian is quite nice, if a bit granny-chic.

Langrish · 14/04/2019 19:58

(Neither are English, shh!)

Veterinari · 14/04/2019 19:56

I love Lily but it’s massively overused now and the rash of Lily-mae’s and Lily Rose’s have made it a bit ‘common’
I even know a dog called Lily Grin

Hannah is classic

DramaAlpaca · 14/04/2019 19:45

I like Lily, but I don't consider it a classic. It's a very pretty name though.

Hannah is more classic as it's biblical. It's OK, but I can't get excited about it.

As an aside, the word 'chavvy' is a very unpleasant, offensive way to refer to a name. There are plenty of ways to say you don't like a name without using that word.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 14/04/2019 19:43

Totally team Lily. I would spell it Lillie as in Langtry. I'm not keen on Hannah, sorry, but would have gone with Alice if it went with my surname. I also know two families with an Alice and Lily.

redexpat · 14/04/2019 19:41

Ive never met a bad Hannah. Good decent name for good decent people.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 14/04/2019 19:40

If you like Lily then use it. Just be aware that it is currently very popular. If this doesn't bother you, then go for the one you prefer. Hannah is a lovely name and my favourite of the two, but it's what you like that matters.
If you want classic English names, I think Catherine, Rachael, Sarah, Emily and Victoria are due a come back.

Jenniferyellowcat · 14/04/2019 19:40

OP I actually prefer Lily but that’s a different question Smile

Please call your baby Lily if it is your preference. Sure there are a lot at he mo but it’s for a reason, it’s a lovely name. I am another who wanted Alice and DH refused! I think Lily is the same ‘type’ of name (my Gran who was called Alice had a best friend called Lily!)

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 14/04/2019 19:31

I suppose I don't see Lily/Lillian as being a timeless classic in the way that Alice/Hannah are as all the people I know called Lily/Lillian are either over 80 or under 20

Lily on its own is nice but all the little Lily-Maes & Lily-Roses have sadly tarnished it a bit for me. I don't know any Hannahs or Alice's that have been ruined by the dreaded hyphen!

Usuallyinthemiddle · 14/04/2019 19:29

Hannah is biblical so will always be around. I like it!
I don't like Lily but do like Lillian

Original poster
Celiajosephine · 14/04/2019 19:25

Thanks everyone! Oh I was secretly team Lily! Is Lily no longer seen as a classic? I can see that it’s quite popular in the UK now.

My favourite name is Alice but my partner is refusing to budge! Which is more of a similar vein to Alice? Lily/Lillian/Liliana or Hannah?

OP posts:
Wearywithteens · 14/04/2019 19:22

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

YouLikeTheBadOnesToo · 14/04/2019 19:19

My grandmother’s name was Lillian. I’ve always thought I’d use it either as a first, or middle name if I had a daughter. I think it’s beautiful.

Narya · 14/04/2019 19:19

Hannah

Bobbindobbin · 14/04/2019 19:18

I prefer Anna to Hannah.

CuppaTeaPlz · 14/04/2019 19:18

I left school at the end of the 90’s and there were SO many Hannah’s around at that time, 5 in my year I think, but it’s not a name I’ve heard very often since, whereas Lily almost seems overused at this point

TheNumberfaker · 14/04/2019 19:17

Either is fine. We loved Hannah but it didn’t fit with our surname.