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Baby names

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

Original poster

Matilda, Amelie, Freya, Arabel

65 replies

tdam · 01/05/2019 06:42

Hi all,

I'm due in just over two months and am endlessly debating between these names. To be entirely honest, Arabel isn't likely an option as my partner doesn't love it but I've included it out of curiosity (and I'm hoping it grows on him).

Which is your favourite and why? Do you know anyone/many people with these names? Feel free to rank them as well.

Some others I love but that have been vetoed by my partner are Olive, Iris, Margot/Margaux, Violet and Juno. I'm desperately hoping he comes around to some/one of these as I feel, particularly with Olive and maybe Margot too, that I'd happily use them tomorrow if I gave birth.

Thanks so much for any help/opinions!

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Unbelievable18 · 02/05/2019 09:02

Freya, it's an earthy, non-girly name.

applecatchers36 · 02/05/2019 09:01

Love Matilda, Freya and Amelie are all lovely.

Would say in London, Amelie is the most popular name, probably followed by Matilda.

Don't like Arabel, doesn't sound like a proper name and has class association like Annabel

MajesticWhine · 02/05/2019 08:52

Given you're in Aus I would probably give Matilda a miss (waltzing Matilda?)
Amelie really isn't that common. I don't know any Amelies. It's a lovely name.

Original poster
tdam · 02/05/2019 07:42

@SleepWarrior I actually love Amabel but would be worried people would always think I'm trying to say Annabel/le... I'm also quite sure my partner wouldn't like it. He's quite picky! Thank you for the suggestion though. Smile

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Original poster
tdam · 02/05/2019 07:38

@Rosesaredead Thank you for the suggestions, I love Flora but it's also been vetoed Sad It's the worst having names you love dismissed forever! I also like Genevieve and Beatrix (rather than Beatrice). I've noticed a few people on here (including you) say Amelie is quite popular - out of curiosity, is it a very commonly used name in the UK?

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FamilyOfAliens · 02/05/2019 05:09

FamilyOfAliens If you google it you'll find otherwise.

I was basing it on 20 years of working in UK schools, where I’ve never heard of it (unlike Arabella) and where I see more than my fair share of made-up and misspelled names!

Now you’ve said you’re in Australia, it’s different. I’d you like it, go for it, though the arable connection would be too much for me.

SleepWarrior · 02/05/2019 01:03

Have you considered Amabel?

Matilda is my favourite on your list (and Olive). I like the idea of Arabel - it being a variation on all the current belle names, but it just doesn't seem to work. Strong dislike of Freya I'm afraid.

Amelie is very nice but was also so very popular in a relatively narrow window of time that I think it will become one of those names where everyone instantly knows which decade the person was born in.

Original poster
tdam · 02/05/2019 00:04

@FamilyOfAliens If you google it you'll find otherwise.

And everyone saying it makes them think of arable, that's a very good point I hadn't thought of!

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Original poster
tdam · 01/05/2019 23:59

I'm interested to hear so many people say that Amelie is quite common or they know quite a few; here in Australia it's out of the top 100 and isn't considered common/popular at all. It's not unheard of or anything but I personally don't know anyway, nor do most people I've spoken to.

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Divgirl2 · 01/05/2019 22:19

I used to love Freya but it's too overused here (and nothing will put you off a name faster than hearing it screamed across a carpark in a common-as-muck Glaswegian accent).

Matilda is very popular too, and I agree with everyone about arable farming.

I hope your husband comes round to Olive or Juno.

aibutohavethisusername · 01/05/2019 21:54

Amelie
Matilda
Freya.

In that order.

pearldeodorant · 01/05/2019 20:47

Freya is lovely!

I'm not a fan of Arabel at all, she will be spelling it out and having it double checked her whole life! I agree it sounds quite pretty but I just think it would be a burden

MollyYouInDangerGirl · 01/05/2019 20:29

Freya is my favourite by far, then Matilda and amelie :)

GMtoBe · 01/05/2019 20:06

Amelie is a beautiful name, go with that!

villamariavintrapp · 01/05/2019 20:03

Arabel’s ‘orrible.

MikeUniformMike · 01/05/2019 19:59

Arabel farming.

DramaAlpaca · 01/05/2019 19:48

I like Matilda best.

FartnissEverbeans · 01/05/2019 17:54

I like Arabel the best!

The others are all lovely names but I know so many that they’ve become a bit less interesting to me. I’d probably choose Freya though because I think the origins in Norse mythology are really cool.

17caterpillars1mouse · 01/05/2019 16:31

I really like all the names in the title, think Arabel is lovely and my fav, others are also lovely though very popular in my area - especially Matilda

My absolute favourite is Olive though. Such a beautiful, but understated name

Just fyi I know 5 Matilda's age range of newborn - 5

3 Amelie's - 1 5 year old and 2 3 year olds

I only know one 12 year old Freya but I hear the name everywhere when out and about, though more on school aged children than littlies

Rosesaredead · 01/05/2019 16:26

Eliza? Flora?

Rosesaredead · 01/05/2019 16:25

If not, from your list i'd go for Matilda.

Rosesaredead · 01/05/2019 16:25

I LOVE all the names vetoed by your partner and I feel your pain as they were vetoed by mine too 😒

I feel like Freya is SO boring and faddy compared to your own list! And Matilda and Amelie are lovely but a little common now? Arabel has a more interesting vibe.

What about Leonora, Isadora, Beatrice, Genevieve?

yuiojl · 01/05/2019 16:23

Matilda is my my favourite out of the four but I LOVE Olive too.

FamilyOfAliens · 01/05/2019 16:20

Arabel is too similar to arable. It isn’t a diminutive of Arabelle - it’s a made-up name.

The others are nice enough, though all very popular.

SleepingSloth · 01/05/2019 16:17

I like Amelie, Freya and Matilda in that order. I'm not keen on Arabel at all. I don't really like Olive or Juno either. You still have a couple of months to decide so there's plenty of time to decide.