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Baby names

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

Original poster

Laura or Gemma?

111 replies

PimmsAndPonies · 20/05/2019 10:29

We are expecting DC2 shortly and two of the girl names we are considering are:

Laura
Gemma

Which do you prefer? DC1 is a boy and has a very traditional boys name (5 letters), so we want a nice short traditional girl's name to go with his name.

I'm leaning towards Laura, but my OH prefers Gemma. Any comments on either name would be appreciated.

Thanks

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SaltedCaramelEverything · 24/05/2019 07:33

I prefer Gemma, Gem is a lovely nickname (but harder to do for Laura). But I like shortening names so that’s just personal preference.

I do still still like Laura. Also Lauren - which could be n.n as Wren if dd wanted when older as that’s a bit trendy at the mo (quite like classic/modern nn like that)

Bouncingbelle · 23/05/2019 02:29

Prefer Laura by a mile. Its gorgeous & classic and was on my list (tho my grandmother always called it 'an old name'). Also adore Lara.
Other suggestions:
Clara
Louisa
Maeve
Clare
Shona

Watersnail · 22/05/2019 22:34

I really like Gemma. It's a saint's name, due a comeback and would be refreshing these days.

icecreamsundae32 · 22/05/2019 21:18

Both were popular when I was at school - there were actually 4 Laura's and 2 Gemma's in my class in primary school, I was born in 86 lol. I prefer Laura tho but like Lauren even more!

Other really popular names in my Year were Catherine, Sarah, Nicola, Rebecca and Clare if you are looking for the 80/90s names!

Dauphinois · 22/05/2019 19:47

Laura is lovely but I prefer Jemma with a J

rededucator · 22/05/2019 19:44

Both lovely

wizzler · 22/05/2019 19:36

Love Laura, also Lorna

Skyejuly · 22/05/2019 19:32

Correct. Mines a popular E name although not strictly 80s.

My daughters name is very typical 1990s and she was born 2013.

icannotremember · 22/05/2019 10:21

Does anyone remember the Gemma books? I really want to re read those now!

MaidofKent78 · 21/05/2019 21:35

Gemma's an 80s/90s name? I guess that makes my parents trendsetters for once!

It's not nice to hear your name described as 'vile' :-( I happen to quite like it.

I think either are lovely.

Wizardofwestminster · 21/05/2019 21:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ as requested by the OP.

RoseMartha · 21/05/2019 21:16

Laura

Skyejuly · 21/05/2019 21:02

I'm not a fan of Gemma either. Maybe it's just associated for me with all the nasty girls I didnt like in the 90s! There were about 18 Gemma's between years 8-11 when I was at school.

Bluntness100 · 21/05/2019 21:01

Oh dear. I had a horrible feeling someone with the name Gemma would read this and get upset.

I think the comments on it being an 80s name is because it's not a historically popular british name and pretty much made its big appearance in those decades, the eighties and the nineties. Laura on the other hand has been in use in the U.K. for a long time, so is often seen as more classic and timeless. Like Emma etc.

Gemma tends not to fall into the same sort of bracket for most people.

Wizardofwestminster · 21/05/2019 20:50

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ as requested by the OP.

Quintella · 21/05/2019 20:17

There's also Laura who was the inspiration/obsession for Petrarch the 14th century Italian poet.

Gemma is a good time girl's name although I don't hate it. And Gemmas Arterton and Chan are so beautiful.

BringMeTheVoiceOfAnthonyHead · 21/05/2019 20:16

I don't like Jenna or Lauren.

GraceMarks · 21/05/2019 20:09

I love Gemma, and there are three entirely fab acting Gemmas around at the moment - Arterton, Whelan, Chan - who make it cool, in my opinion. Laura is a bit blah, and it is also the name of a horrible girl from my primary school who used to bite people. So that's my twopennorth.

daisypond · 21/05/2019 10:30

I don’t really see Laura as an 80s name. It’s a classic from Victorian times, so should fit nicely in the current zeitgeist.. There’s one in the 1850s novel The Woman In White. And there’s other well known Victorians like Laura Ingalls Wilder etc. I know a couple of Lauras but they were born in the 60s.

Susiedog · 21/05/2019 10:16

I think both sound so dated now. I don't know any of either name under 20.
If I had to say one I'd say Laura.
I don't like Gemma at all, but that may have something to do with the girl who bullied me as a child being called that.

Branleuse · 21/05/2019 08:49

I think both are nice actually. I think some of these 80s names are actually due a comeback. I dont think either sound dated

MyInnerAlto · 21/05/2019 05:59

(I have to add I don't put Gemma into the above category. That genuinely is 80s in the same way as Tracy/Darren are 60s/70s)

MyInnerAlto · 21/05/2019 05:58

The 70s/80s had a lot of very lovely classic names that have become '70s/80s' to our ears because they were used so often - Laura, Rachel, Rebecca, Robert, Catherine, Helen, Philip, Mark, Sarah, Simon, David etc. Our children will be scorning Isabella, Amelia, Oliver, George and Olivia as 'very 2000s/2010s', even though they're really nothing of the sort, as they're so frequently used.

dreichuplands · 21/05/2019 03:18

They are 80/90s names, Laura is more classic.

diddlediddle · 21/05/2019 03:06

100% Laura!

Gemma is mega 80s.

Laura is beautiful and timeless. I also like Lauren. I'm putting both on my list