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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girl after two boys - the shortlist

69 replies

snowrevolution · 31/05/2019 07:44

We've narrowed down the options to Phoebe or Helena. Her older brothers are Hector and Jasper. Our surname starts with F. So slight concern about an alliterative sound with Phoebe (although it runs together nicely). And Helena would share a first initial with Hector, but I'm not sure that matters too much.

Would be great to get some views on the following combinations of first name / middle name. Middle names all chosen because of significant meaning or association with an individual.

Phoebe Marianne
Phoebe Helena
Phoebe Maia
Phoebe Beatrix

Helena Marianne
Helena Phoebe
Helena Beatrix
Helena Florence

Thanks!

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Happyandglorious · 01/06/2019 22:15

Phoebe

MyInnerAlto · 01/06/2019 21:57

Phoebe Helena gets my vote, I think.

Helena Marianne is lovely too, though a very different feel from Phoebe Helena - more 'glam' (for want of a much better word), sophisticated.

Helena (pron HEL-e-na in our case) is what our second boy would have been had he been a girl (like yours, our third was a girl - we called her something else, though - and she and he share a first initial and it's not a problem at all).

Sophronia · 01/06/2019 19:20

Helena is much much much nicer than Phoebe, which sounds too much like feeble.

Helena Marianne or Helena Florence are beautiful!

LegoPiecesEverywhere · 01/06/2019 13:49

Helena Florence

Original poster
snowrevolution · 01/06/2019 11:04

ReganSomerset - I haven't seen a version of Helena with an accent. I think it has a number of different pronunciations (eg Helena Christensen pronounced as Hel-AY-na).

I think we've ruled out a number of options, but still torn between the following:

Phoebe Marianne
Phoebe Helena
Phoebe Beatrix
Helena Marianne

Decisions, decisions!

OP posts:
ReganSomerset · 01/06/2019 09:19

Just a query, but if you're going for hel-ay-na rather than Helen-a, shouldn't there be an accent over the second e?

Bellaposey · 01/06/2019 09:13

I have a 2 year old Helena and always get lovely comments on her name. Great nickname possibilities- Lena, Nell etc. Lovely meaning and roots (Greek, Shakespearean). Pronunciation hasn't been a problem for us. Occasionally it's pronounced 'wrong' but it sounds nice any way and very easy to correct.

boughtnotbrought · 01/06/2019 09:10

Helena Marianne

Malyshek · 01/06/2019 09:10

Forgot to add, regarding the middle name I like Maïa, but if you like Helena so much that you're considering it as a first name (unlike Marianne) then it sounds like that's what you should pick as a second name. Though bear in mind that means you won't be able to use it if you have another daughter.

Barbarafromblackpool · 01/06/2019 09:09

Phoebe Beatrix

Malyshek · 01/06/2019 09:07

I'm not keen on Helena, though that's very subjective. To me it sounds like a soft, slightly plump young woman who doesn't know how to assert herself. Maybe because of literary characters, I don't know. I also feel like it's been overused in the past. It's one of those names like John or Jack that you see everywhere, and as a result doesn't have a lot of personality.

Phoebe is fine though. I wouldn't mind the alliteration, on the contrary. Boris Becker for instance sounds pretty cool.

Icklepup · 01/06/2019 08:51

Phoebe Helena!

Original poster
snowrevolution · 31/05/2019 20:46

missmouse101 - I like Hebe, but too close to "heebyjeebies" for me.

Edging towards Phoebe, with middle name of Helena or Marianne...

OP posts:
JaneGlorianaVillanueva · 31/05/2019 19:42

Phoebe Helena!

Phoebe is very pretty

OhhMyLittleGirls · 31/05/2019 19:38

Phoebe is much nicer imo. Helena is a bit dated I think, and with Phoebe all the names will be six letters with a different initial which is quite neat. Phoebe sounds good with any of the middle names

TatianaLarina · 31/05/2019 19:29

Phoebe by miles. It’s a stunning name. Helena is meh.

Proseccofuelled · 31/05/2019 18:40

Helena is really classy
Phoebe sounds more trendy

MissHenty · 31/05/2019 18:28

Helena is such a fiddle to pronounce. Will be forever correcting people or feeling irked

Use phoebe - better with your surname too

Pearlfish · 31/05/2019 16:48

I think Phoebe goes better with her siblings' names, although I do like Helena too. Marianne and Maia are my favourite of your middle names.

TildaTurnip · 31/05/2019 16:47

Helena is lovely. Phoebe just sounds like noises...nice noises though (I know this sounds ridiculous) and a bit childish.

missmouse101 · 31/05/2019 16:47

Prefer Hebe to those! Could that be an option? Grin

Lobsterquadrille2 · 31/05/2019 16:45

Phoebe Helena is lovely.

Pinkvoid · 31/05/2019 16:09

Helena Beatrix is great.

Original poster
snowrevolution · 31/05/2019 13:37

Mayvis we're not completely obsessed with the Trojan War, although I realise it could seem that way Wink . Mostly just like the feel / meaning of the name Helena.

We do seem drawn to names with classical allusions - Helena, Phoebe and Maia all have Greek roots.

OP posts:
mistermagpie · 31/05/2019 13:24

Phoebe is the best choice. I like Helena but I know three who all spell it like that and all pronounce it differently (he-len-a, he-lay-na and he-lee-na), it must be a right old pain people pronouncing it wrong all the time so for that reason I wouldn't use it.

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