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Baby names

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

Original poster

Margaret, Morag or Jean?

142 replies

soundsystem · 20/07/2019 17:24

Margaret would get shorted to Margot, Greta or Peggy, depending on which best suited her.

Morag would just be Morag. (Though DD1 has suggested she might call her Morag the Toerag)

Jean might become Jeannie.

Give me your thoughts, please!

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Fatkins · 23/07/2019 11:39

There was a Morag in my home town and not only was she one of the 'cool' kids, she was always called the prettiest girl in town. She was really pretty. I'd far rather that way round than being a great hulking tomboy, like I was, called Amelia-lily-bella-rose-mae or something.

Proseccoinamug · 23/07/2019 11:25

can't believe someone has just ripped in to all the op's (great) choices and then suggested fucking Jeanette and Jeannine as alternatives confused😂😂😂.

I agree, they’re not lovely names either! They certainly weren’t on my list! I was just trying to work with the names the op has given, and imo they’re an improvement 😂

feellikeanalien · 22/07/2019 20:40

My sister is Morag and my Granny used to call her Molly for short.

The other two names were my Granny's and my aunt's.

I do see the association with older generation names but I think that this also used to be the case with names like Olivia and Alice and they are very popular now.

In order I would pick Morag first, then Margaret, then Jean.

I do agree that Morag would be more unusual in England.

YourEggnogIsBetterThanMine · 22/07/2019 20:25

Morag....the cow from Fully Booked
Morag....the witch from The Ewoks

Chocolatedaim · 22/07/2019 20:15

I’m in east London and have a jean!
I thought we were the only ones GrinGrin

Courtney555 · 22/07/2019 19:59

Jean I love, I want it as a future DDs middle name.

I went to school with Morag. Teased as Morag the Bore Hag Confused

beanaseireann · 22/07/2019 19:55

I really dislike Morag. Hard sounding and too near Hag.
I dont like Jean either but do like Jane.
Margaret is nice.

Original poster
soundsystem · 22/07/2019 18:06

YoungBritishPissArtist we are in East London... So we may find there are a few Jeans by the time she goes to school!

Haven't heard of any Morags around these parts yet...

OP posts:
PaigeMaddisonX · 22/07/2019 17:24

I’m sorry but I really don’t like any, although it isn’t my decision but if I had to choose out of all of them, jean, they just seem very dated to me but it’s personal preference

YoungBritishPissArtist · 22/07/2019 17:20

The PPs saying they're old lady names - apart from a few classics, names are cyclical. In a few years Lily, Ellie, Mia, et al will be dated and unfashionable.

FWIW, the most hipster couple I know in East London have a Jean 😁

LarkDescending · 22/07/2019 16:04

Greta for me. I really like that.

Fatkins · 22/07/2019 15:06

I can't believe someone has just ripped in to all the op's (great) choices and then suggested fucking Jeanette and Jeannine as alternatives Confused😂😂😂.

No offence to anyone called Jeanette or Jeannine. Personal taste and all that.

I agree with the pp who said it's refreshing to hear strong names for girls instead of all the frilly ones I hear so often. It seems as if only boys get to have cool, strong names, whiles girls have to be the equivalent of a Mr Kipling fondant fancy - sickly sweet and covered in frilly icing. Just my PoV.

Proseccoinamug · 22/07/2019 14:05

They’re not lovely names.
Not even old lady chic. More like someone’s miserable old Aunty.

I’d rethink. Or use one of the slightly nicer diminutives - Margot is better and a name in its own right. Maggie or Meg have a much nicer sound.

Morag is horrible. But if you live in Scotland you might get away with it.

Jean... isn’t nice. Jeannie better. Jennie? Jeanine? Jeanette? Jane? Janie?

Pinktinker · 22/07/2019 13:54

They’re all awful. I’d pluck for Jean if someone had a gun to my head. They just all sound like mean old ladies.

MikeUniformMike · 21/07/2019 20:21

Jeannie is lovely.

Piggywaspushed · 21/07/2019 18:18

When I grew up in the 80s in Scotland, Jean was an old name , even then! I knew a few Morags and they all hated their name. Knew a few Maggies , which was the normal way to shorten Margaret then. I think Mrs T may have reduced the popularity of that!

They are very Scottish names and I don't think they would be said very lyrically south of the Border.

VetOnCall · 21/07/2019 17:46

Morag is horrible, it's really harsh. Peggy is also pretty terrible, it makes me think of a certain type of American woman, like Peggy Bundy from Married With Children. I hate cutesy girly-girl names but those are too far in the other direction imo.

Fatkins · 21/07/2019 17:31

I love Margaret and all the possible shortenings you've mentioned! So lovely.

I also like Jean but, not sure why, I'm not in love with it.

mrsw2 · 21/07/2019 17:01

I think they're all a bit old fashioned, sorry

daisypond · 21/07/2019 16:49

They’re names that are coming into fashion again. I know three under fives called Margaret and Jean. They seem fresh to me.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 21/07/2019 16:41

Are you giving birth to an old lady? They are all awful, especially Morag. Poor child.

RuthW · 21/07/2019 13:44

I love Margaret but dislike the other two. Margaret Charlotte doesn't sound right though.

Equatoria · 21/07/2019 10:25

Norah? I definitely typed Morag! Spellcheck getting above itself again.

Equatoria · 21/07/2019 10:24

Norah

PineappleSeahorse · 21/07/2019 10:08

I'm Scottish and Morag still sounds harsh to me.