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Baby names

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

Original poster

We've found the name but scared of people's reaactions

308 replies

Joeybee · 23/07/2019 21:45

Baby #2 is due in October. I already have a son, Stanley.
I'm fussy with names
Nothing in top 50
Nothing with strong R or W sound (clashes with surname)
Not ambiguous to say/spell
Vintage or classic name
Has nickname options.
Middle name will be Elsie

So after a LOT of researching a name came to me out of nowhere. It's very unusual and a vintage girl name. I love it and Husband does. However when I look it up on websites, it seems to be a name people either love, or hate.
So now I'm doubting myself.
Do I just go with the name that feels right, and that meets my criteria and brace myself for a few possibly insensitive/negative comments OR just go back to the drawing board again?

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Ellmau · 23/07/2019 23:12

It's beautiful.

Ohyesiam · 23/07/2019 23:11

Ooh I love it. Nickname minty.

Sakura7 · 23/07/2019 23:10

I also never heard of it until Crazy Rich Asians.

It's not a bad name per se, but it definitely fails one of your tests. Your DD would often be asked to spell it. It's a very unusual name that lots of people haven't heard of, she'll get a lot of "What? How do you spell that?"

julensaor · 23/07/2019 23:08

Araminta is lovely, reminds me of The Borrowers.
That was Arriety which is nicer, it really does sound like a joke name 'Araminta' and Marnie isn't a derivative. But that is my opinion and you will never please everyone. If we were all in the top 50 names what a boring world it would be.

Isatis · 23/07/2019 23:07

When I started reading I was convinced it was going to be Gertrude.

GabsAlot · 23/07/2019 23:04

My car was called minty he was a polo-just saying

TuesdaySunshine · 23/07/2019 23:04

Araminta sounds like a maiden aunt in a Roald Dahl book to me. But it's what you think that counts. I'm not sure MN is the place to try out baby names tbh - too many conflicting opinions.

whattodo2019 · 23/07/2019 23:03

I like it. We have an Araminta at school, known as Minty.

MadisonAvenue · 23/07/2019 23:00

Elsie goes better with Stanley. Araminta Elsie doesn't really work.

FrancisCrawford · 23/07/2019 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorriedSENMum · 23/07/2019 22:59

Poor kid will spend her entire life repeating her name & spelling it out. Literally nobody will get it right. If you like the name Elsie (old woman name IMO) then use that, at least people should be able to spell it. Its such a PITA having a name people misspell & I speak as someone with a VERY common name which 95% of the time is misspelt!

IdblowJonSnow · 23/07/2019 22:58

I like it and like minty even more.
Made me think of Moondial too.
Never come across it in real life. Agree u should stop worrying and go for it!

Throughabushbackwards · 23/07/2019 22:58

I know an Araminta. She's called Minty by practically everyone so I think you'd need to expect some form of nickname.

PussGirl · 23/07/2019 22:55

I think Minty is awful & it's not a nickname, it's a diminutive.

Theworldcouldbemymollusc · 23/07/2019 22:55

I’ve just had a really weird deja vu feeling. I’m sure this exact thread has happened before......

Catsandchardonnay · 23/07/2019 22:53

Please don’t call your child Minty as a nickname, and if you insist please don’t ever go to Liverpool where it means smelly or gone off. See Urban Dictionary.

Mayborn · 23/07/2019 22:52

I wouldn’t choose it, it makes me think of a curry house near where I used to live (googled it and there are a few).

If you like it that’s what matters but it also doesn’t go with Elsie. It ends in an vowel and Elsie starts with a vowel which is always a bit of a mouthful, plus the name types are v different too. If you’re happy with those two things then do it.

Thatnovembernight · 23/07/2019 22:52

I have always loved Araminta - go for it. I also like Arrietty and Adelaide.

Smile
Lindy2 · 23/07/2019 22:52

I quite like it. Minty is a nice nickname.
I think the name is growing in popularity though so you may find, in a few years time, that it's not as unusual as you thought. If you love it though that shouldn't bother you.

GetOffTheTableMabel · 23/07/2019 22:51

I think it’s pretty. I think it does go with Stanley - they are similarly quirky but both proper names.
I think you should definitely use the name since you both love it but I don’t think you should tell people beforehand. People take that as an invitation to try and change your mind (which is arrogant and v poor manners frankly).

Tweetingmagpie · 23/07/2019 22:50

I like it and love nn minty x

tararabumdeay · 23/07/2019 22:50

Almerentia -don't be daft.

indigo13 · 23/07/2019 22:49

Araminta is beautiful, please use it! I used a marmite name and we love it so we don't care at all if someone doesn't like it.names do grow on disapproving relatives. Elsie is boring though x

Tavannach · 23/07/2019 22:49

I like Araminta and Minty. I don't like Elsie, sorry.
I think they both go with Stanley but in completely different ways. Araminta and Elsie just don't work together imo.

Youwantshoesinashoeshop · 23/07/2019 22:48

Personally I don't enjoy the mouthfeel of it. That is it. But I'm not you and I didn't choose my kids' names on anything other than 'yep like the sound of that': choose what you like.