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Baby names

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

Original poster

Heather, Hazel, Iris, Mirren

66 replies

mistermagpie · 29/10/2019 11:54

Baby is due in five weeks, we're pretty set on a boys name but girls we can't pin down.

I was down to Hazel and Iris at one point but the other two have since come into play...

Thoughts? Are they all awful? Which is the best? We're in Scotland if that's in any way relevant and my two sons have very Scottish names.

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aweedropofsancerre · 30/10/2019 08:02

My favourite is Heather .... although heather and hazel were popular when I was a child and I knew a few. Certainly not popular now. I think Hazel is quite boring compared to a strong Scottish boys name like Hamish. I like Mairi, Fenella, Isobel, Kirsten..... anyway good luck!

EleanorShellstrop100 · 30/10/2019 07:29

Hazel or iris 😍 don’t like Mirren

Shadow1234 · 29/10/2019 21:22

From your list I would choose Mirren.

What about Merryn? (I know it's not a scottish name, but believe it means 'joy' - which is quite nice)

GinasGirl · 29/10/2019 21:09

I love Mirren!

Sexnotgender · 29/10/2019 21:04

Love Mirren.

What about Eilidh? My favourite girls name.

Original poster
mistermagpie · 29/10/2019 21:02

See, interesting that Hazel is 'having a moment' because there were hardly any born in Scotland last year - less than 20. It's a name I loved for years because my primary school teacher was called Hazel! But it is similar to Hamish and that irritates me a bit.

I think I'm leaning towards Iris but Heather ticks a lot of boxes (two syllables, no obvious shortening, easy to say and spell, not too common, Scottish and goes nicely with our surname)

OP posts:
BykerBykerWooooo · 29/10/2019 19:58

Heather is a beautiful name ❤️

diddlediddle · 29/10/2019 19:54

Heather and Iris are the best options - both lovely. Heather does sound fresh for a baby.

Hazel is nice but I think it's too close to Hamish. Plus as pps have said it is having a bit of a moment and is not as timeless as the others maybe.

Mirren is perfectly nice but if it's your least fave I think definitely pick Iris or Heather.

MrsBertBibby · 29/10/2019 18:51

Iris, fir me. I really dislike Heather and Hazel.

Mirren I had not heard of but it is growing on me.

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 29/10/2019 18:49

They’re all beautiful - you have chosen some lovely names!

My favourite is Mirren, then probably Hazel.

MrsRedFly · 29/10/2019 18:43

Or Fiona?

Not many babies/children are called Fiona now

VenusClapTrap · 29/10/2019 18:26

Love Hazel and Iris.

FizzyGreenWater · 29/10/2019 16:01

Also, Hazel seems to be having a 'moment' - I've seen it creep in to posts on here in the last year. I have a suspicion that it might turn out to be a mini-Isla and get quite popular. I would put a tenner on the fact that if you were posting a couple of years ago OP, you wouldn't have even thought of Hazel.

FizzyGreenWater · 29/10/2019 16:00

I really don't like Heather and Hazel, they seem really ploddy and ugly to me, as well as out of date.

Mirren is ok!

Iris is by far the best. How about Inga?

Original poster
mistermagpie · 29/10/2019 14:44

Hmm a mixed bag then!! Mirren is a traditional scottish name, so nobody would really bat an eyelid here or think of Helen Mirren either I don't think. It's probably my least favourite of the four though, DH likes it.

People say Iris is common but there were on 37 born in the whole of Scotland last year, so it must depend where you live. I do know one but she's about five.

Hazel is my favourite but her brother is Hamish and I worry about repeating the 'Hay' sound....

Heather is quite common for 30-50 year olds where I live (I know about 6-7) but rare for a baby.

OP posts:
butterflycatcher · 29/10/2019 14:29

Agree with poster above. If you have a shortlist why not wait until she arrives and see what suits her most. We did this and after a couple of days with our son knew exactly what name fitted him best.

Bowerbird5 · 29/10/2019 13:53

Had an aunt Hazel who was lovely. Know a child called Heather and it was my DD MIL name. I think it is pretty. Haven't heard of Mirren. Friends grandchild is Eilise which i think is pretty. Not that keen on Iris just knew one so it isn't very common.
Why don't you wait until she arrives and see which one suits her more.

Clangus00 · 29/10/2019 13:42

Make it Murrin/Murren.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 29/10/2019 13:37

Heather and or Iris. If you’re bothered about popularity I’d go with Heather. Iris are everywhere.
Don’t like Hazel. No reason
Mirren is awful. It sounds like Midden.

Drogosnextwife · 29/10/2019 13:15

I would never have thought of Helen Mirren.
Also like Heather. Don't really like Iris.

welshy2240 · 29/10/2019 13:15

Love Hazel

Drogosnextwife · 29/10/2019 13:13

I like Mirren. We are in Scotland and I have boys, they have pretty Scottish names too. If I had a girl I always said Mirren would be in the top 3 for her name.

mumumof2 · 29/10/2019 13:13

Similar to Mirren - Marin or Maren

RockinHippy · 29/10/2019 13:11

I like Iris as a name too, but it's become far too common for my liking

merryhouse · 29/10/2019 13:10

Is Mirren a traditional name in Scotland? - because everywhere I've ever lived people will immediately think of Helen Mirren and assume that's why she has the name.

What about Marren? apparently it's a form of Marina used in Denmark etc.

Iris is old enough to be okay now (anyone remember when Emily was a really old-fashioned name?) but I think Heather and Hazel are more in my age-bracket (I'm 50).

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