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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls shortlist - interested to hear opinions!

42 replies

tamarisk44 · 15/12/2019 19:21

So husband and I have been through every girl's name in existence (twice!) and these are the only ones he likes. Everything I love was vetoed so I'm having to form an opinion around a list of names that I wouldn't have necessarily chosen myself. I keep just staring at the list and am making zero progress! We've agreed not to discuss names with anyone else, but I could really do with a bit of a sounding board on this, so keen to hear general opinions on the following...

Lily
Rosie
Scarlett
Sienna
Violet
Olive
Margot
Maisie
Holly
Greta
Grace
Aurora
Audrey
Elsie
Flora
Aubrey
Darcy
Luna

Perhaps it's more of a long list but I'm struggling to really narrow it down. There's lots on the list that I like in isolation, but when it comes to calling a child that forever I find I don't even know what I think! I don't want to play it too safe with a "boring" name but also want something that isn't going to sound too silly if she got a serious job as an adult.

OP posts:
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ivykaty44 · 15/12/2019 21:55

Margo
Darcy

Robs20 · 15/12/2019 21:54

Not much help but I love almost all of the names on your original list and new list, we have very similar taste!

Astronica · 15/12/2019 21:53

I think Greta, Audrey and Flora are really lovely names with a great sense of style. Standouts on any list!

There are several other very likeable names on the list: Lily, Rosie, Scarlett, Violet, Maisie, Holly, Grace, Aurora, Elsie. If popularity matters to you make sure you check where these are on the current popular list.

Super trendy but probably will date to this decade and not favourites of mine (first to cross off I think): Sienna, Luna, Darcey, Aubrey.

Okay but just not my taste: Margot, Olive.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/12/2019 21:53

Oh I love Mabel. That’s so sweet, but not overly sickly sweet

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/12/2019 21:52

Okay list (Don’t particularly like or dislike)
Lily
Sienna
Maisie
Holly
Rosie
Grace
Aubrey

Dislike
Flora
Greta
Margot
Olive
Scarlett

Love
Darcy
Violet
Luna.

Forced to choose out of those 3 I’d go with Violet

Original poster
tamarisk44 · 15/12/2019 21:49

Well, he will not budge on the names he does and doesn't like, whereas I am much more open to mulling over a name and seeing if it grows on me. We tried the finding a name you both love thing and we just can't, there isn't one, and it ended in lots of frustrated falling out and the whole process not being fun any more so it's honestly better to be choosing from his shortlist at this point! There's no fun at all in falling out over it and we just have very different approaches to this (mine is better, obv!). Anyway, you should have seen his first shortlist of six boring overused names - I made him do it again, thinking slightly wider, and this list is a relief!

I love Mabel, Betsy, Tabitha, Saffron, Aurelia, Ophelia, to name a few (here's where my names get slated haha!). I love Rosa but he hates it and I can't bear Rosie, which he loves, and he'd definitely call the baby Rosie if we "compromised" with Rosa, so I think I'd lose out there overall. We won't find out what we're having until it's here so hopefully it'll be a boy as we do actually have one single boy's name that we both really like (although obviously my faves were vetoed there too!). I have to say he is the nicest husband in every other way, so the way we're clashing on this is quite a surprise!

OP posts:
HotSince82 · 15/12/2019 21:47

I like Audrey.
I think its the only one I actually like and would comment upon to that effect.
Lots of the others are inoffensive enough to have become relatively popular.
Greta and Olive are, imo not very nice names.

StanleyWalkersThirdWife · 15/12/2019 21:44

Lily - meh
Rosie - meh
Scarlett - really like
Sienna - love
Violet - I like it written down but find it can sound awful said out loud depending on peoples accents. In my accent/voice it sounds awful
Olive - quite nice but prefer olivia
Margot - dislike
Maisie - dislike
Holly - love
Greta - dislike
Grace - dislike
Aurora - pretty but I think quite a brave choice in comparison to the rest of the list?
Audrey - dislike
Elsie - dislike
Flora - nice
Aubrey - pretty actually which surprises me as I dont like audrey
Darcy - ok
Luna - love

TempsPerdu · 15/12/2019 21:32

There are some perfectly lovely names on this list, but ultimately OP you have to find something both of you love, not a name that your DH has chosen and you just tolerate. What names were on your own list? Are there any you could ‘adapt’ slightly to make them appeal to DH?

FWIW I love Greta (it’s DD’s name so obviously highly biased) and like Holly and Flora. Or something like Rosa or Rosanna with Rosie as a nickname? (Rosie itself is too cutesy for me.)

daisypond · 15/12/2019 21:29

Lily - nice but 20 years out of date.
Rosie - too cutesy. Rose or Rosa.
Scarlett - downmarket
Sienna - OK-ish...
Violet- Weed that you try to kill
Olive- On The Buses, Olive Oyl
Margot- elegant,Fonteyn
Maisie- twee. Good if short for Margaret
Holly- boring
Greta- growing on me
Grace-lovely but 20 years behind the times
Aurora- Disney Princess
Audrey- yes. Hepburn.
Elsie- dreary housemaid.
Flora-yes. Classy.
Aubrey- boy’s name
Darcy- downmarket
Luna-downmarket. Selene is better.

VioletVerity · 15/12/2019 20:47

Hi OP

My personal fav is Violet purely because my daughter is called that.

I do like these too:
Holly, Lily, Luna & Maisie

Jj2431 · 15/12/2019 20:47

Lily - Lovely name but SO popular. How about Lillian?

Rosie- too cutesy but how about Rose, Rosa, Rosalie, Rosalia, Rosaline or Rosetta?

Scarlett- okay but scar as a nickname nooo.

Sienna- No

Violet- Violent

Olive- No.

Margot- Love

Maisie- nice and underused

Holly- Love

Greta - horrible harsh name

Freya- ok

Grace- Nice

Aurora- like it.

Audrey- No

Elsie- nice

Flora- no

Audrey- boys name to me

Darcy- no so overdone

Luna- Lunatic

LarkDescending · 15/12/2019 20:42

I like Flora and Greta from your list.

Suggestions (if you’re open to them): Cora, Polly, Rosa, Sasha, Tessa.

PlantPotting · 15/12/2019 20:31

My favourites from your list:

Lily
Rosie
Scarlett
Sienna
Violet
Olive
Margot
Maisie
Holly
Aurora
Elsie
Luna

Great list - you have some lovely names on it. What names do you like that DH has vetoed

Alez · 15/12/2019 19:52

What names do you like OP? I think all of those names are perfectly nice, but I wouldn't call my DD any of them. They're all names that pop up on these boards quite a lot though so I think lots of posters will like them. I'd probably go for Audrey if I had to pick a favourite.

Hayls17 · 15/12/2019 19:40

We are in the same position, lots of my favourites either have been outright vetoed or they don’t go with our surname, so we are having to go and make a list of names we like but I don’t love.
Scarlett is my favourite off your list, it’s my daughters name. Second is Sienna which we are considering for DD2. Others I like are Rosie and Grace.

RandDandC · 15/12/2019 19:36

My personal favourites off the list:
•Lily (timeless)
•Violet (sophisticates)
•Holly (suitable for all ages)
•Aurora (beautiful with cute nn like Rory)
•Elsie (again timeless)
•Flora (elegant)