Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Ophelia or Effie

56 replies

Rio5555 · 28/01/2020 23:39

Ophelia nn Effie or just Effie? I normally prefer a full version on a birth certificate but likewise if we use Effie 90% of the time is there much point having Ophelia on the birth certificate?

PS I know Ophelia is a love hate name on here (and I’ve been prewarned about the ‘a feel of your bum’ etc) but i love it.

So...

Ophelia Florence S
Or
Effie Florence S

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Mamabear88 · 29/01/2020 20:28

I absolutely love the name Ophelia, it gets my vote

Musmerian · 29/01/2020 20:23

Traditionally Effie is short for Euphemia.

SpruceTree · 29/01/2020 20:18

Ophelia as I would be worried about "F-ing hell" nicknames.

Cbeebiesrehab · 29/01/2020 19:15

We announced my daughter as Evelyn ‘Effie’ when she was born. She is exclusively known as Effie but wanted a more formal BC name, plus Evelyn has strong family links. Also know of an Ophelia known as Effie through a friend.

BillHadersNewWife · 29/01/2020 13:53

Love I fear names like Sharon and Linda are only a little way off being resurrected.

After all...the generation who will name their children names like their Grandmas had are not that far from having babies...I'm in my 40s and my peers all have a penchant for names like our Grannies had...like "May" and Isabel and so on.

In under ten years, there'll be a load of Joannes or something!

LoveIsLovely · 29/01/2020 13:04

The only certain way to find an unusual name these days is to call your child something utterly prosaic like Jane or Dave.

I'm not even in an English speaking country and I know of two Ophelias.

CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate · 29/01/2020 13:02

@EmMcK Heloise is gorgeous as well. Mentally storing that one, though my eggs are nearly all pensioned off now!

Original poster
Rio5555 · 29/01/2020 12:45

@Pigsmightfly212 four? I only know of one and was hoping it was a slightly more unusual choice but maybe not!

OP posts:
Urkiddingright · 29/01/2020 12:40

Ophelia is lovely. I’ve never really understood the point in shortening names.

Pigsmightfly212 · 29/01/2020 12:32

The four little girls called Ophelia that we know all go by their full name, but Effie is a cure shortening. I'd go for it.

Original poster
Rio5555 · 29/01/2020 09:01

I think we’ll go with Ophelia but announce Effie as as a nickname at the same time. Ophelia just sounds a big name to a little baby! I understand what PP have said about a nickname coming organically but I’ve seen a few announcements lately along the lines of Charlotte ‘Lottie’ xxx and Rafferty ‘Raffy’ xxx I think it’s a good way of making clear a baby/nickname is your preferred option.

OP posts:
mytypeonpaper · 29/01/2020 07:43

Agree with PPs Ophelia then Nn Effie

BobbyBlueCat · 29/01/2020 07:39

I prefer the full name on the BC and then she has the option to use that when she's older or choose another abbreviation if she 'grows out' of Effie.

And Ophelia is beautiful.

Rachel345 · 29/01/2020 07:37

Ophelia is beautiful and the natural shortening is Offie in my experience. But I wouldn't shorten it at all.

Euphemia is often shortened to Effie.

Whatsyourflava · 29/01/2020 07:25

I adore the name Ophelia so I’d go with that on the birth certificate

Rachel345 · 29/01/2020 07:24

Ophelia definitely. Then she can choose her nickname or use the full name.

Euphemia is another option.

Both beautiful names.

daisypond · 29/01/2020 05:38

Effie is short for Euphemia.

calimommy · 29/01/2020 04:16

@LoveIsLovely I have an Alexander too and he is Xander for short! Although most of the time he is Alexander ☺️

calimommy · 29/01/2020 04:13

I try not to be black & white in my general life but one thing I am absolute on is using a full name for birth certificate purposes and then calling your child whatever you like afterwards -which may very well include their full name. Effie is very sweet but not a name as such, any more than Sebbie (Sebastian) is a name -my third child, we try to use his full name but often things are mixed.

LoveIsLovely · 29/01/2020 04:01

Effie sounds like eff off to me.

Agree that nicknames just happen and you can't decide them. My son is named Alexander and my mother (!) wanted him to be Xander but he's always been Ally.

Dinosauraddict · 29/01/2020 03:57

I think to most younger generation Effie just has Hunger Games connotations these days... I really like Ophelia though.

Shev1996 · 29/01/2020 03:37

I love Ophelia, I don’t like Florence however

Jossina · 29/01/2020 03:35

Definitely Ophelia Florence. Gives the child a chance to be something other than Effie/Effing/Ef as she gets older.

Astronica · 29/01/2020 03:13

I would use Ophelia Florence with nn Effie.

EmMcK · 29/01/2020 01:19

Ophelia is a gorgeous name, really beautiful. I wish I had had either and Ophelia or a Heloise