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

Emily vs Emmeline

28 replies

Hermionieslocket · 11/02/2020 19:38

Which do you prefer?

I love that Austen/classic/traditional English baby name feel Eg. Pride and prejudice

I’ve contemplated the name Emma, but feel it’s too short.
I’ve always liked Emily but worry it’s so overused.
Emmeline is another name, I like the link to Pankhurst...but my worry is:
-feels trendy
-confused with Emily (as sounds so similar)
-some people may be unaware that it’s a classic name and think I’ve mashed up a name and invented Emmeline which would really annoy me.

Which name would suit my theme more?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 14/02/2020 06:14

I like Emma and don't mind Emmeline, but it is very girly.
Emily is probably my least favourite girl's name ever. Apart from the fact that there must be 4 in every secondary school class, it just sounds so drippy.

Emmelina · 13/02/2020 14:03

I’m an Emmeline, so may be biased. I quite like my name. I shorten it to Emma quite a bit.

Musttryharder21 · 13/02/2020 13:50

Emmie?

newtothis20 · 12/02/2020 22:26

I love Emma! All pretty but definitely think Emma fits your brief the best, as well as being a lovely, feminine and strong name that is timeless

WestCountryLady · 12/02/2020 16:10

I love Emma, it's on our short list.
We have some friends who have an Emmie which is cute and suits her as she's very girly.
Not keen on Emmeline at all though.

MikeUniformMike · 12/02/2020 15:55

Emma is lovely. Emily is fine but popular. I don't like Emmeline

Singingatmidnight · 12/02/2020 07:54

Emily or Emma.

Emmeline Pankhurst, while an important historical figure, is not someone I'd necessarily want to be named after. The name itself is a bit frilly too.

List of names in Jane Austen:

www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2011/10/names-from-jane-austen.html

RachelEllenRE · 12/02/2020 07:48

I much, much prefer Emily and Emma.

Lebkuchenlovers · 12/02/2020 07:46

I prefer Emma

Emily has become overused and dull.

Emmeline is too frilly imo

diddlediddle · 12/02/2020 07:39

Emmeline. Can always shorten to Emma. Don't think it's too trendy.

Treaclepie19 · 12/02/2020 07:36

I love Emmeline

june2007 · 11/02/2020 23:48

Prefer Emily, but Emeline is less common if your looking for something more unique, but I always think of the AA milne poem. (Emeline has not been seen...)

Heh1991 · 11/02/2020 23:43

I like all 3 but find Emma and Emily a bit overused and boring.

I’d go for Emmeline because it’s more unusual and could still be Emma/Emmy for short. The Pankhurst connection is really cool! I also wouldn’t worry that some may think it’s a made up name 1) I think it’s unlikely 2) if they do you‘ll probably never know unless they are rude and say so and 3) if they do I’d take great pleasure in correcting them. You can’t overcompensate for someone else’s potential ignorance! It’s a gorgeous name!

DramaAlpaca · 11/02/2020 23:10

I do like Emmeline, it's long but I don't think it's frilly or fussy. Emily is OK, a very gentle sounding name. Emma is my favourite name, short, neat, classic. I love it.

MyNameHasBeenTaken · 11/02/2020 21:13

If I couldn't be Emma, then Deborah was my next choice.
I know Emmas of all ages. From 2 to 50s.

CottonSock · 11/02/2020 21:01

Emily

Whatsyourflava · 11/02/2020 21:00

I always wanted to be called Emma too @MyNameHasBeenTaken ! Such a classic beautiful name

MyNameHasBeenTaken · 11/02/2020 20:54

Emmeline in dd class has only ever been known as emmie.
Emmeline is a nice strong name and is starting to grow on me as I type this.
My great granny was an Emily, born in 1901! Emily grace.
I would chose Emily for my family history reasons.
I love emma. I always wanted to be called emma as a kid.

Iwouldlikesomecake · 11/02/2020 20:32

I work with a lovely Emmeline!

Pajamagirl · 11/02/2020 20:19

Emmeline . So pretty , and love the Pankhurst link too
Emily .. meh ( apologies to anyone called Emily )

Poppydaisies · 11/02/2020 20:15

Emily is so so boring due to overuse.

And like Emma

Whatsyourflava · 11/02/2020 19:55

Emma is just gorgeous

bridgetreilly · 11/02/2020 19:51

Emmeline. I don't think it's that trendy or that anyone will think it's made up, nor will they confuse it with Emily. I think you are overthinking this.

Ellmau · 11/02/2020 19:49

Emmeline is more unusual and the Pankhurst link is quite cool, but it strikes me as a bit more Victorian than Jane Austen. Emma is the most Austen name obviously.

Kanga83 · 11/02/2020 19:44

Emma is one of my favourite names. Classic and timeless. Emily has been done to death and there will be one or two in every year group at school. Emmeline I love and you could always nn with Emma giving her a choice when older.