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Baby names

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

Girls name - Gladys?

192 replies

Sheffield2000 · 18/02/2020 04:29

I'm pregnant with my second daughter. Our first is Elsie (middle name Alice). My husband and I have always liked the name Gladys and are thinking of naming our second daughter this.

To me, its cute whilst baby is little and she grows up I like to think of it as a strong, and elegant name. I also like that it's unique and there are not lots of Gladys's out there. But on the other hand, i'm getting myself a bit worried that its a name that a lot of people do not like. I try to stay away from forums, yet here I am positing on one, worrying about the negative comments people have posted about this name in previous threads! For anyone else who likes Gladys, what middle name do you think could match well with it? Elsie was such an easy choice, it was always our favourite name. We are really struggling to be confident with our choice this time!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MrsSiriusBlack1 · 18/02/2020 22:53

Horrible, don’t saddle the poor child with it

Hepsibar · 18/02/2020 22:52

If you can be not to, please dont slumber your beautiful baby with this name.

seltaeb · 18/02/2020 22:50

It does sound rather old fashioned. I wouldn't.

Pipandmum · 18/02/2020 22:48

Sorry do not like it at all.

ladycarlotta · 18/02/2020 22:45

Someone's got to bring Gladys back! It's definitely of the vintage that's getting more popular now. Olive, Ada, Elsie etc get a lot of love, why not Gladys?

MummySharn · 18/02/2020 22:01

I really don’t like the name Gladys

Doilooklikeatourist · 18/02/2020 22:00

DHs Nan was Gwladys, didn’t like that spelling and don’t like Gladys either
I think you’ll get lots of raised eyebrows at the name
Sorry , but not my baby , not my choice

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 18/02/2020 21:57

Please no. It’s awful.

DramaAlpaca · 18/02/2020 21:56

My lovely grandmother was Gladys Mary. I can't say I like the name, but she was awesome.

Grasspigeons · 18/02/2020 21:44

I really like Gladys. It sounds cheerful and elegant to me. There are a few Irises around and i think its prettier than Iris but a similar ending. I also much prefer it to Gloria!

user1493494961 · 18/02/2020 21:37

Gladys is dreadful, there aren't many around for a reason. There are some lovely 'vintage' names but Gladys isn't one of them and definitely not elegant.

Georgia2001 · 18/02/2020 20:09

Georgia’s a lovely name

spiderlight · 18/02/2020 19:53

Just noticed that you asked about middle names. Sticking with 'my' Gladys and Elsie's family for inspiration, Elsie's was Maria, pronounced like Mariah Carey. Gladys didn't have a middle name, for some reason, but their other siblings were Esther Mary and Harriet Ann.

spiderlight · 18/02/2020 19:51

Your post has made me smile so much, @Sheffield2000! When I was growing up, we lived next door to my mum's two aunts, who had raised her after her own mum died, and they were called Gladys and Elsie. Auntie Elsie was the funny, silly one, very young at heart, and Auntie Gladys was very quiet and gentle and sensible, but they were both so incredibly kind. The two names go together perfectly for me because whenever I see one, I think of the other and of my two amazing great aunties.

villamariavintrapp · 18/02/2020 19:37

I love it, always thought it was a bit of a hidden gem. Also love Gloria.

BreatheAndFocus · 18/02/2020 19:18

I’m not keen. For some reason Gladys hasn’t stood the test of time as well as some other older names. To me, it’s the kind of name someone uses in a joke.

Elsie is cute, and can always be ‘extended’ to Elsa if wished, but Gladys just isn’t the same and I think has a different feel to Elsie.

So - how about:

Dora
Coral
Margaret
Marguerite
Maude
Violet
Inez
Edith nn Edie
Beatrice

If you do choose Gladys, then I think good middle names would be Elizabeth, Margaret or Mary.

Singingatmidnight · 18/02/2020 19:02

I know a young Glynis, which is nice.

Twenty2 · 18/02/2020 18:56

Gladys Emmanuel? Wink

Ritascornershop · 18/02/2020 18:53

Sorry, I think it sounds very hard. Sort of a dim but angry office manager type.

How about;
Edie
Iris
Sybil
Esther
Audrey

june2007 · 18/02/2020 18:49

I haave known a Glynis, Gladys and a Glenys. Why not?

MyuMe · 18/02/2020 18:48

It's as bad as Doris

fantasmasgoria1 · 18/02/2020 18:45

Sorry its an absolutely dreadful name.

iklboo · 18/02/2020 18:42

.....all over

Choosername · 18/02/2020 18:38

Oh god no! First thing I think of with the name Gladys is Maid Marian and her Merry Men, and the old lady Gladys 🤣🤣

And then I think of Gladys, phoebe’s painting in friends 😂

Girls name - Gladys?
Girls name - Gladys?
Liddell · 18/02/2020 18:37

Only Mildred is worse than Gladys