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Baby names

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

Original poster

Classic but ‘not posh’ girl’s name

96 replies

Zitouna · 21/02/2020 16:42

Hello, we have recently found out we’re having a girl. I already have an Alasdair, but DH and I have never yet agreed on a girl’s name. He is keen on Penelope - which I have vetoed as I don’t like Penny and think it would be inevitable. His other very subjective requirements are ‘not too posh’ and ‘not the same name as someone I don’t like’!

I like classic names, mostly, ideally not too popular. Names that I like - but can’t seem to pick a front runner, are:

Elizabeth
Stella
Estelle
Imogen
Iris
Simone
Merle (DH strong veto, sadly)
Viviana
Marilla (that’s an Anne of Green Gables reference, not sure if I could do it, but nn Rilla is pretty!)

Any thoughts? Anything else I might like?

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Original poster
Zitouna · 23/02/2020 20:39

@bxua oh I do like Nancy! Nancy Elizabeth is lovely.

OP posts:
85NM · 23/02/2020 18:09

Eleanor also x

85NM · 23/02/2020 18:07

Florence
Eloise
Emmy
Alexandra
Isobel
Aurora
Seraphine
Evangeline
I guess everyone's definition of 'posh' is different though. I have a friend called Penelope, I think it's a very beautiful and classic name and everyone shortens her name to Penny.

bxua · 23/02/2020 17:57

@zitouna

Nancy? Maybe with a long middle name

Nancy Elizabeth

Fifthtimelucky · 23/02/2020 09:09

I'm a fan of classic but not posh names.

For me, posh names often end in A, so things like:

Arabella, Araminta, Antonia, Octavia, Henrietta and Cordelia

Lucinda (but not Lucy)

Georgiana/Georgina, but not Georgia

Isabella, Francesca, Olivia and Sophia (but not Isobel, Frances, Olive or Sophie) used to be posh, but not any more as they are so popular

Amanda may have been posh, but was very popular in the 70s when I was a teenager so I don't think of it as at all posh.

Ancient Greek names also used to be posh (eg Antigone, Persephone, Hermione) but are probably now too popular to be.

Alexandra, Victoria, Fiona, Diana, Julia and Maria are on the cusp between classic and posh.

Other classic names:

Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Sarah, Catherine, Helen/Helena, Caroline, Rose, Anne/Anna, Jane, Eleanor, Rebecca, Rachel/Rachael, Charlotte, Emma/Emily, Laura, Isobel/Isabel, Lucy, Alice and Frances.

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 23/02/2020 02:47

Really like Imogen - I dont think its posh at all!

Viviana is a refreshing spin on Vivienne which is so overused. There are three in my family alone!! It is a pretty name but it's a little posh! Viviana is nice because it's a fresher version I feel like. It's also a bit posh though.

I'll suggest

Viveca - its Swedish and super pretty and fresher and less posh than Vivienne

Lucienne or Luciana - I think Lucy names are classics that are sweet and not posh!

Lola, Lana or Lila - these are all kinda similar but all classic and not posh in my book

Grace as a first name is lovely. Its overused in the middle spot.

I like Elizabeth but only with the nickname Bette/Betty.

Scarlette, Evangeline, Violet, Bridget, Anneliese, Loretta, Juliet and Dahlia are also classics that I don't think are posh but maybe your DH would! It's hard to say.

Posh names to me are:
Victoria - thanks Posh Spice!
Olivia
Rachel
Rachelle
Isabel
Rebecca
Odette
Gemma - although I love it!
Genevieve- I love this one too
Jennifer
Kelly - dont know why but I feel like this is posh in a subtle way
Juliana

But I think everyone has different tastes for this sort of thing!

Sewingbea · 22/02/2020 21:02

Marilla/ Rilla would be my choice if I had the nerve. Lovely nick name.

midsomermurderess · 22/02/2020 18:45

Polly is lovely, so fresh.

DaddysGirl36 · 22/02/2020 18:12

I have a Polly Elizabeth. Not unheard of but certainly not popular. It's not posh but I think it's pretty & classic. It gets lots of compliments

Lavenderblues · 22/02/2020 15:19

All lovely names and not sure what would is meant by 'posh' or what's bad about that

I also don't understand what makes a name 'posh'? And why that's negative?

LightDrizzle · 22/02/2020 15:09

Sarah
Anna

ceeveebee · 22/02/2020 15:02

If you like Elizabeth but don’t want a Liz, then maybe Eliza? I have one and her name is never shortened

Violetparis · 22/02/2020 14:54

Jemima
Jessica
Helena

SalmonOfKnowledge · 22/02/2020 14:44

Eve
Sarah
Lucy

SalmonOfKnowledge · 22/02/2020 14:43

Jane
Mary
Anna
Marianne
Elinor
Juliet
Susan
Margaret
Lydia

Very jane austen inspired

Mammyloveswine · 22/02/2020 14:41

I really like Emily!

NightsOfCabiria · 22/02/2020 14:15

Alice
Thea
Taymar
Lucy

clippityclop · 22/02/2020 14:09

Anna, Sarah, Ellen, Olivia, Kathryn, Isobel, Alice.

midsomermurderess · 22/02/2020 14:04

Classic, very underused, names are Mary, Jane and Ann. (With an 'e' if you prefer)

whattodo2019 · 22/02/2020 13:47

Meredith
Victoria
Harriet
Martha

HeronLanyon · 22/02/2020 13:42

My fave of your possible possibles is Catherine. I also adore Lydia (but don’t quite think of it as classic - is it?).

Original poster
Zitouna · 22/02/2020 13:38

@Sewingbea yes, have read the all of them and Rilla is my favourite! Always makes me smile when she wishes she was known by her middle name (Bertha!) instead...

So much to think about. Pleased with the generally positive reaction to Elizabeth - thinking about Catherine and Lydia too (an Austen theme obviously).

To be clear, I have no objection to ‘posh’ myself - it’s my DH’s description of what he doesn’t like!

OP posts:
Surfer25 · 22/02/2020 12:07

I love Clemency

Alexandra is good but may fall into myths definition of posh whatever it is.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 22/02/2020 11:59

Catherine

Fifthtimelucky · 22/02/2020 11:49

I love these threads - mainly as it always surprises me how different my view of classic name is from some other people's!