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Baby names

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

Original poster

Serious girls’ names

89 replies

HarrietM87 · 12/03/2020 20:21

I’m pregnant again (after many losses and it’s early days so might not work out) and if it’s a girl I’d really like a strong and serious name - not one that ends in “ie” or “a” sounds, and nothing cutesy or frilly or floral.

Any thoughts? My son has a classic Irish name so one that would go with that would be nice.

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RoseReally · 13/03/2020 13:19

I really like Mary. Also quite like Nora, DH thought I was cracked. Love Maeve as several people have suggested. Also really like Antonia, which I know ends in an 'a' but isn't frilly at all to me.

Thefaceofboe · 13/03/2020 13:13

@HarrietM87 imagine my suggestion of Harriet, didn’t look at your username Grin

WhiteHairReally · 13/03/2020 13:09

I was going to suggest Mary.

My own name seems to appear a good deal, including on your most recent approved list. It has served me well, never caused me social embarrassment and it has never been shortened, despite the wide range of options.

I think the rest of my list have been mentioned, one is my own twenty something daughter, who doesn’t have a frilly bone in her body.

Frances
Grace
Gillian
Gratian
Judith
Maud

Below do have an ‘a’ at the end but I don’t think are remotely frilly.

Ursula
Celia
Julia
Helena

Original poster
HarrietM87 · 13/03/2020 10:40

Thanks so much for all the replies! Absolutely love some of the suggestions - Imogen, Caroline, Catherine, Sinead and Ide are all lovely. Also thought of Mary which does end “ie” but has the solid and classic vibe I’m going for.

OP posts:
CalleighDoodle · 13/03/2020 06:36

Meredith.

Regain4men · 13/03/2020 01:57

Margaret

Bouncingbelle · 13/03/2020 00:29

Some of these end in 'a' but not in a cutesy way (I think)
Anna
Claudia
Hope
Charmaine
Alison
Marie
Geraldine
Veronica
Rowan

I hope your pregnancy goes well.

Krazynights34 · 12/03/2020 23:53

Francine
Josephine
Ruth
Marianne
Aster
Florence
Avril
Antoinette
Delphine
Clodagh
Aoife
Saoirse
Fionnula
Jocelyn
Fiona (I know that’s an “a” like Fionnula) but I think it’s strong
Elaine
Audrey
Valerie
Christine
Julianne
Penny
Meredith
Margaret
Rosemary
Lucinda
Celeste
Charmaine
Felicity
Pauline

BikeRunSki · 12/03/2020 23:21

Kerenza
Thomasin
Merryn

Cornish, not Irish, but not cutesey either

Claire
Jane
Rachel
Lauren
Fiona
Madeline
Catherine
Sophia
Rita
Lara, Tara, Zara
Xante
Nora

BikeRunSki · 12/03/2020 23:18

Eleanor
Josephine
Leonora
Jennifer
Caroline
Philippa
Corinne
Harriet
Victoria
Evelyn
Martha
Gillian
Sarah
Anne
Catriona
Fiona
Emma
Emer
Orla
Oonagh
Ursula
Astrid
Abigail
Susan
Suzanne

Fudgewhizz · 12/03/2020 23:05

Tamsin

BadTigerKitty · 12/03/2020 23:04

Doireann, Nuala, Noreen, Emer, Sinéad, Esther, Helen, Louise, Sarah, Madison, Ann, Ruth, Sharon, Niamh, Claire, Elaine, Pauline, Eleanor, Leona, Beth, Imogen, Abigail, Derval, Valerie, Leslie, Clara, Caroline, Adeline, Mireille, Muriel, Evelyn, Christine, Martha, Maud, Miriam, Kathleen, Hilary, Edith...

Totally random mix of Irish names, names that are apparently totally out of fashion and names of kids I know! And I belatedly realise that some break your rules

irecitethegruffaloinmydreams · 12/03/2020 22:43

I know it ends in 'a' but Alexandra is a strong, serious sort of a name.

DD is Juno, which I picked for its strong sound (although granted it's a bit more whimsical than some suggested here).

Other suggestions:

Astrid
Dinah
Dorcas
Ingrid
Judith
Lois
Tamar
Leah

Good luck with the pregnancy Flowers

Daisiest · 12/03/2020 22:42

Hope or Faith are strong non girly names.

Verfremdungseffekt · 12/03/2020 22:34

Méabh, Ida (which ends in ‘a’ but isn’t remotely frilly), or Íde, the Irish version?, Áine, Sadhbh, Dearbhail/Derval, Bronagh, Eimear/Emer, Muireann, Ursula, Gudrun, Maud.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 12/03/2020 22:34

Lois
Jennifer
Bethan
Jean
Marilyn
Esther
Anne
Claire
Robyn
Juliet
Miriam
Phyllis

Marcipex · 12/03/2020 22:27

Harriet
Pascale
Katrin

Standrewsschool · 12/03/2020 22:23

Carys
Sinead
Maeve
Aileen
Siobhan
Quinn
Bernadette
Coleen

DuchenneParent · 12/03/2020 22:22

I felt the same way and ended up calling my daughter Imogen. I thought it sounded pleasant without sounding all ditzy and floral.

I also like Erin and Heidi (sorry, I know this one breaks your -ie sound, but I have known two Heidis who have been clever and down to Earth so that influences me!).

I wanted a name that wasn't named after a pretty flower or gem, and wasn't a derivative of a mans name.

ChristmasFlint · 12/03/2020 22:20

Cordelia

123rd · 12/03/2020 22:17

If I had another DD I would go for

Margot or
Vivienne

bridgetreilly · 12/03/2020 22:17

Winifred (nn Freddie)
Constance
Juliet
Rosalind
Frances
Annis

PopcornAndWine · 12/03/2020 22:13

I'm in Ireland and would have loved Ciara, Niamh or Caoilinn for our DD but unfortunately DH didn't like any of them! We went for Rachel in the end which we both love.

AsCoolAsLangCleg · 12/03/2020 22:12

Jean
Lois
Iseult

Divebar · 12/03/2020 22:10

I think Margot is lovely