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

Louise or Ivy?

61 replies

87Callista · 07/04/2020 10:42

After narrowing down a long list of names we've decided our favourite are Louise & Ivy

What are your thoughts on each and do you have any suggestions you think we may like?

Her middle name will be Meryl for 100% as it's in honour of my late God mother who was literally an angel to my life. Surname is Colombo.

TIA & hope everyone is staying safe :)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
AlliKaneSon · 07/04/2020 18:54

I was about to say the same as some previous posters have said, Louisa Meryl is lovely!

pilates · 07/04/2020 17:46

Louisa is lovely
Ivy isn’t
Louise ok

Mollymaejonrs · 07/04/2020 17:40

Louise

timetest · 07/04/2020 16:44

Louise is a lovely name. Ivy is alright but there are quite a few of them around now.

MikeUniformMike · 07/04/2020 16:40

There's also the lovely Lady Louise, granddaughter of HRH.

Pemba · 07/04/2020 15:53

I know Ivy is very popular right now, but I just don't find it an attractive name at all.

Louise I find very pretty, one of my favourite names. I am well aware that many people will reject it just because it was so popular here in the 60s and 70s, but to me it is a classic, European and sophisticated. 'The birds in the trees seem to whisper 'Louise'' as the old song says. (Maurice Chevalier?) One of Queen Victoria's daughters was Princess Louise, the most daring and rebellious one.

I do quite like Louisa too (which IS currently quite popular). But ironically Louisa gives me more of a stuffy Victorian vibe, slightly. Maybe because of Louisa May Alcott, author of 'Little Women'?

Crookshanksthecat · 07/04/2020 14:07

Ivy is so cute and quite fashionable now.
Louise is dull and very eighties.

RoseMartha · 07/04/2020 14:07

Louise or Louisa

Useruseruserusee · 07/04/2020 14:05

I love Ivy.

It was on my short list both times but we had two boys so never got to use it. I also like Olive, which I feel is a similar kind of name?

Fivefourthree · 07/04/2020 14:03

I like Ivy (was my grandmother's name ❤️) but it has regained popularity again so there might be lots in her class. Louise is pretty, and not 'yet' back in fashion so would be quite unusual I should think, if that's important to you.

kb16 · 07/04/2020 14:02

I love the name Ivy I would go with that x

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 07/04/2020 13:59

Louisa goes better with your choice of middle name and surname than Louise, I think. Louisa Colombo. Louisa Meryl Colombo. I don't think it flows as well with Louise.

Bezalelle · 07/04/2020 13:00

Louise.

Ivy is a horrible, sinister name.

Astronica · 07/04/2020 12:44

I much prefer Ivy and think it sounds better with Meryl and with the surname.

Louise is bland and dated to me. Ivy is popular but very sweet vintage chic.

sibbys · 07/04/2020 12:38

IVY!!!

Whoareyoudududu · 07/04/2020 11:30

Ivy. Louise is so old fashioned but not in a cool way at all, very drab.

ParkheadParadise · 07/04/2020 11:06

Louise

Whatsyourflava · 07/04/2020 11:04

Ivy is absolutely beautiful and I vote for that
Never met one so not common round near me

Iris could be another option. But I prefer Ivy.

How about Holly? Imogen? Aria?

VenusClapTrap · 07/04/2020 11:01

Meryl is lovely. Could you use that as first name? Failing that, I much prefer Ivy to Louise.

Original poster
87Callista · 07/04/2020 11:00

@toastofthetown We hadn't thought much about how popular Ivy has become but now you mention it we don't want her to be one of several in her year group so this is something we will mull over.

@lotusclover
The middle name Meryl is non negotiable for me I can't express how important it is and no one wants to hear my life story but I can't wait to use it in honor of my god mother who was more like a mum to me. Louise does make a wonderful middle name though I absolutely agree.

I've definitely noted down Louisa and will share it with DH. Eloise was on our list but we hadn't thought of Louisa - I like it!

OP posts:
BadTigerKitty · 07/04/2020 10:59

Louise. Love that name.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 10:58

Ivy is beautiful, simple and much more modern.

It sounds old-fashioned to me.

Louise is more 'classic' though agree with others Louisa is prettier. (Also classic, it's used in Jane Austen. A good guide, with the notable exception for Fanny.Grin)

lessness · 07/04/2020 10:55

Louise or Louisa I think too. Ivy will be a trend and I'm not keen on the sounding of it either, I never quite understood the popularity of it. Louise is far more classy and would be more unusual nowadays than the Ivys

LotusClover · 07/04/2020 10:53

Louise is my middle name. Growing up I hated it, I thought it sounded old fashioned and I particularly disliked the nickname "Lou". Now I don't mind it but I'm glad it's only my middle name, not my first name.

Ivy is beautiful, simple and much more modern.

Perhaps you could use Louise as the middle name. Ivy Louise sounds great. :)

daisypond · 07/04/2020 10:52

Louise. But I prefer Louisa. Ivy is a weed. I don’t see anything appealing in it. I like Meryl a lot.

Swipe left for the next trending thread