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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls’ names - unpopular list!

110 replies

Indecision2020 · 03/06/2020 20:31

Hello
I’ve name changed because I’ve discussed these options at length IRL and would like my other posts to be anonymous!

No one likes any of my options for my baby girl due this autumn. Let me know your favourite or any other suggestions!

I’m Irish, DH is English. We live in London and DS has a classic Irish first name.

Mary
Marie (pronounced marry)
Maud
Eliza
Ailbhe
Caroline
Anne

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LadyEloise · 05/06/2020 00:34

Caroline
Mary
Marielle

Bouncingbelle · 05/06/2020 00:16

Caroline is my guilty pleasure name. I think it’s gorgeous and don’t understand why it’s so underused. Carrie is also lovely for short.

If I was very very posh I might be brave enough to use Maud, but it does make me think of a splodge of mud!

Angel2702 · 04/06/2020 21:32

I love Maud
Caroline and Eliza but Eliza is more popular now.

GherkinsOnToast · 04/06/2020 16:58

What about Maebh or Eibhlín? I love Maud but DH vetoed it.

MikeUniformMike · 04/06/2020 16:50

Mary - great
Marie (pronounced marry) - It'll be Maree not Marry
Maud - fine
Eliza - fine
Ailbhe - A no from me, is it Elva?
Caroline - classic
Anne - I prefer Ann and like it as a first name

I think Caroline.

NamechangeforMay · 04/06/2020 15:31

I do love Ailbhe, though.

NamechangeforMay · 04/06/2020 15:30

My favourite less-popular Irish name is Ailis. Quick and easy to spell, and the pronunciation is pretty easy in England (just sh instead of s).

Or Eilis. Billie Eilish has made the pronunciation well-known.

We also considered Maria and Anna as Irish-but-not-too-Irish (named after relatives called Mary and Anne).

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 04/06/2020 13:01

I love Mary, it's a classic!

passthemustard · 04/06/2020 12:39

I'm considering Mary if my current bump turns out a girl!

But I'm a Marie (English pronunciation) maybe it's too close? I don't want to name the baby after me lol

StoneSourFan · 04/06/2020 12:30

I love Caroline, I think it's such a pretty name. My sister is called Caroline and it suits her lovely! Xx

PenfoldsFive · 04/06/2020 12:24

I'm not a fan of the cutesie names either. You have great options in Eliza and Alibhe though. Suitable for all ages, and not ten-a-penny or bonkers.

If you like non-cute and you seem to like shorter names, how about something along these lines? I always think if Sigourney Weaver would suit the name, it's a good choice. Grin

Nina
Erin
Ellen
Rosa
Stella
Iris
Cara
Julia
Miranda
Sorcha
Joely

Original poster
Indecision2020 · 04/06/2020 11:47

Yep stodgy is what my friends and family tend to think. I’m deliberately trying to avoid “cute” or babyish names so at least I seem to have achieved that!

OP posts:
PenfoldsFive · 04/06/2020 11:35

Hhm, they're all a bit stodgy, OP. Except Eliza, which is beautiful. And Ailbhe, which is also lovely.

My favourite Irish girl's name is Muireann.

Edenember · 04/06/2020 11:28

Love Eliza , also Mary

Orphlids · 04/06/2020 11:26

My grandmother was Marie, pronounced Marry. She was English, and lived in England. It was fine, no major issues, other than the fact the priest refused to christen her Marry, as he said there was no such name. However, I went to university with a Scottish girl, whose name was also pronounced Marry, and I remember our lecturers just couldn’t get it. They all insisted on calling her Mar-ree, despite her repeatedly telling them, “Like here comes the bride!”

I love Maud, and I love Caroline. I also like Anne.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 04/06/2020 11:22

Take inspiration from The Darling Buds of May & go for Mariette?

DysonFury · 04/06/2020 10:40

Marie-Anne, Marie-Claire? Then you'd get the correct pronunciation.

GarlicMcAtackney · 04/06/2020 10:36

Aisling
Maria
Grainne
Meabh
Muirinn
Sinead
Ciara

35andThriving · 04/06/2020 10:35

Though maybe not if your DH doesn't like it!

35andThriving · 04/06/2020 10:32

Maud Caroline is a great combination!

babynamelover · 04/06/2020 10:17

Maud/Maude is totally due a revival do it 😍. Maud Caroline is darling!

autumnkate · 04/06/2020 10:06

What about Aine?

Or Emer?

Annie is lovely.

elfran · 04/06/2020 09:47

I adore Mary, Maud and Eliza. The rest are not for me, but certainly inoffensive, classic names.

Original poster
Indecision2020 · 04/06/2020 09:22

Yep I’m not using Mairi (or Mhairi for that matter, which as I understand it is incorrect unless you’re addressing her anyway) because I’m not Scottish.

I know Marianne Dashwood is a million times better than the Normal People character but sadly I doubt many people would make that connection. I can’t stand Sally Rooney so would drive me mad forever to have people think I named a child in honour of one of her characters!

There have been so many nice comments about so many of the names that I still can’t pick a front runner. I think I’m tending towards Mary or Maud because DH doesn’t mind those. He hates Caroline for some reason.

OP posts:
Subordinateclause · 04/06/2020 08:16

I'm Scottish but wouldn't use Mairi/Mhairi in England as many people would pronounce in with a long /a/ sound.

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