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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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StillSmallVoice · 03/06/2020 21:39

Surely Mary is due a comeback. Such a lovely, classic name.

123Dancewithme · 03/06/2020 21:37

Mary, Anne and Caroline are great!

I second the suggestion of Marianne which could be shortened to the pronunciation of Marie that you want.

Original poster
Indecision2020 · 03/06/2020 21:37

Ah @CaffiSaliMali apologies - had no idea Mari was a welsh name! I assumed it was a (clearer) phonetic spelling of the Marie pronunciation I want.

I’m really not keen though on going with a Scottish or Welsh name/spelling when I have no connections there. The Irish equivalent is Maire (anglicised Myra, Moyra and Maura) and not keen on any of those.

OP posts:
1forsorrow · 03/06/2020 21:34

I love Marie and I've heard it a couple of times recently in England so I don't think pronouncing it is a problem but people sometimes use the spelling Marrie which I think makes it clearer.

formerbabe · 03/06/2020 21:33

Love Caroline

CaffiSaliMali · 03/06/2020 21:32

Mari is Welsh for Mary and is pronounced Marry. So it's not made up and I think it's more obvious than Marie for the marry pronunciation.

Mair is also Welsh for Mary, pronounced like Myra without the a.

I like all the names on your list except Maud, makes me think of Maude Flanders and then the Anarchy with Stephen and Maud/Matilda.

Ailbhe is lovely and I knew how to say it. As your DS has an Irish name, I would aim for another Irish name, or Celtic name - lots of gaelic and Welsh, Cornish, Breton and Manx names are lovely.

BackforGood · 03/06/2020 21:31

I like Caroline, but you won't be able to be precious about shortenings.

I like Mary and Anne

I think Marie would be very tiresome in England, having to correct the way it is said all the time.

I think Ailbhe would also be a pain. The 4 people I know with Irish spellings in England find it a real pain having to spell their names every time they give them, and having to help people know how to say them - and two of them are relatively common (Niamh and Siobhan) . All have said they are naming their dc something very different.

Maud and Eliza - nothing 'wrong' with them, but just not my taste. Smile

HotSince82 · 03/06/2020 21:30

Mary

ghislaine · 03/06/2020 21:26

Carolyn and Caroline are spelled and pronounced differently. Woe betide anyone who pronounces Caroline with a short I.

I like Maud and Anne also. Not keen on names with ‘a’ or ‘ie’ endings. I prefer a strong, less typically feminised ending.

DamnYankee · 03/06/2020 21:13

Mary
Caroline
Do you all pronounce the latter as "carolynn" or caroline as in "Sweet Caroline" (Neil Diamond). I prefer the second pronunciation.

Congrats! Girls are wonderful!

CoffeeBeansGalore · 03/06/2020 21:12

What about Marianne, then easily shortened to Marie (Marry)

BeMorePacific · 03/06/2020 21:07

Your list is lovely, the only id change is the spelling of Marie. I’d go with Mhairi x

Spied · 03/06/2020 21:01

My favourite it Eliza.
I also like Caroline and Anne but I prefer Anna to Anne.

SlightyJaded · 03/06/2020 20:49

Don't love any of them sorry.

I am not Irish but think they have the prettiest names. I think most people know how to pronounce Saoirse now, also Roisin or Ciara. Also isn't Imogen Irish? Love Imogen - Immy for short.

35andThriving · 03/06/2020 20:48

Like Mary, Maud, Eliza and Caroline.

Maud used to be a shortening for Matilda.

I would suggest

Joan
Jane
Millicent
Agnes
Sarah
Tamsin
Ellen
Marian
Carolyn
Helen

howlatthetrees · 03/06/2020 20:48

Mary or Eliza

daisypond · 03/06/2020 20:46

I like Mary and Caroline the most, but they are all good, except Maud, which I find dreary. I’m English, in London, and know how to pronounce Ailbhe.

missmouse101 · 03/06/2020 20:45

Yikes, none of those really do it for me.

Original poster
Indecision2020 · 03/06/2020 20:45

Really pleased by all the love for Caroline! As you can probably tell I want something classic but not common these days (Eliza maybe becoming more popular than I’d like). And/or an Irish name that isn’t Orla/Aoife/Niamh.

OP posts:
mylittleavalon · 03/06/2020 20:43

Like Caroline a lot, even had it on our name list but not so keen on carol so took it off as thought people would likely shorten it to that.
Really like Eliza and Anne as well from your list

LilacSloth · 03/06/2020 20:42

Caroline is beautiful. Smile

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 03/06/2020 20:42

And just thought of Marie Claire magazine which is pronounced
Marry Claire so you have hope...

AteAllTheAfterEights · 03/06/2020 20:41

I’d spell it Mairi if you want that pronunciation

I like ailbhe, Caroline and maybe Eliza

I’d suggest Anna, Nina, Mabel, Juliet, Eleanor

trinity0097 · 03/06/2020 20:41

Personally I would avoid names like Ailbhe if you are staying in the UK, as most people I’ll not know how to pronounce or spell it. Like Niamh!

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 03/06/2020 20:40

I love Maud-it is DD's middle name.

I also don't know how to pronounce Ailbhe.

Of the rest I like Caroline