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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Petra?

97 replies

Onlywantabunfight · 13/08/2020 21:36

I have a Juno and an Annie (Anoushka on the BC) and expecting another girl.

Really struggling!

DH has suggested Petra. And I think I like it.

But it feels very unusual, so interested to hear opinions.

What do you think??

OP posts:

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RuthW · 14/08/2020 12:15

Love it and goes well with the other two.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 14/08/2020 11:44

I think it's lovely. I've heard both pronunciations.

I suggested it on a thread recently where the DS was called Shepherd, so possibly nicknamed Shep.

elfran · 14/08/2020 11:07

To add to the chorus of voices, I adore Petra. I usually use it as an example of my favourite kind of girls' name - short, uncommon but pronounceable and known, consonant-heavy, Germanic/Scandi sounding. For me it ticks all the boxes.

The only reason it isn't on our list is that it's the name of one of my cousins, who incidentally is one of the loveliest, most intelligent, witty and chic women. She was born in Austria in the 70s where it was of course more common, but I think it's a name that travels well.

RemyHadley · 14/08/2020 11:02

I like it. Makes me think of Petra Arkanian, who is a great science fiction character - from Enders Game and the sequels, played by Hallee Stanfield in a film not long ago.

I’m 42 and wouldn’t recognise the blue peter dog, so I wouldn’t worry about it!

I like it.

Iwasonceabrownie · 14/08/2020 11:01

I love Phaedra, only ever met one.

lottiegarbanzo · 14/08/2020 10:57

I think Bonnie was one of Goldie's puppies.

SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 14/08/2020 10:54

Bonnie rings a bell... Yellow lab? I watched BP but I don't think the pets interested me much! I mostly remember them making things out of toilet rolls and paper mache.

Zhampagne · 14/08/2020 10:51

@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito

I'm 37, I had no idea there was a Blue Peter dog called Petra.

I like the strong consonant sounds of the P and T.

I’m the same age as a you and I only know because I had a Blue Peter annual as a child which had a history of the BP pets. Bonnie and Willow were the pets for my generation.

VenusClapTrap · 14/08/2020 10:43

Good strong name. Known but unusual.

SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 14/08/2020 10:35

I'm 37, I had no idea there was a Blue Peter dog called Petra.

I like the strong consonant sounds of the P and T.

babynamelover · 14/08/2020 10:01

I know a 40 year old Petra. I personally think the name sounds quite harsh and is not that pleasing.
Juno & Anoushka are softer sounding and more feminine to me.

Juno, Anoushka &

Elinor
Tamsin
Isolde
Ophelie
Phaedra
Seraphine
Claudia
Niamh
Sylvie
Lucia
Ramona

MinnieJackson · 14/08/2020 09:42

Love it!

ThatDamnScientist · 14/08/2020 08:50

Beautiful name, it is unusual in that there are likely to be none in her class but not unusual that you sound like you wanted a common but spelt oddly name.

I'm not sure any of that made sense it is a beautiful name!

CaptainMyCaptain · 14/08/2020 08:46

I know a Perdita too

Continuing the dog theme, this was one of the dogs in 101 Dalmations.

Luckingfovely · 14/08/2020 08:45

I love it!

Original poster

Onlywantabunfight · 14/08/2020 08:43

I'm so glad I started this thread.

I'm with @ILoveStickers - the historical analysis of BP dogs is just what I needed. 🤣

Thank you all. Petra is now the firm favourite.

OP posts:

BillyAndTheSillies · 14/08/2020 08:35

Love it.

It was always top of our list, along with Annie but would have been Anastasia.

GoshHashana · 14/08/2020 08:33

I love it.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 14/08/2020 08:33

A dog who hasn’t been on the TV for forty-three years is a ridiculous reason not to use a name, even if she was iconic.

Asdf12345 · 14/08/2020 08:11

Nice name, I have worked with several, all Eastern European.

LadyFrumpington · 14/08/2020 08:06

I like it.

NameChangeForRealName · 14/08/2020 08:05

The other poor pun that occurred to me was that, if you live in or visit the north-east, where people typically call each other 'pet' instead of love, dear etc, you might face a lot of 'All right Pet... ra?'

Yes that would be more common rather than any of the other suggestions posted. I'm probably the wrong person to answer though as most my family and close friends call me "pet" and i have never seen it as negative. Most people dont automatically shorten it that way though.

Oooooh another one is "wheres pet?"

"Pets at home" 😂😂 but I admit to laughing at that one.

lottiegarbanzo · 14/08/2020 07:51

NameChange

NameChangeForRealName · 14/08/2020 07:40

Petra the dog died in 1977, having been on BP from 1962. To remember her, you'd need to be at least 45.

The handful of times I had the comment made about sharing the name with the BP dog were from people much older than me. Only 1 of my friends knew it was the BP dog as their DPs were fans of the show. No one in my school made the connection. I made the comment to my DP once (30) and he didnt know either. The majority of my generation did not watch BP and my sisters age (15) have absolutely zero idea what I'm talking about.

The most I got when younger was " ahhhh I'm petrified" which I'm suprised no one on this thread has said.

ILoveStickers · 14/08/2020 07:24

Just here for the historical analysis of Petra the dog.

Petra is a lovely name, and goes extremely well with your daughters' names. Excellent choice!

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