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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which name as first and which as middle? So torn!

60 replies

moonriver32 · 01/09/2020 15:51

Due my first and have narrowed girls names down to two, but can't decide which order to use them in?

Alice Fern (Surname) or
Fern Alice (Surname)

Have always loved Alice, classic and simple but is in the top 25 girls names and I don't see it going anywhere so wondering if she might be one of a few in her class at school.

Fern was always going to be a middle name no matter what first name we chose but I'm now wondering if it would be a shame not to use it as a first! Just doesn't give any room for nicknames being one syllable so she would always just be Fern.

Any opinions gratefully received! We've been backwards and forwards over many alternatives but always come back to these two so we're pretty set on the names themselves just not the order 😂

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Britannah · 01/09/2020 22:03

Alice is a gorgeous name so Alice Fern gets my vote. Also I believe Ferne McCann is Ferne Alice (not that it makes a difference) although she obviously spells her first name differently x

Crazypie · 01/09/2020 21:54

I much prefer Fern x

ithinkiveseenthisfilmbefore · 01/09/2020 20:05

Fernalice runs together.

Alice Fern just sounds much nicer.

user1493494961 · 01/09/2020 20:02

Alice.

Prettybluepigeons · 01/09/2020 19:54

Have you ever seen the film baby boom where the prospective adoptive parents are going to change the baby's name to Fern and diane Keaton says that the childs life flashed before her eyes and she was living in delouth and working in a dairy queen and calling her husband sir?

WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 01/09/2020 19:47

I wouldn't say you're indecisive just can't make you mind up, or put another way, can't make a decision, or maybe can't make your mind up, or now I think about perhaps indecisive.

GirlCalledJames · 01/09/2020 19:46

Alice with a different middle name if there’s any chance you’ll have a second child. If you have another daughter you’ll regret not being able to use Fern.

Puzzlelover · 01/09/2020 19:42

I really like Fern. Do remember that middle names barely get used except on registering births and marriages. So choose the name that you actually want to call her.

Original poster
moonriver32 · 01/09/2020 19:37

All the answers have really valid points and are definitely helpful - needed some impartial opinions!

Seems like the general consensus is Alice - 14 votes for Alice vs. 6 for Fern! But I'm still so torn 😂 So worried about choosing one and then regretting it a few weeks later. Why am I so indecisive!

OP posts:
morefun · 01/09/2020 19:33

Both good names. I think I prefer Fern.

MikeUniformMike · 01/09/2020 19:10

Alice. Fern's nice but nature names are popular now so she might be one of several Ferns. Alice is less likely to date.

I wouldn't use Alicia because it is Alisha, Aleesha, Alissia depending on who says it.

RuthW · 01/09/2020 19:09

Alice Fern. Both lovely name but the other way round it sounds like furnace.

VenusClapTrap · 01/09/2020 18:42

Fern Alice definitely. Love Fern.

IrishMamaMia · 01/09/2020 18:09

I like both. Alicia might be a more unusual option than Alice. Alicia Fern. I quite like the idea that :)

ifiwasascent · 01/09/2020 18:05

I love both these names but Alice wins it for me!

Spied · 01/09/2020 18:00

Alice first.

Orphlids · 01/09/2020 17:55

Alice Fern does flow better. But I’m not sure that’s really important - how often do you hear someone’s full name out loud? Is it worth discarding a different name because it doesn’t flow as well, when said flow will be known and said by hardly anyone? I think I’d choose Fern Alice, as Fern is more unusual. Mind you, I was one of about four children in my class with the same name and it never bothered me in the slightest.

Wwydiywm · 01/09/2020 17:42

As a teacher, I can tell you that kids HATE it when there's more than one of them in a class. And alice is v popular atm.
I'd go with fern Alice.

WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 01/09/2020 17:33

If you go with Fern Alice, depending on your surname or the name she takes if she gets married she may end up F.A.T.

Enterthedragons · 01/09/2020 17:28

Alice is a bit wishy washy, fern first definitely more punchy and unusual.

WantToBeMum · 01/09/2020 17:26

I would choose Fern as the first name. It's really pretty and more unusual.

Dededa · 01/09/2020 17:22

Alice Fern

tornadoalley · 01/09/2020 17:04

Alice Fern. Otherwise it sounds like Fur Nalice.

itsjakeandamy · 01/09/2020 17:03

I would go for Fern Alice. It's pretty, classy and underused.
Alice Fern is fine but a bit more boring.

Peachbubble · 01/09/2020 16:54

Alice Fern