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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls' names

64 replies

OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 09:45

Due in a week and a half. Don't know the sex but we are decided on our boy's name.

Shortlist:
Matilda (growing on me, DH thinks it's a bit boring)
Hadley (I loved until about 2 weeks ago. This is DH's favourite).
Orla (too popular now?)
Iris (feel like this is a better middle name!)
Saoirse (my fave but I feel like we will be saddling her with a lifetime of spelling issues)

All 4 go with our surname, no issues there.

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WildCherryBlossom · 12/10/2020 12:23

Congratulations! Lovely name!

clpsmum · 12/10/2020 00:23

Congratulations hope you are both well. Great choice of name and Thea such a lovely nickname

clpsmum · 12/10/2020 00:21

Hadley is gorgeous I love it and my second DC would have been matilda but he was a boy! Love both of those don't like the other two at all sorry. Iris is a gorgeous middle name which goes with both. Good luck xx

LizzieAnt · 12/10/2020 00:02

Congratulations OP, that's wonderful news Flowers

ReeseWitherfork · 11/10/2020 20:45

Congratulations OP Flowers hope you and baby Dorothea are doing well. Beautiful name xx

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 11/10/2020 20:44

Just to update the thread - we had a girl and we have named her Dorothea Hadley.

OP posts:
LittleChicken11 · 02/10/2020 00:55

How about Saorla or Saorlaith?

BackforGood · 01/10/2020 23:16

Thank you.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 01/10/2020 22:12

Seer-sha

OP posts:
BackforGood · 01/10/2020 22:08

Actually, I live in a very multicultural City, but I don't know how to pronounce Saoirse.
How do you say it ?

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 01/10/2020 21:48

No we are in fairly rural Kent!

OP posts:
thetrinityisshite · 01/10/2020 21:08

@OhToBeASeahorse - where are you based? Saoirse won't cause any problems in Ireland, Scotland or any multicultural city.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 01/10/2020 19:44

Hahaha yes, he is much more excited about ambulances than babies!

OP posts:
Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 01/10/2020 19:43

No, I dont think he really knows what is about to happen! When he said 'Orla' I went all mushy, maybe that's a sign...

Last time it was easy, we were decided really early on!

OP posts:
WildCherryBlossom · 01/10/2020 19:31

If I had asked my DS to name his baby sister at that age she probably would have been lumbered with Train or Fire Engine... Hmm

WildCherryBlossom · 01/10/2020 19:30

Does he have a favourite though OP?

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 01/10/2020 17:58

I thought I'd do a scientific experiment and see which my 2 year old could or could not say.

He can say them all which doesn't help!!

OP posts:
FolkSongSweet · 01/10/2020 17:26

[quote OhCaptain]@LizzieAnt I’m from Leinster, now in Connaught.

There are plenty of Orlaighs around. Have a look on Twitter for example.

I don’t think it’s for one poster on MN to decide it’s wrong but there you go! (Not you).[/quote]
Well it’s not any of: the traditional spelling in old Irish (orflhaith), either of the shortened versions of that (orlaith, Orla) or the anglicised version (Orlagh), and in the part of Ireland I’m from it would be pronounced Orlig, not Orla.

Just because more than one person uses it doesn’t mean it’s right. Of course “unique” and incorrect spellings do end up becoming popular, but if I saw an Orlaigh I’d have the same reaction as if I saw an Emmalee (Emily) or Jaike (Jake) - id think the parents were trying to make a point or were uneducated (or both).

LizzieAnt · 01/10/2020 11:52

@OhCaptain
Ah okay, just hadn't come across it, maybe because of the pronunciation differences where I am. Or possibly it's a newer spelling that's becoming popular? I think I'd choose the traditional Órlaith or Órla personally though.

I've now moved on to fretting over the spelling of Aithne as mentioned by a pp Smile. I think Eithne would be more usual?

I also really like Florence from your list OP, I love Flora too.

OhCaptain · 01/10/2020 10:43

@LizzieAnt I’m from Leinster, now in Connaught.

There are plenty of Orlaighs around. Have a look on Twitter for example.

I don’t think it’s for one poster on MN to decide it’s wrong but there you go! (Not you).

missmouse101 · 01/10/2020 08:24

Saoirse is beautiful, as is Orla. Hadley and Matilda are terrible, Iris is part of the eye and boring. What about Aithne if you like Irish names?

AriesTheRam · 01/10/2020 08:13

Matilda is clunky. i like Iris

MikeUniformMike · 01/10/2020 08:13

Matilda - nice but somewhat overused.
Hadley - no, I don't think so, it's a surname.
Orla - too popular and boring
Iris - fine
Saoirse - celebrity inspired and with spelling and pronunciation issues.

MercyBodle · 01/10/2020 08:08

The only one I'm not keen on is Hadley. But it would make a good middle name. I agree that Iris Hadley sounds good. I like all your other names, but particularly Matilda, Florence and Dorothea as they feel feisty and substantial compared with the softer sounds of Orla. I do really like Saoirse too - and again, Saoirse Hadley sounds good.

sunyla · 01/10/2020 06:52

Matilda - I agree is a little bit boring but I don't hate it either.

Hadley - If I'm being completely honest, I find this name ugly, sorry.

Orla - I like Orla, only negative thing that comes to mind is that it looks a bit like Oral.

Iris - Beautiful, definitely my favourite from your list.

Saoirse - Sorry but I'm not sure how this is pronounced and I could definitely see that being a problem.

Good luck.Smile

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