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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 · 01/10/2020 05:09

I think Gregory and Hadley are a little too rhymie (is that a word?). So I would save Hadley for a middle name and choose another first name.

Personally I love Matilda and Iris from your list.

Matilda Hadley
Iris Hadley

Both work very well.

micc · 30/09/2020 22:06

My vote is for Orla, it is gaining in popularity but its not overly popular and it sounds lovely.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 30/09/2020 21:36

I actually think Iris Hadley is a brilliant combination!!

JudgeMeNot · 30/09/2020 21:29

Hadley. It's a great name

Brighterthansunflowers · 30/09/2020 21:27

I adore Saoirse

Matilda is also gorgeous

Iris and Orla are fine, and I’m not keen on Hadley

BackforGood · 30/09/2020 21:24

To me, Hadley is a surname.
I personally don't like surnames as first names.

I wouldn't didn't saddle my dc with names that are difficult to spell.

Not really keen on any of your list but I'd choose Matilda first and Orla second from those you've offered.

LizzieAnt · 30/09/2020 20:51

I'm not a fan of Hadley either OP, I'm afraid. Any of the others are lovely.

LizzieAnt · 30/09/2020 20:49

Where are you @OhCaptain? I agree with @FolkSongSweet in that I've never met an Orlaigh either. I'm in Munster where that spelling would give you a different pronunciation too - the "ig" bit would be pronounced (so Oar-lig?) That said, it isn't in Connacht afaik so I guess both spellings would give the same pronunciation there.
I don't think it's a standard spelling of the name though.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 20:48

Ah thanks!
Got rejected by DH

OP posts:
ifiwasascent · 30/09/2020 20:47

I love your list! What about Persephone?

whattodo2019 · 30/09/2020 20:39

Hadley is awful sorry
I adore Saoirse. It's beautiful and interesting

Kanaloa · 30/09/2020 20:26

All lovely names really, you can’t go too far wrong with any of them. If it was me I think I’d go for Matilda Hadley, just because I think it’s the nicest!

FolkSongSweet · 30/09/2020 20:24

[quote OhCaptain]@FolkSongSweet I'm Irish too and there are two Orlaighs in DS's class. And yes, that is how they spell it.

They're not the only ones I've heard of spelt that way either.[/quote]
They’re still wrong - makes no sense according to Irish spelling rules.

daisypond · 30/09/2020 20:23

I like Iris.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 20:13

Ok I'm adding 2 to the list:

Florence
Dorothea

OP posts:
OhCaptain · 30/09/2020 20:10

@FolkSongSweet I'm Irish too and there are two Orlaighs in DS's class. And yes, that is how they spell it.

They're not the only ones I've heard of spelt that way either.

JoanApple · 30/09/2020 20:10

Orla is lovely.
Hadley sounds like a boys name.

I have an unusual name. A lifetime of spelling and pronunciation. I hate it.

FolkSongSweet · 30/09/2020 20:08

@LizzieAnt

There's an "r" in Saoirse that needs to be pronounced too though *@FolkSongSweet*.
Yes you’re right of course. I don’t mind it so much when it’s less emphasised - See-sha doesn’t seem as egregious to me as Awwwwla for some reason!
Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 19:35

Thanks- I laughed at 'downmarket'.

Our son is Gregory if that helps at all

OP posts:
17caterpillars1mouse · 30/09/2020 19:33

Matilda - it OK, but very overused in my area so has lost its spark

Hadley - I find it a bit downmarket and don't see the appeal sorry

Orla - pretty but I prefer the spelling Orlaith. I also prefer the different but very similar name Oona

Iris (feel like this is a better middle name!) - love it
Saoirse - I really like it and think Irish names are becoming more mainstream with a lot more people being able to pronounce them so I wouldn't worry, yes some people would struggle on first meeting, but not everybody by a long stretch

Mrsi2020 · 30/09/2020 18:41

I love Hadley ! I like Hanley too

I think orla is lovely and I like both ways of spelling it! Xxx

LizzieAnt · 30/09/2020 17:44

There's an "r" in Saoirse that needs to be pronounced too though @FolkSongSweet.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 16:37

I knew this wouldn't help me Grin

OP posts:
Trevorina · 30/09/2020 16:08

I like Hadley

Saoirse and Orla seem to be in 'in' Irish names round my way

FolkSongSweet · 30/09/2020 15:37

@OhCaptain

Are you Irish? I prefer the Orlaigh spelling.

Saoirse is lovely. Very popular.

I quite like Hadley actually, which surprises me lol!

I think Matilda is classic.

Don't really like Iris.

No such spelling as “Orlaigh” - I think they’ve confused Orlaith and Orlagh.

I’m Irish and personally hate how Orla sounds in an English accent (ola or awla) - you really need to pronounce the “r”, so I’d rule that one out.

Otherwise I like Saoirse (seersha, not sersha) and think people will be increasingly familiar with it in England.