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Baby names

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

Original poster

Three week old DD with no name!

133 replies

TheDeckchairGardener · 01/10/2020 13:21

I’m so indecisive that I still haven’t been able to decide on a name for my nearly 4 week old daughter. Her big brother is called Percy which I know is hated on here and I think that’s why I’m being extra cautious this time.

We didn’t find out the sex and I convinced myself it was going to be another boy. I found it a lot easier to find boys names I liked than girls.

My favourite name is Winifred but I am worried about name calling, mispronunciations and I am not 100% sure about the nickname Winnie. Other names we like are:

Phoebe
Heidi
Erica (this is because I wanted Eric if it was a boy)
Amber
Dorothy (although DH isn’t as keen)

However I would prefer a name that isn’t ultra popular and I know that most of the above are in the top 100. Her middle name will be Jennifer.

Any thoughts/suggestions? Thanks.

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Toddlerteaplease · 01/10/2020 16:00

Penny and Percy? Like the M&S biscuits.

averythinline · 01/10/2020 15:59

Peggy is a nn for Margaret..think Margaret Jennifer surname sounds good ..I really like Peggy and cute with Percy when little..but many options when older (my fave Margaret uses Meg)

I have a liking for Winifred but it is quite marmite..similar
Katherine/Katie
Elizabeth/Eliza

Otherwise from your list
Heidi,

Amber nice but quite a different style to Percy..
How about Daphne? Rather than Dorothy

Inkpaperstars · 01/10/2020 15:56

@CatteStreet thank you for reminding me about Ballet Shoes, I really fancy re reading that now

MyCatReallyIsAGit · 01/10/2020 15:51

I’m biased because Phoebe is one of my favourite names, but I think that and Heidi go best with Jennifer. I think Erica is a great fit with Percy but not with Jennifer. I’m less keen on Dorothy and Amber.

The first name I thought of when I saw Percy was Mabel.

RiaOverTheRainbow · 01/10/2020 15:49

You can't use Winifred Jennifer! That'd be like Joanna Jane, or Peggy Margaret.

I love Erica and Amber from your list.

Blingismything · 01/10/2020 15:44

Astrid
Xanic
Myrtle
Merryn
Beryl
Dawn
Audrey
Coralie

Caspianberg · 01/10/2020 15:43

Heidi Jennifer goes lovely

Otherwise can you add another middle name to make others flow?

Frieda Ivy Jennifer
Erica Ivy Jennifer

I like Heidi, Frieda and Erica and think they all go well with Percy

We had Percy on our boys list. I think it’s Fab.

WitchesGlove · 01/10/2020 15:41

Don’t really like Pheobe, Amber or Dorothy.

WitchesGlove · 01/10/2020 15:40

As PP said, Harriet

Florence
Olive
Nellie
Clara

EmbarrassingMama · 01/10/2020 15:40

Or Nina!?

monkeyonthetable · 01/10/2020 15:40

I like Percy! And I like Winnifred too. How about Theodora - same name as Dorothy but in reverse, and a bit prettier imho.

EmbarrassingMama · 01/10/2020 15:39

Erica is nice. No issues with spelling or pronunciation since it’s a familiar name, but certainly not commonplace in baby circles.

CatteStreet · 01/10/2020 15:39

Oh, how about Daphne? The right kind of retro, I think, and presumably not too popular yet.

CatteStreet · 01/10/2020 15:38

I think if you're not really keen on Margot, don't use it. It's very, very loved on here atm, having a big moment, and will probably fall from popularity again quite quickly.

Not keen on Heidi, personally. And I wouldn't use Erica because of the boys' name you wanted.

Phoebe goes very well with Percy.

But if you want to call her Winifred, why not? I know a little Winifred and think it's quite sweet. My association with it is very positive - the lovely, modest, talented girl in Ballet Shoes (who sadly kept losing out on parts to Pauline because Pauline had the looks).

BiBabbles · 01/10/2020 15:36

Seconding Inkpaperstars suggestion of using different names with her.

It's what we did with DD1, went back and forth on names until it became clear one just seemed more natural to say to her.

SenorFrog · 01/10/2020 15:29

I like Heidi but know one who is numero uno bitch so it was discounted for me early on. I like the Margot suggestion, it'll go fab with Percy.

Original poster
TheDeckchairGardener · 01/10/2020 15:21

@Soubriquet

How can winifred be mispronounced Confused

You could always nickname her Fred like they do in Angel

According to Google it is WIN-UH-FRID. I imagine a lot of people might say WINI-FRED or WIN-UH-FRED. Yes a nickname would make it easier!
OP posts:
Original poster
TheDeckchairGardener · 01/10/2020 15:16

Margot was initially on my list but I’m not sure I like it enough to use! I was amazed to see its rise in popularity though - it currently sits at no. 94 in the top 100.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 01/10/2020 15:06

How can winifred be mispronounced Confused

You could always nickname her Fred like they do in Angel

Flappingflamingo · 01/10/2020 15:05

Margaret!!! I think percy and Margaret sound great together and so many nickname options.... Maggie
Margie
Daisy
Peggy etc
Oh and ignore @CatSmith, that was just unnecessarily nasty and uncalled for. If we didn't want or ask for help, this board wouldn't exist!!

Inkpaperstars · 01/10/2020 15:03

Since the little munchkin is here, could you not try calling her one of the names and see if it sticks? I like Phoebe, it is a nice name, goes excellently with Percy and flows nicely with Jennifer.

Margot is cool too though.

Garcellesaidwhaaat · 01/10/2020 14:58

Kimberley

ApocalypseNowt · 01/10/2020 14:53

Exactly @zoemum2006 ! Grin

quarantandrums · 01/10/2020 14:52

@CatSmith
What's the need? As someone rightly pointed out people come on here all the time for name ideas and suggestions. Naming a child can be a daunting thing for many parents and it's nice to have some reassurance. Asking friends or family members isn't necessarily a better option as most people aren't as brutally honest in person as they are on here.

Original poster
TheDeckchairGardener · 01/10/2020 14:51

@steppemum

Don't worry OP.

My brother and SIL couldn't name their youngest, and she was registered on the very last day fo the 6 weeks, and they were STILL discussing name choices the night before.

Funny really as once she was named it was just her name and no-one could imagin her being called anything else.

Thank you, that makes me feel better!
OP posts: