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Baby names

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

Original poster

Please rank

86 replies

xxMountainMamaxx · 13/10/2020 21:17

DH and I are looking for names that are strong and timeless. We don’t care about popularity.

Please rank our girl names:

Olivia
Charlotte
Anna
Violet
Susannah
Emily
Julia
Lily
Leah
Alice

xx

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Original poster
xxMountainMamaxx · 25/10/2020 08:25

Wow, surprised to see my thread revived! DH and I are excitedly discussing the list and comparing it to what’s been said already. DH loves Anna, Julia, Lily, and Laura in particular. Your comments have been noted, though.

Also, the defense for Julia above was quite riveting and I agree that I don’t think Julia sounds dated, but I worry it sounds posh?Does Julia transcend class? We are not posh whatsoever and don’t want to pretend otherwise.

Lately we have been musing over Caroline as well... not to throw yet another name into the mix Blush

Anna is lovely and has really pulled us in with its sound, but DH is lukewarm in his response, which bothers me.

Truly, we are so thankful to you all xx

OP posts:
user1493494961 · 24/10/2020 21:18

All lovely names except not keen on Leah, would also exclude Lily because of all the Lily-Mae's around. Would probably put Alice first.

Raffaella13 · 24/10/2020 21:09

Anna
Violet
Olivia
Susannah
Julia
Emily
Alice
Lily
Charlotte
Leah

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 18/10/2020 19:39

Just to defend my name - I'm a Julia and I've never been called Jules (I don't mind the nickname, just never been called it!) I've not heard the couple of other Julia's I know (of different ages) called it either - maybe it's more commonly used as a shortening for Juliet? I do sometimes mistakenly get called Julie by older people though (probably as Julie was very popular fifty or sixty years ago).

I really like my name, as I think it's quite elegant and timeless. Most people have heard of Julia and can say and spell it easily yet it's not too popular (usually within the top 100-200 in the UK). It's well used internationally too as well as historically (Julia is one of the few girls names used both in the Bible, by Shakespeare, and authors such as Bronte, Austen and Dickens.)

Of your other choices I'd rank in order:
9. Anna - similar feel to Julia - simple, classic and international.

  1. Susannah - beautiful but could have spelling issues with/without the h.
(Laura - lovely but super popular in the 70/80's - along with Sarah it was the "Olivia" of that time, so possibly feels a little dated now.)
  1. Charlotte - timeless classic, just don't like the sound as much as the others above .
  2. Alice - same as above.
  3. Olivia - gorgeous but just too many about now.
  4. Lily - pretty but like Olivia, just too 2000's/2010's.
  5. Emily - similar feel to Charlotte and Alice but I'm not personally as keen on "ie/y" ending names as they sound a bit "cute" to me somehow.
  6. Leah - doesn't feel as classic/timeless as your other choices.
1.Violet - as above, plus a bit close to "violent", I like Viola though.
BatleyTownswomensGuild · 18/10/2020 17:15

From best to worst:

Alice
Violet
Anna
Susannah
Leah
Lily
Julia
Olivia
Charlotte
Emily

Really love Alice, Violet and Anna.

Not fussed about most of them tbh. They are all perfectly serviceable names but Lily, Olivia etc are absolutely everywhere...

disappear · 18/10/2020 17:06

Susannah
Anna
Violet
Alice
Julia
Charlotte
Emily
Lily
Olivia

Leah

jaroffairies · 18/10/2020 15:45

Names I like in order:
Alice
Anna
Violet
Emily

Don't like:
Olivia
Charlotte
Julia
Lily
Leah
Susannah

MotherPiglet · 18/10/2020 14:26

Emily
Olivia
Lily
Charlotte
Alice
Leah
Violet
Susannah
Anna
Julia

yikesanotherbooboo · 18/10/2020 14:23

Susannah
Anna
Julia
Alice
Emily
Charlotte
Violet
Olivia
Lily
Leah

MJMG2015 · 18/10/2020 14:15

2Olivia
1Charlotte
3Anna
10 Violet
8 Susannah
4Emily
6Julia
5Lily
9 Leah
7Alice

Enko · 18/10/2020 14:13

Daniel and Anna are fine together imo

Enko · 18/10/2020 14:12

Violet

Susannah
Julia
Violet
Leah
Lily
Charlotte
Emily
Alice
Anna
Olivia

starkid · 18/10/2020 09:35

I love Anna and feel it's timeless, classic and will suit anyone. I also like Charlotte and Leah :)

GinWithASplashOfTonic · 18/10/2020 00:06

Names are listed in order of likeness Alice being favourite and Leah being leat favourite

GinWithASplashOfTonic · 18/10/2020 00:05

Alice
Charlotte
Olivia
Emily
Anna
Violet
Julia
Susannah
Lily
Leah

Marcipex · 18/10/2020 00:02

Not that I like any of those, I just think they are strong.

Marcipex · 18/10/2020 00:01

I like your choices but I wouldn’t say any of them are ‘strong’.
Alice I suppose maybe 5/10, the others not strong at all.

Girls names I think are strong:
Lauren
Dido
Bronte
Bridget
Juno
Hero

TheChristmasPrincess · 17/10/2020 23:50

Lily
Alice
Charlotte
Violet
Olivia
Anna
Emily
Julia
Susannah
Leah

Ellmau · 17/10/2020 11:04

Or Juliana?

Ellmau · 17/10/2020 11:04

Susannah (also like the Susanna spelling)
Anna
Charlotte
Julia
Olivia
Emily
Lily
Alice
Leah
Violet

Hightide1 · 15/10/2020 18:42

Oh I forgot Anna, I'd put that as a favourite too but slightly below the others

Hightide1 · 15/10/2020 18:41

What a lovely list!

My favourites are: Charlotte (love Lottie too), Susannah, Emily, Lily and Alice (in fact, this was pretty much my shortlist 5 years ago!)

I like: Leah and Olivia

I'm not so keen on: Violet or Julia

AegonT · 15/10/2020 12:01

Susannah (it is unusual now and Susie is cute)
Charlotte
Julia
Anna
Emily
Alice
Olivia (love but too overused at the moment)
Violet
Lily

Firebird83 · 14/10/2020 19:49

I love Anna, Susannah (prefer the Susanna spelling) and Julia!

Original poster
xxMountainMamaxx · 14/10/2020 18:02

We know several young Polish girls named Julia, so it doesn’t seem old to us, but is it just too closely tied to Julie and the nn Jules?

Also, we’ve got a 3yo named Daniel. Will his name sound naff with Anna? DH is German, so these names are closest to his roots, as is Alice due to its popularity in his village back home.

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