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Baby names

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

Could you lend me a hand?

31 replies

wid07 · 07/11/2020 14:57

Could you give me your thoughts on these.... thanks Daffodil

Polly
Nevina
Winter
Helena
Merryn
Perla
Heidi
Octavia

Dominic
Xavier
Finley
Edward
Fletcher
Philip
James

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Ohtannenbaumohtannenbaum · 07/11/2020 21:12

Polly - quite nice
Nevina - dislike
Winter - dislike
Helena - dislike, this is a stereotypical "mum" name to me
Merryn - dislike
Perla - never really come across this before but I quite like it!
Heidi - nice
Octavia - love this but it is a brave choice!

Dominic - dislike
Xavier - dislike
Finley - I dont mind it but it seems a bit plain compared to your other choices
Edward - nice but personally prefer it as a mn
Fletcher - quite cool!
Philip - dislike
James - nice but again seems a bit "normal" compared to your other choices!

My favourites would be Octavia or Perla, and Fletcher or James

KidadaJonez · 07/11/2020 21:09

Polly, Dominic, Edward.

Marina, Melissa, Autumn, Meryl, Aileen, Pearl?

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 07/11/2020 20:57

Of the girls I really love Helena and Octavia - both Shakesperean/classical, beautiful and elegant (although Helena is probably the easier choice of the two, being more commonly heard).

You could also consider Nerissa or Marina instead of Nevina? Nevina isn't to my taste and neither are any of the others, sorry (with the exception of Winter, which is a guilty pleasure middle- name- only for me).

Apart from Fletcher and Finley (too surname for me), most of your boys choices I like - as they are quite classic names but with cool/funky nickname options!

Edward and James are lovely, traditional choices with loads of nice nickname options - I personally like Jem for James and Bear or Iolo for Edward . I also really like the more exotic Xavier (especially with the nn Zev/Xev). Dominic (Nico) and Philip (Pip/Flip) are also nice.

finallychangedmyusername · 07/11/2020 19:34

I really like Polly and Heidi, Dominic, Edward, James and Xavier.

Merryn and Helena, and Finley and Philip are ok.

Not keen on Nevina (never heard of it), Winter, Perla or Octavia, nor Fletcher.

TheDetectiveBadge · 07/11/2020 18:43

Polly - like. Always surprised it's not so popular as it's pretty and vintage-y as per current trends.
Nevina - not sure. Sounds like a brand of yoghurt or something.
Winter - like. Unusual and quite striking.
Helena - like. Classic, under used.
Merryn - it's ok. Not mad about it, don't hate it.
Perla - don't like. Isn't there a lingerie brand with a similar name?
Heidi - very pretty. This or Polly would be my top choice
Octavia - I do know a little girl with this name. It's quite striking and a nice name but personally I wouldn't use it.

Dominic - not a fan.
Xavier - love! One of my top choices.
Finley - I know a ton of babies and little boys with this name. Very very popular.
Edward - joint top choice with Xavier. Classic.
Fletcher - I know a very cute little Fletcher so like it!
Philip - dreadful, one of my least favourite names.
James - fine. Classic, not offensive. Perhaps a tad bland. A good middle name!

user1493494961 · 07/11/2020 18:31

Helena and Octavia are nice, I don't like any of the other girl's names. Dislike Fletcher and Philip but like all the other boy's names, would probably choose Edward.

TempsPerdu · 07/11/2020 17:58

Polly - no, too cutesy and ‘nursery rhymey’
Nevina - no, sounds made up and a bit cheap
Winter - beautiful for a mn; too chilly for a first!
Helena - classic, timeless, elegant
Merryn - very nice; a ‘happy’ name
Perla - underwear brand; Pearl is much nicer
Heidi - fine but unexciting
Octavia - too stereotypically upper class

Dominic - used to quite like it; now can’t get beyond Cummings
Xavier - nice but will face pronunciation issues
Finley - massively overdone
Edward - nice solid classic
Fletcher - OK; not really my taste
Philip - will come back eventually but still feels dated and a bit weak to me
James - fine but uninspiring

So Helena or Merryn for me (with Winter as a mn option) and Edward or Xavier for a boy.

1940s · 07/11/2020 17:10

Merryn and Edward are my absolute favourites!

CharitySchmarity · 07/11/2020 17:09

Polly - I quite like it
Nevina - a new one to me, people would probably get it wrong a lot
Winter - feels more like a boy's name to me for some reason
Helena - quite nice although I slightly prefer just plain Helen
Merryn - interesting and friendly sounding
Perla - don't like this, it feels a bit "rock star's daughter"
Heidi - nice and under-used
Octavia - not awful but not really my thing, sounds a bit upper-class

Dominic - nice, traditional but not too popular
Xavier - not my thing and there are too many pronunciations
Finley - nice, slightly prefer the spelling Finlay
Edward - sounds solid and dependable, not very exciting
Fletcher - surnamey names are not really my thing but it's not the worst
Philip - similar feel to Edward
James - really love it

DramaAlpaca · 07/11/2020 17:00

I like Polly, Helena and Merryn a lot.

I dislike all the other girls' names.

Boys' names are all fine, except for Fletcher.

Flappingflamingo · 07/11/2020 16:57

Polly- really like
Nevin- never heard of it, really don't like
Winter- one of my pet hates
Helena- like it, how would you pronounce it?
Merryn- not my favourite
Perla- la perla underwear, Pearl is much better
Heidi- it's ok
Octavia- nope

Dominic--really like
Xavier- I like it but you will get various pronunciations
Finley- really don't like
Edward--really really love it 😍
Fletcher- nope
Philip- wouldn't have thought of it but quite like
James- really like

Hope it helps

meltonmypancake · 07/11/2020 15:53

I actually really like Polly too. I just checked the website "Behind The Name" to get a sense of how well the name is received. Polly has a 57% rating.

To put it into perspective
Lily = 77%
Kelly = 74%
Lucy = 80%
Tilly = 76%
Bonnie = 78%
Cherry = 68%
Ellie = 78%
Molly = 78%
Shelly = 69%

So why is Polly only 57%? Am I missing something...it seems so low for such a lovely name.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 07/11/2020 15:38

Remember -you asked!!

Polly - cute but fine for a teen/adult too

Nevina - don't like it
Winter - nope dislike seasons,trees,fruit etc
Helena -dated, not classic
Merryn - unattractive
Perla - nope
Heidi - so dated
Octavia - pretentious

Dominic - nope disliked before Cummings
Xavier nope
Finley - good
Edward -Eddie - good
Fletcher - nope Fletch
Philip -dated
James- over used

Have twins - boy Fin & a girl polly!

MaelyssQ · 07/11/2020 15:38

Merryn and Xavier

DelphiniumBlue · 07/11/2020 15:37

Perla = knickers.
Nevina= sounds like you are making up names to be original
Fletcher=a surname. I know this is a popular concept, but it's unnecessary and makes me wince.
Finley - isn't Finlay the spelling?
Merryn- quite sweet, but sounds made up. Is it? Apologies if I have that wrong.
Octavia- not keen on the sounds.
Heidi, Helena ( Hell-a-na or He -layn-a?) Polly- yes to any of them.
Dominic-yes
Xavier- only if it fits culturally, lots of opportunities for mispronunciation, but pretty cool for a teenager/adult
Philip - haven't come across a child called that for years, but not objectionable
James and Edward yes. But consider what nicknames ( if any) would be acceptable to you - eg I like Ted/Teddy but not Ed/Eddie.

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 07/11/2020 15:34

Polly
Helena
Octavia

Dominic
James
Finley

MikeUniformMike · 07/11/2020 15:33

Polly - like a lot
Nevina - scottish. Nevin-a or Nev-eena
Winter - no
Helena - yes but quite popular, prefer Helen
Merryn - not keen
Perla - underwear?
Heidi - 'Hi, like it
Octavia - Skoda

Polly or Heidi

Dominic - big bad Dom
Xavier - like it bu some say Ex-avier
Finley - too popular, a bit wet sounding
Edward - ok, no to Teddy or Ned as nn
Fletcher - no
Philip - fine
James - fine

James or Philip

Audreyseyebrows · 07/11/2020 15:33

Polly is my favourite from the girls names

I love James, Edward and Finley from the boys.

OhTheRoses · 07/11/2020 15:31

Nevina? Is it a name?

With the exception of Perla and Fletcher I like your other names.

BuffaloCauliflower · 07/11/2020 15:30

Polly - love it, classic but underused
Nevina - don’t like it
Winter - ok but others better
Helena - pretty and classic
Merryn - don’t think I’ve heard it before? Alright I think
Perla - too much like the underwear
Heidi - lovely
Octavia - fab, was on our list, though is quite a lot of name to carry

Dominic - nice and not overused
Xavier - nice pronounced the proper French way if you’re French, but mostly pronounced wrong
Finley - fine but very popular
Edward - classic, there’s 1000 Ted’s around here though if you were considering that as a nickname
Fletcher - nope, not a fan of surnames as first names
Philip - classic but not used much, quite like it but wouldn’t choose it
James - nicest of the lot, I don’t think I know any James’ under 25

Chilldonaldchill · 07/11/2020 15:25

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Polly - I really like Polly. I dislike Molly and Holly but Polly feels fresher
Nevina - I've never heard this before but I really dislike it.
Winter - I like this
Helena - I like this
Merryn - I LOVE this
Perla - sounds like underwear. Pearl is much nicer
Heidi - I'm not a fan
Octavia - it's ok. A bit too flowery

Dominic - lovely
Xavier - lovely
Finley - nice but popular
Edward - nice
Fletcher - really dislike this
Philip - boring
James - dull

I would go for Merryn (or as a distant second Helena) or Xavier (or Dominic)

Bubbletrouble43 · 07/11/2020 15:23

Lots of nice names there, I especially like Merryn and Edward.

FixItUpChappie · 07/11/2020 15:20

Of your girls names I like Merryn - thats lovely. Of your boys list Dominic is a fantastic name IMO

SocialBees · 07/11/2020 15:15

I love Polly, Winter, Helena, Dominic, Edward and James.

Least favourites are Nevina and Fletcher.

serialreturner · 07/11/2020 15:12

Helena
Heidi
James
Edward nn Freddie

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