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Baby names

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

Original poster

Feedback on my list, if you please. Suggestions also welcome

42 replies

ARoseByAnyUsername · 16/11/2020 16:21

Boys:

William
Anthony
Thomas
Robin
Peter
Laurence

Girls:

Eleanor (I don't like Ellie as a shortening though, so not sure about this one)
Elspeth (as above)
Louisa
Rachel
Catherine
Alexandra
Rosanna

I love classic sort of names, with nn potential. I don't really like nicknamey names, but there are some exceptions.

Names we would rather avoid, due to close friends / family etc; Alexander, Clara, Annabel, James, Elizabeth.

Middle name would probably be Ruth, (for a girl obviously). No idea about boys.

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ThePinkGuitar · 17/11/2020 12:53

Boys:

William - nice but sooooooooo popular
Anthony - not keen
Thomas - ok if tommy is nickname but Tom very popular too
Robin - not keen
Peter - like this different but classic
Laurence - love

Girls:

Eleanor (I don't like Ellie as a shortening though, so not sure about this one) I prefer the spelling Elinor but not keen on Elle or Ellie either
Elspeth (as above) nice
Louisa - meh
Rachel - meh
Catherine - like esp kitty as non
Alexandra - ok
Rosanna - meh

TeddyDidIt · 17/11/2020 12:46

@ARoseByAnyUsername yes, I do get slightly annoyed when people don't say it properly Grin but it doesn't happen often. Louisa is lovely too - I'm a fan of three-syllable names generally.
I didn't get to use Tobias/Toby because my DH didn't like it either!

Best of luck with your pregnancy.

Original poster
ARoseByAnyUsername · 17/11/2020 12:40

@TeddyDidIt, Eloise is a beautiful name! I'd definitely put it on the maybe list. My only small hesitation is that sometimes, when I say it quickly, it sounds just like Louise, whereas, I don't get that with Louisa. I love Tobias, but DH hates it!

@ShipOfTheseus, thanks. I wouldn't call any of my name list common tbh. I know a lot of young children and babies. I do actually know one each of Rachel, Alexandra, Esther, Catherine, but just one. I don't think these are common names. I must know five Florences for example. Sophias, Ellas, Emilys too. Popularity doesn't especially bother me though. I'd rather avoid anything having a 'moment' though, like Amelia did a few years ago or Noah. Lovely names, but I'd rather not choose THE name iyswim, as I wonder if those names will date a bit.

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ShipOfTheseus · 17/11/2020 12:02

Eloise has a very different feel to Louisa to me. I wouldn’t put them in the same category.

TeddyDidIt · 17/11/2020 11:56

Lovely names, OP. Although I like all of the girls in their full versions but not shortened - Cath, Alex, Lou, Fran etc.
I know you've discounted El names now but wanted to suggest Eloise, as it's similar to Louisa and my DD is 10 and has never had it shortened.

Also throwing in Tobias/Toby for a boy. Smile

ShipOfTheseus · 17/11/2020 11:44

@DollyParton2

You wanted honest feedback so for me your list of names are dull, straight, ordinary, heard 1000s of times. Middle of the road and will be so many other young children and adults with them.

The only exception; of your boys for me is Laurence which is lovely and Louisa for girl.

But many of them in fact aren’t heard 1000s of times these days. Rachel is 331 on the list, Peter is 210. They are uncommon.
dthdx · 17/11/2020 11:43

@ARoseByAnyUsername I love eleanor and I love the nickname Nellie for it

Eleanor Ruth
Nellie Ruth sounds lovely

Original poster
ARoseByAnyUsername · 17/11/2020 11:14

That was meant to be lighthearted btw rather than aggressive^. Hard to tell in text, so have to clarify!

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Original poster
ARoseByAnyUsername · 17/11/2020 11:13

@DollyParton2, you and I probably just have very different taste in names. Popularity doesn't bother me one jot and I always think parents who aim to have rare names, rather than names they simply like and which will work are pricks. Thanks for your comment though.

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Squeakerfoot · 17/11/2020 11:10

I know you've taken Eleanor off the list, but Eleanor definitely doesn't have to be shortened as Ellie. It can be Nell, Nellie/Nelly, Nora, Elle or Elea. It's even sometimes the long name behind the nickname Billie. (It also doesn't sound the same as an Em- name to me).

Having said that you have plenty of other nice names on your lists. Francesca is beautiful and I love Laurence for a boy.

DollyParton2 · 17/11/2020 11:07

Ok see you’ve added Francesca- that is beautiful too.

DollyParton2 · 17/11/2020 11:06

You wanted honest feedback so for me your list of names are dull, straight, ordinary, heard 1000s of times.
Middle of the road and will be so many other young children and adults with them.

The only exception; of your boys for me is Laurence which is lovely and Louisa for girl.

Whatsyourflava · 17/11/2020 10:42

Peter and Laurence are two of my favourites @ARoseByAnyUsername

ShipOfTheseus · 17/11/2020 09:55

I like all your names. I would probably go for either Peter or Anthony - classic but more uncommon these days. For girls, I would go for Louisa. Have you considered Marianne?

AdelaMia · 17/11/2020 09:18

I see Anthony and Laurence as so much more unique and interesting than eg. Samuel. Likewise Louisa and Esther on the girls list. x

AdelaMia · 17/11/2020 09:16

Such lovely choices OP 😍 I love your list.

Personally I don't think Thomas and Peter are as nice as the others on the boy's list, and with Robin I'd worry it would only ever get Rob. Adore the other names.

With girls I do think Eleanor and Elspeth would become Ellie and wouldn't like that. Also not too keen on Rachel, it sounds a bit outdated to me in a bad way rather than a 'classic' way. Love all the other names though, especially Rosanna, and also Esther.

Original poster
ARoseByAnyUsername · 17/11/2020 09:14

Boys:

William
Anthony
Thomas
Robin
Peter
Laurence
Samuel

Girls:

Louisa
Rachel
Catherine
Alexandra
Esther
Francesca

New shortlist^^. Really just so I have a record of it tbh Smile

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Original poster
ARoseByAnyUsername · 17/11/2020 09:12

And thank you btw, for the comments and suggestions! I think I have a great shortlist now.

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Original poster
ARoseByAnyUsername · 17/11/2020 09:11

Actually....maybe not Rose.

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ARoseByAnyUsername · 17/11/2020 09:03

Seeing Peter and Laurence together like that, makes me think they would make quite a nice first and middle name combo. Peter Laurence Surname sounds nice.

I am taking away the El- names and Rosanna and adding Esther, Francesca, Rose and Samuel.

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Firebird83 · 16/11/2020 22:15

Lovely names! Peter, Laurence, Louisa and Catherine are my favourites.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 16/11/2020 20:34

1.William - lovely, one of the ultimate classic boys names (along with Alexander, James, Thomas, Edward, Charles and George - they have pretty much always stayed in the Top 100).
6.Anthony - Okay, traditional but possibly feels a bit 70's to me and I'm not keen on Tony (strangely the beautiful female version Antonia doesn't feel dated to me).
2.Thomas - lovely (see William above) but maybe feels a bit more popular than William since there's less variety for nn's.
5.Robin - Cute, I really like it best as a nn for the classic Robert though
3.Peter - Nice and refreshing - a traditional/classic but not used much now (although I'm not keen on Pete/Petey)
4.Laurence - Another underused classic that feels quite patrician/classy to me. Laurie is a nice nn (Larry is too dated though).

2.Eleanor - popular but very classic and lovely. If you use a different nn from day one (I like Nell), I think you can avoid Ellie. Could consider the lovely Helena as well?
6.Elspeth - Nice, but I think I prefer Elisabeth - Elspeth can sometimes sound a bit lispy.
4.Louisa - nicest of the "Lou/Lu" names for me, but funnily enough I hate the "lou" shortening so couldn't use it myself.
7.Rachel - Okay, nice enough but a bit blah/dated for me for some reason.
1.Catherine - very classic and beautiful and with so many options for nn's/variations (I like Cat/Kitty/Katia myself).
5.Alexandra - lovely and very classy (but I wouldn't use it myself as I dislike Alex/Lexie and prefer Alexander for boys personally)
3.Rosanna - lovely, but feels a bit less classic/traditional than your other choices - Rose or Anna on their own would be more my taste.

Other classic names I personally love: Samuel, Edward, Michael, Hugh, Julia, Laura/Lara, Claudia.

Original poster
ARoseByAnyUsername · 16/11/2020 19:53

Tbh, I think the El sound names might have to go, sadly. As well as me just not liking Ellie, we already have an Ems in the family (short for something else). Think El- and Em- are too similar?

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OddsNSodsBitsNBobs · 16/11/2020 19:50

From your list I like Thomas and Louisa.

If you like Eleanor how about Elaina?

Original poster
ARoseByAnyUsername · 16/11/2020 19:08

Ah thanks for the nice feedback and suggestions.

Esther is lovely. Might add that to the list! I don't know my bible well enough to know if that clashes with Ruth. That is a good point. I'll ask someone holy!

I think Eleanor might need to come off the list. Maybe Elspeth too, as I can see them becoming Ellie, which I really don't want.

If it was Alexandra (my favourite girl name) I think I'd use Ali for short. I like all the other shortenings too, so not a big deal if Ali didn't stick.

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