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Baby names

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

Original poster

Deborah?

67 replies

firefly374 · 05/12/2020 04:18

We already decided my little girl's name will start with D, it's a sort of family thing. But beyond that, we haven't decided much, because I'm SUPER indecisive, I never want to give up on a name, and my husband and I can't agree. One name that I like is Deborah, I'm usually a fan of the classics, but I worry that this is just too old fashioned. What do you think? Also, can anyone think of any nns for Deborah other than Debbie? My husband doesn't really mind Deborah (although it's not exactly his fave), but he hates the nn Debbie.

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frayday · 06/12/2020 04:12

She will just be assumed she's a 50 year old woman 😂 it's not old enough to have come back yet. It may do one day but at the moment it's for Middle Aged women

BasiliskStare · 06/12/2020 04:04

Deborah is lovely & yes Debo as nn and as @TheYearOfSmallThings says & others - a Mitford sister was Deborah - it isn't just 60 / 70s - Duchess of Devonshire - she was always nn Debo

Inkpaperstars · 06/12/2020 03:37

I like Deborah, it isn’t outlandish but is not often used now. Quite classic I think. Debbie is not inevitable, lots of possible nicknames, but being called Debbie at some point is a strong possibility too. Once at school it can be hard to control. Another D name I have heard that is quite unusual is Dianora.

MerchantOfVenom · 06/12/2020 03:37

If you need a D name, why not just go with Dora? Or one of the others that’s been suggested.

Not keen on Deborah, and I say with a DS who’s name is definitely out of kilter with current trends.

AugustL · 06/12/2020 03:31

It is old fashioned, I think of someone in their 50s/60s/70s, but if you like it you like it.
Nicknames...
D
Dee
Dee Dee
Dee-Dee
Deedee
I know of someone called Dee Dee, don't know her birth name, it might just be Dee Dee, or maybe Delores, her granddaughter is also called Dee Dee.

IonaBogbrush · 05/12/2020 21:21

How about just Dee, like the river.

IsabellaMozzarella · 05/12/2020 20:33

Deborah means Bee so that's a nice nickname.

ArseyWelshNameBore · 05/12/2020 19:49

Dilys is about 80 years past it's peak and dreadful, and will be misspelt, and Delyth is a 1960s name. Both are a bit made-up vogue names not due a revival.

I can suggest nicer welsh names but I wouldn't recommend them unless there's a connection.

finallychangedmyusername · 05/12/2020 19:45

I like Deborah a lot. Yes it's a little dated, but so are other biblical names (Andrew, Stephen, Ruth) and that doesn't bother me, I find them all very usable.

Possible nickname (although I do agree that nicknames have a way of forming themselves and that you can't force one). Anyway:

Dobbie (Harry Potter connotations though obviously!) Grin

Or Devorah?

Lotsachocolateplease · 05/12/2020 19:34

Doris - another name you never hear any more!
I know a 10 yr old Dorcas
Delphine
Danielle/a

IsabellaMozzarella · 05/12/2020 19:26

I think it's nice.

D names I think are awesome are Diana, Daphne and Delphine

TerribleCustomerCervix · 05/12/2020 19:21

My sister is a Deborah and says that she often meets clients who she’s only encountered through email who are obviously expecting a woman in her late 50s rather than a 30 year old.

It’s a pity as it’s a lovely Hebrew name with a nice meaning.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 05/12/2020 19:10

My sister is Deborah and she has never been called Debbie or Deb. My brother calls her Zeb (as in Deborah the zebra). Otherwise she has gone by her full name all her life.

HarryLimeFoxtrot · 05/12/2020 19:09

I like Deborah. I don’t think Debbie is inevitable. The ones I was at school with were always called by their full name. I know one who uses Derah - which I quite like.

Bubbletrouble43 · 05/12/2020 19:01

Really don't like Deborah. It's not classic, it's dated and from the 70s/80s. Really like Dora though, much nicer.

batteriesgoing · 05/12/2020 18:20

I know a cute Dottie

Cabinfever10 · 05/12/2020 18:19

People will always miss spell and pronounce it as Debra (I've had it all my life) and then there's all the people who insist on calling you Debbie even after being told that you don't use it.

sorryforswearing · 05/12/2020 18:14

I like Deborah and would use Debs as a nn but she’d probably still get Debbie especially if she likes it herself. Others to consider

Davina
Danika/Danica
Deanna
Danielle
Dixie (although I’d never be brave enough).

Willfiasco · 05/12/2020 18:14

Dalia, not with an h like the flower is pretty and has a lovely meaning(s)
Wiki:
Dalia is a common feminine name in Arabic (Arabic: داليا) and Hebrew (Hebrew: דַּלְיָה). The name in Arabic stems from the word for grape vine and in Hebrew from the word for [tip of a] branch, especially that of a grapevine or an olive tree. Dalia is also said to mean "a strong branch."

RosesAndHellebores · 05/12/2020 18:07

I like it. It's actually a classic that got mixed up with the 60s: Sharon, Tracey, Sandra, Beverley, etc..

Daphne
Davina
Drusilla

As alternatives? Love Daphne.

Sandcastles09 · 05/12/2020 18:03

Another vote for Dora on its own!

Twinkie01 · 05/12/2020 18:01

I just hear Snithy in Gavin and Stacey shouting Deborah a la Pamela.

Sorry it's truly awful.

FawnDrench · 05/12/2020 18:00

Sorry, not overly keen on Deborah.

How about
Dolores
Diana
Delia
Dulcie

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/12/2020 17:59

I like the name Deborah. Much prefer that spelling to Debra. It's not compulsory to shorten a child's name (I've always refused to have mine shortened, and so has my daughter). If it happens anyway, Debo or Debs are both better than Debbie.

Other ideas:
Dahlia (bit out there)
Dorothea
Dorothy
Daisy
Dilys
Dinah
Diane
Diana
Dolores
Dina
Delia
Della

Sixpencefaux · 05/12/2020 17:53

Danae
Dimity
Daisy

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