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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby girl here - help, we can't decide her name!

82 replies

Stuckneedhelp · 13/12/2020 19:26

I'd really love your help! Our DD arrive a few days ago and we still can't agree on a name. My favourites are Leonora and Marina. DH likes Alice. Im worried Alice is too like one of our names (Alex) plus it just doesn't excite me. DH thinks Leonora isn't that elegant and she'll just end up being Leo. Open to other suggestions but looking for something elegant, classic, strong and feminine but not too frilly. Other names we have considered but aren't quite right include Genevieve, Clementine, Beatrice and Constance.

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CeibaTree · 15/12/2020 22:04

Tabitha, Cordelia, Sylvia?

Whatthebloodyell · 15/12/2020 21:54

I like Linnea (Pronounced "Lin-naya"). It has Swedish origins and is a type of flower which was named after Carl Linnaeus, the ‘father of taxonomy’ so is a great name
if biology is your thing!

WaxOnFeckOff · 15/12/2020 09:50

Vania?

SomethingAboutNothing · 15/12/2020 09:46

Congratulations! I know a Marina who shortens it to Mina which I think is quite nice.

Kakapop · 15/12/2020 09:41

Some lovely suggestions up there!

I love Grace, but a close friend has already taken that. Smile

As an alternative to Leanora, I like Linnea (Pronounced "Lin-naya"). It has Swedish origins and is a type of flower (see the photo). Also Eleanor.

Baby girl here - help, we can't decide her name!
Ohwhatbliss · 14/12/2020 14:34

I like similar names to you and we have a Josephine, who gets called JoJo, Josie or Posy. Works well in French or English. Like Leonora but not Marina. There was a female character in Last of the Summer Wine called that, would put me off, sorry

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 14/12/2020 13:26

I've decided either

Elaina
Rosa
Romy
Annalise

For mine. Thats in order of preference.

Princessbanana · 14/12/2020 13:21

Madeline or madison! Congrats!💕🥰

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 14/12/2020 13:20

You could also go with Lora as a nickname for Lenonora.

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 14/12/2020 13:19

Marina could be shortened to Minnie.

But I still prefer Leonora. And actually Leo is a lovely nickname.

Calmondeck · 14/12/2020 12:39

Ooh I hope you choose Leonora. It’s such a wonderful, under-utilised name! I agree with others that you can nickname her Leonie instead of Leo, although you can just call her Leonora. Seems a shame not to use such a beautiful name. You never know, she might develop a totally unrelated nickname based on a personality trait, or her surname, or anything really. Marina is a nice name but (maybe like your husband not liking the Nora sound, I don’t love the Rina sound). Hope you go with Leonora, and best wishes for the birth!

Strokethefurrywall · 14/12/2020 12:01

My mum is a Lenore and her nickname is Leni.
I love it, very elegant!

YoniAndGuy · 14/12/2020 11:54

Alice is super boring. Plus - you don't want it, so it's out!

Marina - no good nickname. Like it, bit super-adult, but I wouldn't use it because Rina is horrid.

Leonore/a - lovely, yes to Leo, but I actually really like that. BUT - if he hates - it's a no.

Josephina? Lots of lovely nicknames and has that old-fashioned Alice vibe? (Josie, Posy, Jojo)

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 14/12/2020 00:09

Leonora is very elegant.

IckleBear · 14/12/2020 00:05

Melissa
Miranda

Firebird83 · 13/12/2020 23:30

Marina is lovely, go with that!

BuzzingTheBee · 13/12/2020 23:01

Dont like Marina at all

BuzzingTheBee · 13/12/2020 23:00

Or Lennie

BuzzingTheBee · 13/12/2020 23:00

I agree with you about Alice and love all your names. Leonora is lovely. Leo or Nora for short?

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/12/2020 22:56

Miranda.
Miriam
Melinda
Elspeth
Evangeline
Virginia
Natalia

helpmum2003 · 13/12/2020 22:39

Emmeline? You've got some gorgeous names there. Congratulations!

Someone suggested Melina. If you're considering it please look up the medical meaning of melaena which is pronounced the same way.

Heathcliff27 · 13/12/2020 22:38

Grace
Amelia
Alyssa
Eilidh

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/12/2020 22:33

CongratulationsFlowersBear
Elsa
Catherine
Juliette
Violet

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/12/2020 22:32

Georgiana
Eleanor
Penelope
Alicia
Claudia
Florence
Valentina
Vivienne
Isabelle
Louisa
Victoria

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 13/12/2020 22:07

We considered Eleonore /Eleanor but are not keen on Ellie / Elle which it would inevitably be shortened too. That is also the main reason we didn't go with Clementine as we didn't like Clemmie (we seem to have an aversion to nicknames..!)

While I think Clementine would get sometimes Clem (because it's the obvious nickname), I don't think an Eleonore would inevitably get Elle or Ellie (because the nn Nell seems nearly as trendy now!). The similar Helene could be an option, that may avoid the Ellie nn?

Other favourite French names:
Camille
Sylvie (I know it's dated in France)
Ariane
Mathilde
Coralie
Madeleine
Juliette
Emmeline
Colette
Elodie
Adeline