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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alternative Girls Name

61 replies

sweetlittlemystery2021 · 23/01/2021 11:07

I have loved Matilda for years, however someone very close to me has got there first so I now can't use it. So I could do with some help as to what to do.....

• Should I just let Matilda go and find something I love as much? Only problem is my sons have been calling bump Matilda!

• Should I use Tilly as a given name instead?

•Or should I try to find a short first name to go with Matilda? If so, do you have any suggestions of short names that would work!

Also, what do you think of:
• Seraphina/Serafina
• Elspeth

THANK YOU :-)

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TenThousandSpoons · 23/01/2021 18:58

Not keen on Elspeth and it would be tricky to pronounce if she has a lisp.

I like the suggestion of Ottilie nn Tilly.
Saskia
Sadie
Or how about Martha?

Hidinge · 23/01/2021 18:55

Could you speak to your friend and agree on different nicknames for daily use?

badg3r · 23/01/2021 18:52

I love your alternatives. But even if you will be in each other's lives forever it is unlikely the kids will be as close in adulthood. I would use it and call her Tilly if you like it. Then when she is a grown up she can still be Matilda.

RuthW · 23/01/2021 18:47

Both your other names are far nicer than Matilda.

CeibaTree · 23/01/2021 18:44

How about the Portuguese version Mafalda? Can't get the nickname Tilly from it though. What about just using Tilda as a full name? Seraphina is a gorgeous name, actually much nicer than Matilda anyway :)

springdale1 · 23/01/2021 18:25

Our 7 month old is called Elspeth, I’m forever spelling it for people and explaining how to pronounce it but we love it.

Amdone123 · 23/01/2021 18:16

I love Elspeth. Its beautiful.
Martha ?

partyatthepalace · 23/01/2021 18:05

Unless she is your sister or BF I would just use the name, and perhaps announce it as Matilda nn Tilly if her daughters nn is Mattie or Tilda or whatever. Matilda is a common name, so it’s unreasonable to be possessive about it. Don’t call your DD Tilly - it’s way too little girl cute for a full name.

Seraphina is lovely, Elsbeth is nice.

Other thoughts - Marianne, Madeleine, Melinda, Maude, Marina. Serena, Lydia, Philippa nn Pippa, Rosanna, Eloise, Lucinda

HSX8 · 23/01/2021 13:49

Matilda is on my baby list name too; I would still use it or what about Tilda?

NellietheNumpty · 23/01/2021 13:25

What about using Mathilde?

Original poster
sweetlittlemystery2021 · 23/01/2021 13:19

@Whatthebloodyell The only one I like from your list is Harriet. However, one of my sons has Harry as a middle name and about 50% of time time we call him by his first and middle name together, because the names sound really good together.
So I'm not sure if I could use Harriet for a girl as maybe a bit close?

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Original poster
sweetlittlemystery2021 · 23/01/2021 13:17

@Flymetothestars I know what she is like, therefore I know her reaction without having to ask her!

@DotDotDotDotDot Some of those names already used in family and the rest don't really appeal to me. Sorry.

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 23/01/2021 13:15

Love Elspeth, we can’t use it unfortunately but it would definitely be on my list if I could.

Flymetothestars · 23/01/2021 13:14

Why don't you run it past the mum @sweetlittlemystery2021

You're making assumptions about what she would think but it might turn out she's flattered

She's picked a top 50 name so I doubt it would be too much of a shock for one of her friends to pick it. If you want a more unique name you'd go outside the top 250 names

MrsFluffyMuff · 23/01/2021 13:13

I absolutely love Elspeth! My friends DD is Elspeth, she gets Elsa for short :)

DotDotDotDotDot · 23/01/2021 13:11

I’d probably let Matilda go as a first name if I were you. I like the pp’s suggestions of Ottilie, Saskia or Jemima. I’d add Eliza, Lydia or Clementine?
If you wanted a shorter first name then maybe
Tess Matilda
Fern Matilda
Nina Matilda
Juno Matilda
Good luck!

Whatthebloodyell · 23/01/2021 13:03

it would likely cause alot of arguments/breakdown of relationships etc. So its weighing up if its worth the risk

Surely it’s not worth the risk then? You’d choose a name over a friendship?

Matilda is a nice name, but there are other equally nice names.

Ottilie nn Tilly
Madeline nn Maddy
Susannah nn Susie/Sukie
Harriet nn Hattie
Belinda nn Belle

JudyGemstone · 23/01/2021 12:52

Tilly is a dogs name really.

Fine for little girls but too twee and cutesy for adult women.

If you love Matilda just use it. Your friend doesn't have copyright of it.

KirstenBlest · 23/01/2021 12:47

Matilda is overused but if it's the name you want to use, then use it.

Elspeth is nice but Seraphina isn't.

YoniAndGuy · 23/01/2021 12:41

There are billions of Matildas, it's so overused.

So given that, you could either find something less overused OR justify using it because there will be plenty of them anyway!

I don't like either Elspeth or Seraphina - what an odd pair of alternatives to pick! - Seraphina is pretty fussy and frilly - prefer Penelope or Persephone even?

Elspeth is such a sad name. Like Elsie. I imagine a withdrawn, miserable Victorian maid!

How about Josephine, Jemima, Saskia, Sadie?

Swingometer · 23/01/2021 12:36

It may be worth having a chat with Matilda's Mum and being very honest "Matilda is the name we had chosen too, would you be really upset if we used it anyway?" to gauge the reaction, she might not mind at all

I agree with a PP that Tilly is a bit lame as a stand alone name so I would avoid doing that.

I like Elspeth but depends how you feel about the inevitable shortening to Ellie/Ella/Elz

I think Seraphina is lovely so that would be my choice

PaigeMatthews · 23/01/2021 12:31

I love elspeth. And most less popular than matilda. Have you asked the friend? When i named my dd, one of my oldest friends said she always planned to name a baby girl the name. 5 years later when she had her babygirl she went with something else, when i asked why she didnt use dd’s name in the end, she said she thought i would be upset. I said she was silly as we had been referring to the baby as baby-dd’s name for months! We just assumed she would still use the name.

Spied · 23/01/2021 12:27

Not keen on Elspeth but how about Elizabeth on bc and nn Tilly. I do like Tilly.
Seraphina I really don't like. Sounds faddy.

happylittlechick · 23/01/2021 12:24

[quote sweetlittlemystery2021]@happylittlechick No she's not my sister. But it someone I'm quite close to and has been in my life for a long time.[/quote]
If it's a friend and they'll react like that cut them out. Use the name.

Original poster
sweetlittlemystery2021 · 23/01/2021 12:20

@JohnBarron Yes, I think its likely they will be in my life "forever" in one form or another.

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