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Baby names

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

Original poster

Our final (I think...) list

80 replies

Sexnotgender · 03/02/2021 18:07

We’ve finally got a top 5.

Joy
Julia
Penelope
Helen
Vivienne

Thoughts welcome, or ideas. Naming a human is HARD.

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Theoldwoman · 07/02/2021 04:31

I love Julia, the rest are too Nana for me.

Juliet
Bethany
Amelia
Charlotte
Olive
Rosa

Nandocushion · 07/02/2021 03:58

They are all wonderful names. I don't think I've ever seen such an excellent list.

I do think you'll find it difficult to name a tiny baby 'Vivienne' but of course she won't be tiny forever so don't let this stop you.

alexdgr8 · 07/02/2021 03:39

sometimes i can't pick for the opposite reason !

alexdgr8 · 07/02/2021 03:38

sorry i can't pick, but unusually for me on these threads,
i can honestly say that
they are all fine names !
any of them would be good.

AfterSchoolWorry · 07/02/2021 03:30

Vivienne is beautiful.

Bilgepumper · 07/02/2021 03:21

Julia - so pretty ❤️

WildCherryBlossom · 07/02/2021 03:19

How about using Joy as a middle name? I love Julia Joy.

FixItUpChappie · 07/02/2021 03:05

I like Julia - classic but not overused and I love Jules as a nickname

SmeleanorSmellstrop · 07/02/2021 03:03

Joy - LOVE!
Julia - very pretty
Penelope - very pretty
Helen - nice but not as good as the others
Vivienne - really cool

I'd choose:
Joy Vivienne
Joy Penelope
Penelope Joy
Vivienne Joy

MercyBodle · 05/02/2021 13:56

My favourite is Julia - lovely. I also like Penelope. Helen is okay. I'm not keen on Vivienne or Joy.

17caterpillars1mouse · 04/02/2021 19:44

Joy - simple, beautiful name. I honestly don't know why it isn't more popular. It's a lovely name with a lovely meaning. My favourite of your choices

Julia - it's OK, just not my style. Also not a fan of Jules (unless on a boy)

Penelope - it gets a lot of love but I'm not a fan. I like Bell and I like Penny but something about Penelope puts me off

Helen - love it

Vivienne - lovely name and definitely the best spelling

VenusClapTrap · 04/02/2021 17:11

Helen! I love Helen. Such an elegant, underused classic. It was on my list for dd.

I also like Julia, but prefer Judith.

Original poster
Sexnotgender · 04/02/2021 16:14

@blinkboo

All beautiful classic but not too common names!
That’s the aim😂
OP posts:
bluechameleon · 04/02/2021 15:07

I love Penelope. Go with that. Helen and Vivienne are also nice.

blinkboo · 04/02/2021 14:58

All beautiful classic but not too common names!

CuppaZa · 04/02/2021 14:39

Sorry, JOY, not hot Blush autocorrect fail

CuppaZa · 04/02/2021 14:38

Hot is nice, not keen on the others

ofwarren · 04/02/2021 14:35

Julia is my favourite too.
Juliet was on my list but I've never had a daughter.

Chambored · 04/02/2021 14:21

Vivienne nn Vivi

notawittyname1954 · 04/02/2021 14:16

My 4 year old granddaughter is Vivienne after my mum. But she is often Viv or Vivi. I think Angelina Jolie has a Vivienne.

TinyCake · 04/02/2021 13:57

I love Julia

YoniAndGuy · 04/02/2021 13:15

I'm not a massive fan of Julia actually - much prefer Juliette (spelled this way) but I agree it's probably the best on your list.

Like Helen and it's going to come back around again but it's not either of your faves.

Vivienne, Penelope - like both, Vivienne nn Vivi is great. But not your fave!

If I were to suggest one, I'd say Josephine, which gives you the J-name classic of Julia, but is longer (like Vivienne, Penelope) and less 70s than Julia. And it has a better range of short forms than any of them (I'd rather be a Jo or a Josie than a Jules or a Jue).

finallychangedmyusername · 04/02/2021 12:20

Julia is my favourite by far. Very classy and beautiful.

Vivienne, although I prefer this spelling, I always want to accent the "ENNE" - "Viv-ee-ENNE". Joy is sweet. Penelope I've never been that keen on - Penny was a slang name for female genitalia for me growing up (strange, I know). Helen shortens to Hell, or Hells - neither are great.

Julia, all the way! Grin

WagnerTheWehrWolf · 04/02/2021 11:52

Julia and Vivienne are my faves. Plus those two names work best when you need to shout at them across a playground/shopping aisle/when you've caught them drinking cider in the park with their friends at 17

Jooooo-leee-AHHHH

Vi-vee-UUNNNNNNNNNN

Original poster
Sexnotgender · 04/02/2021 10:53

Julia feels like a winner. I do love it ❤️

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