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Baby names

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

Original poster

Doris Lily

65 replies

Finallydoingthis · 26/02/2021 20:45

I keep fluctuating between loving this name and then having second thoughts.

I know it has old lady associations but that aside, I like the sound and think it would suit someone of all ages.

I tend to be drawn to names that people arent sure of at first and then they grow on them. Will this be a grower?

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CattyCactus · 27/02/2021 03:03

I knew a Doris who always hated her name.
I’m with her tbh.

Bellabluea · 27/02/2021 02:40

Good god no.
And my grandmother is a Doris.
It’s horrific.

Original poster
Finallydoingthis · 27/02/2021 02:07

Thank you for everyone's comments which were generally what I was expecting - the majority disliking it and a few saying, 'actually I quite like that'. It's just one of those names!

OP posts:
Thedogscollar · 27/02/2021 01:12

Doris is not to my taste. I'd assume you were talking about an elderly lady not a cute little girl or a lively teenager.
I've heard Doris used as slang for someone not very pretty not nice I know but that alone would put me off.

Runkle · 27/02/2021 00:44

Sorry, it makes me think of Doris from Gavin & Stacey.
There's plenty of other lovely retro names. Don't land a child with Doris.

DenisetheMenace · 27/02/2021 00:32

I prefer Lily Doris simply because it flows more easily.

ajandjjmum · 27/02/2021 00:31

My Mum always said that she would never forgive her mother for calling her Doris - said she didn't know what had possessed her! She was always called Dot, and later was known as Dottie, which was better.

Sorry!

Marcipex · 27/02/2021 00:27

Dorry is cute though.

I agree about Iris (which I can’t stand as I just recall the hideous posters in the opticians, not a rainbow)
It’s a similar sound, yet one is popular and one not. Like Harry and Gary.

Viviennemary · 26/02/2021 23:54

Doris is awful. Like a Victorian scullery maid. Lily is fine.

partyatthepalace · 26/02/2021 23:17

I actually quite like it, and a few years ago who could have imagined Edith would be mainstream - Doris might well revive. She can always call herself Dorey if she hates it, but agree with other PPs that you might add in another middle name to give her options in case it doesn't revive or work for her. Lily is v overused, and also a particular flavour.

Sunnydays999 · 26/02/2021 23:12

I think it’s awful. My friend has a jack Russell called Doris .But what others think shouldn’t bother you

BloggersBlog · 26/02/2021 23:10

Oh no. that is just awful. Unless you give birth to an 80 year old then please dont name your daughter this

DramaAlpaca · 26/02/2021 23:07

Doris? That is one ugly name. Sorry! That said, my great aunt was Doris and she was lovely. Still hate the name though.

NoWayHosier · 26/02/2021 22:32

There are two camps of old lady names:

Ivy
Iris
Florence
Betty
Nancy

and

Maureen
Doreen
Bertha
Hilda

Doris is in the second group.

yikesanotherbooboo · 26/02/2021 22:27

I like it and 100% think it will not be unusual over the next few years. I also approve of family names as middle names so overall thumbs up.

Tana433 · 26/02/2021 22:22

I had 2 great aunts called Doris and Lilly and their sister (my grandma) was called May. I love old- fashioned names personally.

YourWurstNightmare · 26/02/2021 22:14

Doe or Dory would be cute nicknames.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 26/02/2021 22:10

It's not my taste, sorry - I just don't like the sound of it.

Iris is popular because it is part of 3 associations/trends which means it was always likely to rise into the top 100 - Retro/vintage (Ada, Nancy etc), Floral (Rose, Lily etc) and Mythological (Freya, Thea etc).

Doris unfortunately only has the retro/vintage or "old lady" so is never going to be that popular - as it also doesn't have the trendy "y/ie" ending or the popular sounds that other newly revived vintage names do (Ivy, Elsie etc). If you think about it, Mavis is similar to Doris but hasn't really comeback yet (despite the relative popularity of similar sounding Mabel, Maeve and even May as a middle).

If you are looking for a retro/vintage name that is on it's way up but not there yet, I think Audrey and to a lesser extent Sylvia or Freda could make a comeback due to their popular sounds.

Branleuse · 26/02/2021 22:04

I love the name Doris

becca3210 · 26/02/2021 21:58

A big no sorry prefer Iris, Betty, Dorothy etc. If you like the old lady vibe

GADDay · 26/02/2021 21:56

I hated it when I clicked on the the thread but it has rapidly grown on me. I now actually LOVE the name Doris.

You could have a few nicknames - Didi, Dora, Dot/ty.

Piggyhoolier · 26/02/2021 21:53

My midwife when DD was born was called Doris. I think it’s quite nice, remember thinking it was unusual in someone under 80 and it’s probably due a revival.

TheVanguardSix · 26/02/2021 21:51

Doris the Finkasaurus (sorry! Beastie Boys reference there!).
I love it. I love names like Doris, Sybil, Maude...

ParisJeTAime · 26/02/2021 21:51

I don't like Doris, sorry. It also rhymes with Boris, which puts me off even more.

How about Dorothy or Mavis?

RuthW · 26/02/2021 21:43

Lovely

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