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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girl Names Shortlist please help

33 replies

LJaney246 · 05/05/2021 09:35

Hello!

Baby girl is a week old and we are stuck on names. Must be the sleep deprivation also haha. We already have a 3yo called Wren Silvia and now we can’t decide on:

Sylvie - can we use wren’s middle name 😬
Soline
Matilda
Alma
Ellis

Any thoughts?

I am leaning to Alma Ray Richardson but my mum really doesn’t like Alma although she could just get over that in time :/

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IamnotwhouthinkIam · 05/05/2021 22:57

Alva instead of Alma? Alva is popular in some European countries and has the V sound you like (or there's also the similar Elva). But if not, I think "re-using" Sylvie is fine - Sylvie has a chic French elegance to me, the Silvia spelling has a beautiful Shakespearean feel instead imo.

VenusClapTrap · 05/05/2021 22:01

It’s fine to use Sylvie.

I like Soline.

There are SO many Matildas and Tillys - I’d avoid that.

YoniAndGuy · 05/05/2021 17:09

Oh and Ellis - don't! She will be Ellie and there are a million of them!

YoniAndGuy · 05/05/2021 17:09

I'm not a fan of Alma at all - it's heavy and dull.

Love Sylvie, but I see the issue. It would feel she got second dibs!

How about:

Linnet
Sabina
Saskia?

sarah13xx · 05/05/2021 16:41

You can definitely use a previous child’s middle name, Kate Middleton did it with Louis! I would go for Ellis though, absolutely love it

StevieNix · 05/05/2021 14:33

Sylvie is gorgeous

Goodtohear · 05/05/2021 14:05

Matilda Ellis?

Edenember · 05/05/2021 13:59

Sylvie is my favourite choice of your names by a mile. Wren & Sylvie are gorgeous together. I wouldn’t be put off by Silvia being Wren’s middle name at all, they aren’t exactly the same name and barely anyone knows about middle names. It’s also a sweet nod to her big sister.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 05/05/2021 13:56

We are English.

I was thinking you were Scottish with saying Weens.

Sauvignonblanket · 05/05/2021 13:54

Wills and Kate repeated Louis - which is one of George's middle names - so there's a precedent :)

17caterpillars1mouse · 05/05/2021 13:50

I really love Alma, it's unusual and quirky. Do you like Alba? It's obviously really similar too

Mseddy · 05/05/2021 13:26

Alma is top of my list. It's my nans middle name and I love it. Although DH isn't so keen. He also worries about mispronunciation as some people say al-mah and some ol-mah. I'm still hoping I can change his mind in the next few months!! Evelyn is the other name we are considering

Original poster
LJaney246 · 05/05/2021 12:47

Loving this feedback and it’s exactly what I need thank you!!
Will let you know what we decide on in a few days after trailing them outX

OP posts:
Inafastspin · 05/05/2021 12:36

If Sylvie is your favourite, then I would go with that regardless of it being DD1's middle name. First names are far too important to not go for the one you love best.

Fabien is a boy's name, Fabienne is the female version. Ellis I think is potentially more unisex.

If you like Alma, you might like Alba?

Matilda's nice too.

I totally empathise with the challenge of making such a decision when so sleep deprived! Take the time you need, maybe try using one of them per day?

partyatthepalace · 05/05/2021 12:31

Sylvie - goes nicely w Wren and not overused, never mind the middle name double up - if the royals can do it so can you

Otherwise Matilda is also lovely

Alma is a middle aged disappointed bar maid, Ellis sounds like a bloke, Soline - no one would know how to say it and not v distinguished anyway

Flymetothestars · 05/05/2021 12:30

Sylvie Ray is gorgeous and Alma is nice too and it's nothing to do with your mum
Let us know what you decide

Flymetothestars · 05/05/2021 12:29

I think you can use the middle name of course @LJaney246

Agree with @AnxiousAnnie86
The royals did it with Louis. So what? If you're daughter Wren wants to add another middle name just for her when she's older it's really easy to do, it's no big deal at all. Add her another middle name now if you want!

I love Matilda too though and think it sounds really nice with Wren

AnxiousAnnie86 · 05/05/2021 12:10

@LJaney246 some people will say no! But some people on here are too opinionated! Got called cruel and vile on a thread as we want to name our baby due in June juniper! But I think it's sweet if you name her after her sister! No different as such as using say a mother's name for example!

I love Sylvie and if that's the name you really want then I say go for it!!!!

Sylvie Ray
Wren Sylvie

How often do you actually use a middle name? It would be wren and Sylvie :)

Original poster
LJaney246 · 05/05/2021 11:34

@AnxiousAnnie86 our favourite name to use is Sylvie but it’s wrens middle name so I don’t feel we can...can we??!

OP posts:
AnxiousAnnie86 · 05/05/2021 11:19

@LJaney246 we have ray and Ellis on our lists
! Love them both! Love Sylvie too!

So I'd vote

Sylvie Ray
Ellis Ray

😍

MercyBodle · 05/05/2021 10:50

I love Sylvie, Matilda and Ellis. With Wren I like Ellis best.

DotDotDotDotDot · 05/05/2021 10:44

Are you going to give her the same middle name as your older daughter??
Matilda is lovely, what about a nature inspired middle name to go with Wren? Maybe Matilda Fern,
Matilda Violet,
Matilda Robin,
Matilda Hazel
Matilda Scarlett?

Original poster
LJaney246 · 05/05/2021 10:17

Thank you!

I feel maybe she’s a

Matilda Silvie Richardson

Will sleep on it as I do love Sol or Ellis too. I think Fabien is too french and we are EnglishXxx

OP posts:
MooseMoose · 05/05/2021 10:12

Sylvie - lovely, but nope - too close to other daughter's middle name (I had the same dilemma) - Rosalie? Phoebe? Daphne?
Soline - horrible, similar vibe to Sonia, Coleen etc.
Matilda - like
Alma - also like, has a similar vibe to Vera, which I think is also due a revival
Ellis - boys ' name, how about Elsie, Elodie, Elowen, Elin?

Spidey66 · 05/05/2021 10:04

I only like Matilda from your list. I like Tilly as a nickname.

I thought Ellis was a boys name.