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Baby names

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

Original poster

For those who want an unusual girl's name

97 replies

whatausername · 18/07/2021 17:46

Estrilda, there you go! Was used in the 14th century.

Anyone got any other historic ones they fancy adding?

(I am being slightly tongue in cheek btw! I'm not sure Estrilda is quite my taste.)

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BikeRunSki · 20/07/2021 06:44

I’ve come across a Ruyeka and an Ishmay in our work contacts database.

blameitonthecaffeine · 20/07/2021 00:37

I know a Rhoaise (at least I think I do - she says it Ro-haze but I've never seen it written down; I only know her vaguely) and a Zipporah.

Some of these are gorgeous. I love Casilda, Zenobia, Merry-Wanda , Crysanthe and Clementia

Ultragotha, Mehetable, Gimpelgraenem and a female Douglas on the other hand ... Grin

Not unheard of but unusual and ancient - I like Isolde and Evadne.

Rockmehardplace · 20/07/2021 00:10

Alkelda
Fanny (I had a great aunt called Fanny)

Hippopotas · 19/07/2021 23:09

Berengaria
Berenguela
Theodelinda
Thomasina
Wulfryth
Hawise
Godgifu

eatingpopcorn · 19/07/2021 23:07

@doctorsnoddy

I have an aunt Euphemia, still waiting for this to come back into fashion...
I came on here to say the exact same! She was known as faymie which I think is lovely. I considered using it for my DD ☺️
RickOShay · 19/07/2021 23:07

Dh’s great granny was called Dorothea Desiree, Didi for short. What a great name.
Really like Chrysanthe and Isabeau.

PermanentTemporary · 19/07/2021 22:57

Casilda is really lovely.

We have Thrift in our family names.

reallyalurker · 19/07/2021 22:51

Brilliana.

roseinthedark · 19/07/2021 22:45

Shehide

MerylSqueak · 19/07/2021 21:56

Angharad. It's still current I know, and I know a few, but it's quite unusual to my ear. I hadn't heard it until I moved to Wales. I really like it.

reprehensibleme · 19/07/2021 21:47

Caffi - did your Thirza's family name start with M?

CaffiSaliMali · 19/07/2021 21:43

@reprehensibleme

Standrewschool, we have a jaybez - sometimes called Javez in the family tree. Wonder if we're related? We also have a Thirza. And an Emmet.
I got excited as I have a Jabez and a Thirza too but no Emmett that I'm aware of.

I also have:
Keziah
Jennett
Israel
Saint
Cleoner
Joney
Mira (male)
Johem

Hawkins001 · 19/07/2021 21:26

Belladonna

reprehensibleme · 19/07/2021 21:26

Standrewschool, we have a jaybez - sometimes called Javez in the family tree. Wonder if we're related? We also have a Thirza. And an Emmet.

Marcipex · 19/07/2021 21:23

Hubertine
Clytemnestra
Gundreda

notawittyname1954 · 19/07/2021 21:21

I had a zipporah not too far back in my family tree

Echobelly · 19/07/2021 21:18

My dad found several women called 'Alima' in our family tree, and one called something like 'Gimpelgraenem' (Yiddish names are often not the most beautiful!)

SurferWoman · 19/07/2021 21:14

Chrysanthe is gorgeous

BiBabbles · 19/07/2021 17:47

Some of these are nice, I agree we lost some good names with the Norman Conquest. Some are better in history Grin

Enheduanna - oldest known poet.

Chrysanthe, Lysandra, Glaphyra

Drusilla. I went to school with a girl who was Dru, it was a bit before I learned her full name was Drusilla.

BikeRunSki · 19/07/2021 17:16

Hildred
Heloise

Standrewsschool · 19/07/2021 17:13

@CustardyCreams

Clementia was a popular name in medieval Europe, with emphasis on the “tia” I think it is quite pretty, can be shortened to Clem or Tia.
Clementia is really pretty
LoveFall · 19/07/2021 16:20

My 7th great grandmother's name was Mehetable.

irresistibleoverwhelm · 19/07/2021 15:46

I had a school friend called Eldrid. Thought it was very pretty!

Enko · 19/07/2021 15:43

Annunciata

ShowOfHands · 19/07/2021 15:11

@Houseofvelour

In a list of 1000 baby names, we saw the name Shmuel. My husband was adamant that if we had a boy, he would be called Shmuel and a girl would be Shmuella.

He would lovingly pat my bump and say "hi shmuella! I'm your daddy!" 😂🙈

I love Shmuel and have met a couple. Hebrew, same derivation as Samuel.

I think most people associate it with the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

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