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Baby names

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

Those who like a challenge (girl's name)

35 replies

CucumberCool · 09/01/2022 08:19

Hi clever mumnetters

I have 5 weeks to go and a names list as long as my leg...

I like strong, traditional(ish) longer names which can be shortened to a cute NN.

Partner wants short and snappy. One syllable if poss, would have one letter if he could.

StepD wants Luna... (Will probably stick it in as middle name for her...didn't realise there were so many pets called it! It's nice but I'm not a massive fan tbh)

Surname(s) is relatively common Spanish beginning with C (but will technically be a middle name as don't want double barrelled) and very common English official surname beginning with D.

Preferably NN should not end in -ie or -y if it can be helped (this is the bit I'm finding challenging).

My favourites are (all v low on the 2019/20 top 100) :

  • Imelda (Immy/Melly NN - is similar to two close fam members names)
  • Caroline (Carrie NN - ie end and Stephen king connotations?)
  • Meredith (we already know a merry...)
  • Cordelia (Delia or Leah NN)
  • Eleanor (Elle NN)
  • Alicia (pron -Alyessia - Ali/Alice NN)
  • Beatriz (had firm no's from people as reminds them of princess -B NN)

Any ideas/thoughts?

Ps
Nothing will be set in stone until we meet her regardless...

Thank you!! Star

OP posts:
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ghislaine · 09/01/2022 22:17

Emmeline nn Em (M)
Thomasina nn Ti
Patrizia nn Zizi
Szuzannah nn ZsaZsa
Veronica nn Vera or Ronnie or Nika

HunterGatherer · 09/01/2022 22:11

Margaret; Maggie/Peggy
Ellen; Nellie
Teresa; Tess
Constance; Connie

user1493494961 · 09/01/2022 22:03

I like Eleanor and Alicia.

KiloWhat · 09/01/2022 18:05

Caroline nn.caro

And don't give them a middle name you don't like.

CucumberCool · 09/01/2022 18:03

Thank you all - some really great suggestions!!

Star
OP posts:
lakeswimmer · 09/01/2022 17:24

I love Caro as NN for Caroline.

Mumofgirls2017 · 09/01/2022 17:18

I like Cordelia and Eleanor. Could also have Cora and Nell/ Lena/ Ella as nn

Other options

Rosalie- Rosa
Seraphina- Sephy
Philippa- Pippa
Valentina- Vali
Juniper- Juno
Vivienne- Vivi
Henrietta- Etta
Theodora- Thea
Evangeline- Eva
Tallulah- Lulu or Lula
Juliet- Jules
Coralie- Cora
Florentina- Flora

Lamont77 · 09/01/2022 17:17

Gabrielle/Gabriella
Francesca
Georgina
Victoria
Hannah

I like Caroline, Eleanor and Alicia though from your list.

Dreamingof3 · 09/01/2022 17:12

Phillippa NN Pippa/Pip

LozMarieFielder · 09/01/2022 11:29

Magdalena (Magda) - only issue is if you go with Luna as a middle name they will clash
Jessamine (Mina, Jess, Jessa)
Savannah (Sav, Anna)
Genevieve (Viv)
Evangeline (Ev, Eva, Lina)
Philomena (Mena)
Valentina (Val, Tina)
Celestine (Tina)
Petunia (Nia)
Henrietta (Etta, Ria)
Lorenza (Loz, Enza)
Rafaela (Rafa, Elle, Ela)

RavenclawsRoar · 09/01/2022 10:41

Alexandra - Lex
Also love Katerina - Kat as suggested by pp.

EdgeOfACoin · 09/01/2022 09:33

Have you considered Dee as a nickname for Cordelia?

Genevieve - Gen, Vee
Octavia - Tay, Tav, Tavi
Felicity - Flic
Gisele or Gisela - Gee

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/01/2022 09:30

Henrietta nn Etta, Hen, Hatty, Harrie, Harriet
Leonora nn Leo or Nora
Magdalena nn Lena
Gwendoline nn Gwen
Georgianna nn Georgia
Helena/Penelope/Elena/Eleanora nn Nell or Nora
Francesca nn Fran, Chesca
Philippa nn Pippa
Rosario / Rosaria nn Rosa
Rosanna nn Rosa, Anna, Nancy or Nan
Annabella, Annalisa nn Nancy or Nan
Dorothea nn Dot or Dorey
Theodora nn Thea, Theo, Teddy
Edwina nn Edie or Teddy
Tamara nn Tam
Isabella nn Issa (Eye-sah - trad Scottish nn)
Benedicta nn Ben Bennie
Dominica nn Domino
Cecilia nn Cecily
Elisabetta nn Elisa or Elsa

freelions · 09/01/2022 09:21

Lucinda or Lucrezia - Lu or Lulu
Dorothy or Dorothea - Dot
Magdalene or Magdelena - Mags or Lena
Rebecca - Bec or Bex
Cassandra - Cass
Henrietta - Hen
Jemima - Jem or Mimi

Palavah · 09/01/2022 09:19

Agree that Beatriz (spelled and pronounced the Spanish way) would be better than Beatrice.

If there is Spanish family, won't Alicia be pronounced differently from the way you've suggested?

What about Anna?

Rainbowqueeen · 09/01/2022 09:15

Really like Eleanor

GameofPhones · 09/01/2022 09:15

A relative of mine called Caroline was n'named Cass.

sixtiesbaby88 · 09/01/2022 09:13

Phoebe/Bea
Constance/Connie

OrangeAndYellowAndBlue · 09/01/2022 09:08

Katherine or Katerina - Kat
Carolina - Lina
Matilda - Mat or Tilda
Elisa - Elle
Helena - Nell
Marietta or Henrietta - Etta
Lucia or Louisa - Lu or Lulu
Florence - Flo
Maria - obviously a thousand and one nicknames: more unusual short ones might be Mia, Masha, Moll

But I think Beatriz is an excellent idea myself, as it combines the longer name you want and the very short name your husband wants. Plus the Spanish spelling is a nice touch.

Fivemoreminutes1 · 09/01/2022 09:04

Annabel
Theodora
Clemency
Pandora
Violet
Letitia (I know a little girl nn Tish which I think is cute)

FiveGs · 09/01/2022 09:02

Jocelyn - Joss

tigerbear · 09/01/2022 09:00

Stephanie - Steph
Isabelle (Belle or Bella)
Gracia
Vivienne

NoSquirrels · 09/01/2022 09:00

Love Josephine & Etta for Henrietta.
How about:

Clementine (Clem)
Annabelle (Choice of Anna or Belle - but you may get the princess thing again!)
Abigail (Gail)
Rosalind (Ros/Rosa)
Vivienne (Viv)
Miriam (Mimi)

Riverlee · 09/01/2022 08:54

Imelda - unusual but quite like it,

Caroline - wouldn’t think if Stephen King connection, Carrie Johnson probably springs to mind sooner if I had to think of a well know Carrie

Beatriz - not with Z, prefer Beatrice or Beatrix, link to Princess B is irrelevant, and until recently, there was Queen Beatrix if Netherlands, you can also use B as the nickname, which would suit husband’s criteria!

Other names are fine.

Alternatives:
Lucinda - Lucy
Cassandra - Cassie, Sandy, Cass
Rowena
Genevieve
Vivienne
Yasmin
Dorothea
Tasmin
Alexandra

Synchrony · 09/01/2022 08:52

Delia, nn Dee? Or many other names starting with D could have this nn.

Kaitlin nn K? Or even Katherine?

Emma or Emmaline nn Em.

Theresa nn Tess