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Baby names

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

Original poster

Strong girls names

56 replies

Brightonbelle87 · 20/07/2022 10:42

Not due until Christmas and still don't know what sex baby is but we're sorted in case of a boy but girl name is proving tough!

We don't like the trend for illy/otty/olly ending names, they're just a bit girly, but maybe as nicknames like Ellie for Ellen, then DD could decide herself.

I use 'strong' but not sure if this is the best adjective?! Anyway, suggestions for less girly girls names please!

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SpaceJamtart · 20/07/2022 15:21

Tessa
Cleo
Antonia
Juno
Talia
Imogen
Hera
Marian
Brontë (knew a very powerful woman called Brontë she was a tall rock climbing instructor who fostered teenage boys, she was brilliant)

Yika · 20/07/2022 15:05

Berenice
Leigh
Morgan
Angharad
Sigrid
Greta

CoffeeWithCheese · 20/07/2022 15:04

I wanted similar for the DDs... oh boy did I get strong veering on stroppy young women!
Erin and Robyn incidentally.

sorryiasked · 20/07/2022 15:02

Hazel
Peta
Bethan

RoseMartha · 20/07/2022 15:01

Beatrice
Annabel
Constance
Elizabeth
Gabrielle
Hannah
Katherine
Jennifer
Roberta

Original poster
Brightonbelle87 · 20/07/2022 14:59

Oh wow there's loads of fantastic suggestions, thank you. I quite like Grace or Brigid. Love Jennifer and Hannah too. Going to show these to my husband. He has a family tradition of Jane but I just think of 70 year old ladies in marks and spencers!

I love Cerys, is it Welsh?

OP posts:
User2145738790 · 20/07/2022 14:58

Footbal · 20/07/2022 10:52

Eleanor
Victoria
Evelyn
Liberty
Constance
Alexandra
Elizabeth
Catherine
Caroline
Ruth
Andrea means strong

Andrea means "manly."

Alexandra, Athena, Georgia and Harriet are quite strong.

MayMi · 20/07/2022 14:58

Leona, meaning 'lioness'
Erica, meaning 'eternally powerful'

numberthirtytwowindsorgardens · 20/07/2022 14:50

Alexandra or Katherine are the ones which spring to mind for me.

Ruth? Rebecca? Naomi? Esther? Good strong Biblical names, if you're into that.

knackeredagain · 20/07/2022 14:49

Elizabeth
Rachel
Alice
Rosalind

Theoldwoman · 20/07/2022 14:46

Rhiannon
Kate
Bridget
Natalie
Cassandra
Una
Clare
Hilary
Meredith
Lana
Kristin

yikesanotherbooboo · 20/07/2022 14:40

Joan
Portia
Edith
Emmeline
Katharine

User6761 · 20/07/2022 14:24

Iris
Merryn
Morven
Caroline
Nicola
Marianne
Ishbel
Lorna
Roslyn
Alison
Orla
Eimear

17caterpillars1mouse · 20/07/2022 14:15

I have an Elspeth which I think fits the bill. She could be Ellie if she wanted or Elsie, Essie, Betsy etc.

TiredInPerpetuity · 20/07/2022 13:02
  1. Aoife (ee-fa)

This name means beautiful, radiant or joyful, and likely derives from the Gaelic word ‘aoibh’ meaning ‘beauty’ or ‘pleasure.’ In Irish mythology, Aoife is known as the greatest woman warrior in the world

Twizbe · 20/07/2022 11:19

PurBal · 20/07/2022 11:10

Astrid
Isolde

I LOVE Astrid, I forgot that was on our list too.

Whatishappenin · 20/07/2022 11:18

Vita

LadyKenya · 20/07/2022 11:17

Brogan

PurBal · 20/07/2022 11:10

Astrid
Isolde

Kanaloa · 20/07/2022 11:10

Twizbe · 20/07/2022 11:07

I know what you mean.

I'm 6ft and knew any daughter would likely follow me. A 'pretty' flower name wouldn't suit a 6ft woman.

I wanted a strong name for her. We went with Cerys in the end as a short name was needed and it's beautiful without being pretty.

Other top choices were;

Elizabeth
Eleanor (of Aquitaine)
Isabella (of Castile)
Catherine (the Great or of Aragon)

I liked the idea of picking a strong woman from history.

Ooh Cerys is beautiful. Very strong but also feminine. I always think it’s a bit sad when you see ‘strong girl’s names’ as a list on websites and most of them are boy names! So it will be look at these strong girl’s names - like James and Dylan! Erm no! That’s just giving your daughter a boy’s name.

I also like pp’s suggestions of Jennifer & Jessica. Two beautiful and underused names especially Jessica!

fnargle · 20/07/2022 11:09

We called our daughter Julia which I (obviously) love, principally because it is a strong but beautiful name. When she's being a handful we refer to her as Julia Caesar Grin

Twizbe · 20/07/2022 11:07

I know what you mean.

I'm 6ft and knew any daughter would likely follow me. A 'pretty' flower name wouldn't suit a 6ft woman.

I wanted a strong name for her. We went with Cerys in the end as a short name was needed and it's beautiful without being pretty.

Other top choices were;

Elizabeth
Eleanor (of Aquitaine)
Isabella (of Castile)
Catherine (the Great or of Aragon)

I liked the idea of picking a strong woman from history.

Sneezesthrice · 20/07/2022 11:05

Elizabeth.

as can be shortened to many permutations

Elle
Ellie
Eliza
Liz
Liza
Lizzie
Libby
Beth

Theres some lovely strong names to be had there that aren’t fluffy sounding.

savethatkitty · 20/07/2022 11:04

I think about celebrities. For example, there are loads of "Jennifer's" or "Jessica's ". Maybe there's something to be said for those names. Maybe not strong names per say, but successful, high achieving

Kanaloa · 20/07/2022 11:01

Maybe you could name her after a ‘strong’ woman? From literature or history or even mythology? Or you could pick something with a strong meaning. Or were you just after something more simple sounding rather than frilly?

Athena
Emmeline/Emma
Hannah/Anna/Anne
Jane
Rosa
Catherine
Matilda
Josephine
Harriet

Some names I like that I think would maybe feel ‘strong!’