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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls names

40 replies

DotDotDotDotDot · 21/07/2022 13:39

Hello everyone

I just had a positive 20 week scan (yay!!) so starting to let myself think properly about names for our 2nd baby. We’re not finding out the sex beforehand. I’d like to get some thoughts and opinions on my girls list please. I can change my mind constantly on girls names, I’m not sure how I’ll ever narrow my list down! My boys list is definitely much shorter and focused - I might post it later.

So here’s my girls list:
Juno

Cleo (not sure if the car connotations are still strong? I’d definitely go for this spelling.)

Rafaela (love nn Rafi)

Cassia (love Cassie and Cass but feel they are a bit nicknamey as a full name)

Fiadh (pronounced Fee-ah. This is the one I think I may have spelling/pronunciation issues with as we live in London. I do love it and it’s meaning though)

Maeve

Sylvie ( I do like this a lot but I have a first name beginning with S and so does dd1, this puts me off a bit)

Eliza

Nina

Cora

Zoë - these last 4 names I think are the “safe” names that I can’t see many issues with other than I’m not sure I love them.

Thanks in advance

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Original poster
DotDotDotDotDot · 23/07/2022 18:02

Thanks @MassiveSalad22 I’m liking Cleo a lot too. My partner has actually surprised me by saying he likes it, I was expecting a veto. Calista is a lovely suggestion, I do like it but unfortunately can’t have Callie which I think it may get shortened to.

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Original poster
DotDotDotDotDot · 23/07/2022 17:55

Thanks @PennyPencils , congratulations to you too

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MassiveSalad22 · 23/07/2022 16:46

Oooooh so many of your names were on our list 😍 obsessed with Cleo but DH couldn’t get on board so we went with another one from your list. Also what about Calista? You have a lot of Greek names on your list. Love Cal. Also love Maeve!

PennyPencils · 23/07/2022 16:42

Nina, Cora and Eliza are all on my list and I'm 20 weeks next week. DP not keen though so don't expect I'll end up being allowed any of these.

Congrats 😊

Original poster
DotDotDotDotDot · 22/07/2022 11:59

To be honest @Qwertysfine I really don’t think any of the names on my list are exactly eccentric but you’re more than entitled to your opinion. I think a baby Sharon or Tracey born in 2022 would raise more eyebrows than any of my choices. Also I’ve never read the Times so no birth announcements in there from me.

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Qwertysfine · 22/07/2022 10:40

Huge congratulations by the way 😃

Qwertysfine · 22/07/2022 10:38

Dot dot , I was being cheeky at 3am with the Sharon and Tracy names , two of my friends at school had these names . I think Tracy is a nice name with a bad reputation unfortunately, my friend Tracy was very tall and elegant.
I do like some of your choice but don't you think everyone is trying to out do one another these days with the most eccentric name they can come up with ? I mean Juno and Raeffella , or are they going to be introduced in the back pages of the Times ?

TempsPerdu · 22/07/2022 10:33

@Somatronic @DotDotDotDotDot

Yes agree regional context is important with names and can vary so much. You can’t move where I am in London for little Matildas/Tillys (and Maeves!).

Bimblybomeyelash · 22/07/2022 09:23

I love Cleo. I really like Cass/ Cassie as nn but not as keen on Cassia for some reason. I’ve not met a Cassia before, but I know lots of Kasia pronounced Kasha. I think Sylvie is lovely too.

Original poster
DotDotDotDotDot · 22/07/2022 09:19

Thanks @Qwertysfine for the interesting suggestions but those names are already well used in my circle😉

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Original poster
DotDotDotDotDot · 22/07/2022 09:17

Yes @Glitternails1 I’m Irish, baby will be half Irish.

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Original poster
DotDotDotDotDot · 22/07/2022 09:15

Thanks @Somatronic and @TempsPerdu you both make very good points about Maeve. To be honest the sudden surge in popularity of it in the UK is very interesting, I’d hate to use it and then suddenly it was in the top 10 in a year or so. It’s hard to know if it has the potential to get that popular though. I have a relative who called her DD Ava 20 years ago and then suddenly it boomed and they were everywhere.

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Somatronic · 22/07/2022 08:46

@TempsPerdu fair enough if that's your experience in Britain, presumably. Im in Ireland and I know a Maeve in her 50s and several in their 30s and 40s so obviously have a different perspective.

I've also never met a Matilda, ever.

TempsPerdu · 22/07/2022 08:42

@Somatronic I get that Maeve is a strong name, with huge amount of heritage, and Queen Medb is a great namesake. I don’t dislike it at all, but what I meant by ‘flash in the pan’ is that it’s a name that’s gone from relatively rare to hugely popular in a very short space of time, and is therefore likely to date. Look at its trajectory on Darkgreener here. It’s also currently the most searched for girl’s name on the Nameberry site.

I’d compare it to Matilda, another very old name that was almost unheard of when I was growing up but has subsequently rocketed in popularity to the point that it’s now sounding a bit tired and overdone.

Glitternails1 · 22/07/2022 03:09

I don’t like Rafaela, Sylvie or Cora, but I like the rest. Don’t go for Fiadh unless you or DP are from Ireland.

Qwertysfine · 22/07/2022 03:04

I think either Sharon or Tracy would be best for you .

Princessoftheuniverse · 22/07/2022 02:53

I like Maeve and Eliza. I like Rafi but not Rafaela but I’d want a proper name on the birth certificate not a shortened form so I probably wouldn’t use it.

Luxa · 22/07/2022 02:20

I like Cassia, Juno and Maeve

teaorcoffee6 · 22/07/2022 01:39

I love them all apart from Juno.
Live live Rafi

Somatronic · 22/07/2022 00:25

@TempsPerdu calling Maeve a flash in the pan name makes me chuckle. It's a very old Irish name (Anglicised of course) and means "she who intoxicates" which is pretty cool. Queen Medb was a major figure in Irish mythology and was a bit of a badass. Google her.

It's a strong, traditional name. I love it, especially Irish spellings.

Cleo and Sylvie are pretty too.

Confusedteatowel · 22/07/2022 00:18

Re Cleo, it is one of the few names that there are two of at our nursery (in London). Idk if that is an issue. Also might just be coincidence 🤷‍♀️

Confusedteatowel · 22/07/2022 00:16

Lovely list!

Sorry, that probably doesn't help 😂

Original poster
DotDotDotDotDot · 21/07/2022 19:40

Thanks for all your comments everyone, a bit of a mixed bag as I expected. Cleo and Cassia seem quite well liked so far. I’d pronounce it Cas-see-a. I don’t like the Casha pronunciation to be honest. I’ve never met or known a Cassia ever so I think this makes me hold back on it a bit.

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User6761 · 21/07/2022 19:17

I like Cleo and Cora best.

I also really like the similar Cara.

I knew a Kasia (Ka-sha). Does Cassia have the same pronunciation - or is it Cass-ee-a?

Amdone123 · 21/07/2022 17:52

I love Juno, Maeve and Eliza. I don't really like the others, sorry.