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Baby names

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Original poster

Saint names - Helena, Ursula, Marina

60 replies

DaisyJoy1 · 19/08/2022 20:24

What do you like best and why?

(Helena pronounced Helen-uh)

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FatMog · 30/09/2022 02:48

I cheated and looked up saints names. (I am in no way religious, so my knowledge is virtually non-existent)

I like :

Adela
Adelaide
Agnes
Apollonia
Bernadette
Brigid
Carmen
Catherine
Colette
Dymphna
Eugenia
Faith
Georgia
Imelda
Julia/Juliana
Judith
Kiara/Chiara
Madeline
Maria
Phoebe
Regina
Rosalie
Salome
Theodora
Theresa
Winifred/Winnie/Freddie (nn)
Zita/Zeta

As I said, totally cheated.

ChagSameachDoreen · 30/09/2022 02:08

Helena and Marina are lovely.

Ursula is ugly as hell. People say "you can call her Sula", as if that's any better! How is it even pronounced? Syula? Soola? Vile!

Ikeameatballs · 29/09/2022 23:14

I only really like Helena. I love the meaning of Ursula but can’t love it as a name. I also not keen on Marina.

Cecelia
Flora
Joanna
Teresa

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 29/09/2022 23:07

I have mentioned before one of my identical twin daughters is named Ursula, obviously we love it .

ZenNudist · 29/09/2022 23:05

Helen-ah not Helen-arrr and definitely not Helen-uh sounds rough.

FindingMeno · 29/09/2022 23:03

I like Helena and Ursula.
I would choose Lucia personally.

CharlesIsQueensHorcrux · 29/09/2022 23:01

If the saints are important to you, I would go with Helena as St Helena mother of Constantine was a genuinely critical figure in Christianity and lots is known about her so she is easy to connect with. I think Sts Ursula and Marina are very early saints about whom little is known. But happy to be corrected! Wishing you every happiness with your new baby

tracywill · 28/09/2022 13:22

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MrsMoastyToasty · 28/09/2022 10:10

St Ursula was a name of a local school where I grew up. So that's a no from me.
Marina is a place where boats are moored.
I prefer Helen to Helena, as there's no problem with multiple variations with pronunciation.

babyjellyfish · 28/09/2022 09:56

I like them all.

Ursula is a great name.

RedDwarfGarbagePod · 27/09/2022 11:27

Helena was second choice for DD2. I love Ursula, but DH vetoed it.

Marina makes me think of Marina Aquamarina, from Stingray. Just bobbing around, silently. Uselessly. Might as well have been a jellyfish.

DFOD · 27/09/2022 11:21

mathanxiety · 27/09/2022 00:29

Is there a universally approved list of marmite names now?

How would a parent know what was a marmite name so they could avoid burdening their child?

Hmm

Ask on this thread?

GlassDeli · 27/09/2022 00:48

I don't like the Urr sound of Ursula. It's like what people say if they don't like something.

mathanxiety · 27/09/2022 00:29

Is there a universally approved list of marmite names now?

How would a parent know what was a marmite name so they could avoid burdening their child?

Hmm
DFOD · 27/09/2022 00:22

Fine as a 3rd name.

Bit of a burden to have a marmite name as a first name.

TrickyD · 27/09/2022 00:15

My granddaughter’s other DGPs were born on Saint Helena, that isolated Atlantic island on which Napoleon was exiled.

One of her middle names is Helena, pronounced Hul-een-a because that is the
way its people call their island.

CruCru · 23/08/2022 18:54

I love Ursula. I also really love Helena but I pronounce it Hel-ay-na. How much will it annoy you if others pronounce it the way I do?

mogwa · 23/08/2022 13:04

I'd go for Marina. It's a beautiful name, easy to pronounce, familiar but not popular and not associated with any particular generation.

Helena would be my second pick. It's lovely, classic, though the multiple pronunciations thing would give me pause.

I'm not keen on the English pronunciation of Ursula, to be honest, and the Disney villainess association is unfortunate.

Rhaenys · 23/08/2022 07:36

user1477391263 · 22/08/2022 20:56

I quite like Ursula, but it doesn't seem to shorten easily to anything nice. "Ursie" is a bit grim.

Sully is quite cute.

user1477391263 · 22/08/2022 20:56

I quite like Ursula, but it doesn't seem to shorten easily to anything nice. "Ursie" is a bit grim.

user1492757084 · 22/08/2022 19:32

Just use Lulu.

Louisa Rose - Lulu
Lulu Rosemary
Lulu Marina
Louise Helena

MulberryMoon · 21/08/2022 15:04

I love Marina with the sea connotations. Do any of the Lisbon sister names appeal?

Saint names - Helena, Ursula, Marina
SizzlerFizzler · 21/08/2022 14:55

I kind of like that Ursula is a decidedly grown up name with a slightly haughty vibe. Ursula hasn't got time for any twee nonsense.

TheVanguardSix · 21/08/2022 14:53

Love them all, OP.
I also like Saint Teresa, the little flower (Thérèse of Lisieux) and Magdalene/a (Mary Magdalene).

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 21/08/2022 14:50

Helena was a really admirable woman. Mother of one of the greatest and most influential Emperors, greatly respected by him, travelled extensively, founded churches and abbeys. She’s a role model any girl would be proud of.

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