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Baby names

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

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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Luredbyapomegranate · 21/08/2022 14:47

I like them all. Would personally go for Ursula, I know one and she rocks, and it’s unusual, not to mention Le Guin and DH Lawrence and also it means little bear…

Rhaenys · 21/08/2022 10:43

factfile · 21/08/2022 09:18

Can't abide Ursula, all I see is the awful octopus villain from little mermaid. The Ur sound sounds ugly to me too.

Marina and Helena are beautiful names.

I have personal beef with Ursula from The Little Mermaid as she reminds me of someone from my childhood who wasn’t very nice to me, but that aside I think it’s quite cool to be associated with a sea witch. 😂

factfile · 21/08/2022 09:18

Can't abide Ursula, all I see is the awful octopus villain from little mermaid. The Ur sound sounds ugly to me too.

Marina and Helena are beautiful names.

toastofthetown · 21/08/2022 08:27

I think that Marina ‘Daisy’ Ursula flows really well. Marina and Ursula have different emphasis so it doesn’t sound too repetitive. But then my top choice for a girls name is Marina paired with a family name ending in with -a sound so not entirely unbiased.

Original poster
DaisyJoy1 · 21/08/2022 08:04

Considering Marina as a first name, with two middle names; the first being a family name that doesn't end with an 'a' sound, and the second being Ursula. (My children have two middle names).

Obviously couldn't have

Marina Ursula Middlename2 Surname

as I think it would be too much of a mouthful to use the two names together, but think having the other middle name between Marina and Ursula would break it up nicely and would still get to use two saint's names which are very special to us as a family.

Think along the lines of:

'Marina Daisy Ursula Surname' (but Daisy is not the family name. Don't want to post the full name as think it might be a bit outing but wanted opinions!)

Will save Helena for a future daughter!

OP posts:
Original poster
DaisyJoy1 · 21/08/2022 08:00

Rhaenys · 21/08/2022 05:26

Adelaide
Agatha
Agnes
Carmen
Felicity
Josephine
Mary
Victoria
Zoe

Adelaide lovely but doesn't work with our surname. I like Felicity, Josephine, Mary, Victoria and Zoe !

OP posts:
Rhaenys · 21/08/2022 05:26

Adelaide
Agatha
Agnes
Carmen
Felicity
Josephine
Mary
Victoria
Zoe

GoldenSpiral · 20/08/2022 19:45

I'm not a fan or Ursula, I just think of the sea witch. I like Helena and Marina equally.

pamshortsbrokenbothherlegs · 20/08/2022 19:35

I love Ursula - it's on my shortlist for any future DDs. Let's remember that "horrible sounding" is entirely subjective. 😒 I think it's unusual, strong and beautiful.

The others are fine as well, just not to my taste.

luckylavender · 20/08/2022 19:22

I live Ursula (was on my short list), quite like Hannah, dislike Marina.

DesMoulinsRouge · 20/08/2022 19:20

I think Ursula is really pretty.

Original poster
DaisyJoy1 · 20/08/2022 19:18

What a confusing thread! The first half so anti-Ursula that I was ready to accept defeat and use it as a middle name, but the second half giving me hope of Ursula. I also love nickname Lulu which I hadn't thought of before - so cute!

OP posts:
DPotter · 20/08/2022 18:36

Love Ursula - was on my short list. I too love the little she-bear meaning. I'm not so keen on nicknames - Lulu, Lala etc, hence it didn't make the cut.

Like Helena, not keen on Marina

DotBall · 20/08/2022 18:30

I rather like Ursula. I like Agatha too (also a Saint).

TheStarsDontShine · 20/08/2022 18:24

Marina is a no

BeanieTeen · 20/08/2022 18:23

Disney didn’t call the sea witch Ursula because it sounds nice - it’s really a horrible sounding name, sorry to to any Ursulas out there. I think in some other languages it has a nicer ring to it by being pronounced a bit musically if you like - Ooorrsooolaaah -, but definitely not in English where it’s just Errs-eww-ler.

Marina and Helena are both nice. I’d probably go with Marina if I had to choose between the two.

catsonahottinroof · 20/08/2022 18:14

I don't like Marina, Helena is nice. Ursula, not sure, I do like the meaning and contemplated calling dd this. But, I don't like the disney character and people would probably think of this.

midsomermurderess · 20/08/2022 18:05

I rather like Ursula. In a sea of sweet, girly names, we have a bear! I know nothing about Disney’s Little Mermaid.

romdowa · 20/08/2022 17:58

If my ds was a girl I was going to use the name ursula. I absolutely adore it

Hobbesmanc · 20/08/2022 10:30

Helena as in Bonham Carter is nicer than Hel ainer. Marina is gorgeous. Ursula not so lovely.

What about Cecelia. Beautiful name.

Yika · 20/08/2022 09:29

I love the name Helena, it's so simple and classic yet not common at all. Marina is also nice for the same reasons. Like pp I find Ursula a little clunky.

ButterRose · 20/08/2022 08:57

1- Marina- love it slightly unusual/uncommon but easy to say and spell
2- Helena- nice pleasant name slightly more common sounding
3- Ursula- cute meaning but personally I'm not a fan of the sound and reminds me of the little mermaid sea witch

Thefruitbatdancer · 20/08/2022 05:33

Helena nn Lena
Marina nn Rina

mathanxiety · 20/08/2022 05:00

I love Helena, but suggest Ursulina instead of Ursula (though I like Ursula more than Marina).

Goldfishmountainclimber · 20/08/2022 04:43

Marina or Helena

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