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Baby names

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

Original poster

Long girls names

33 replies

Redhair1 · 16/09/2022 10:44

I am a big fan of longer or classic names that have a cute nickname with an older feel
Eg. Maggie or peggy- Margaret
Dottie - Dorothy
Betty or Lizzie - Elizabeth

I really like nick name Dolly but I can't think of a longer name, or is this horrible?
Other names I like
Hattie - Harriet or Hetty- but I'm not as keen on henrietta

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Original poster
Redhair1 · 18/09/2022 17:53

Some lovely suggestions. Really like Peggy for Margaret and Kitty for Kathering too.
I always loved the name Marianne but couldn't think of a nickname other than Marie or Annie, I don't understand how you get to Polly but Polly is nice. Thanks for everyone's help.

And no I won't be calling her just Dolly. I think she'll be Dorothy and just her family will call her Dolly.

Middle names are another matter I think something short would be nice with Dorothy like Rose or May, although I think both of those are so overused!

OP posts:
Hadtocomment · 18/09/2022 10:49

Constance - Connie?

mrssunshinexxx · 18/09/2022 03:54

Penelope/ Nelly/Nell/Pen/Penny

groovergirl · 18/09/2022 02:26

Dominica -- Minnie
Alison -- Ali
Rosalind/Rosamond -- Roz
Henrietta -- Hen
Christina -- Chris
Virginia -- Ginny, Ginger
Dolores -- Dolly, Lola, Lori
Angelica -- Gelly
Susannah -- Zan

Just bear in mind that whatever name you give your DD, she will settle on the nickname; e.g. Elizabeth might dislike being called Betty and prefer Libby.

goingtotown · 17/09/2022 23:16

Carolina
Veronica
Angelina
Dorothea
Julianna
Francesca
Suzanna
Michaela
Prudence
Beatrice

gogohmm · 17/09/2022 23:02

Dolly is from Dorothy

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 17/09/2022 23:01

Miriam-Mimi
Scarlett-Lettie.
Henrietta. Etta.
Cecelia-Cece
Natalia.-Tali
Cynthia-Thia.
Lynette-Nettie

Hadtocomment · 17/09/2022 21:43

Also Marianne to Polly just doesn't sound natural to me. Penelope to Polly does.

I suspect the only reason Polly is short for Mary traditionally is that in some families there were so many Marys that they ended up having to come up with lots of other names to differentiate them. Therefore Mary to Mollie to Polly. Etc. But these days, I think it would be needlessly confusing to call someone Mary and Polly for short. Or Marianne and Polly for short. I don't think many would understand that nowadays. Whereas Marianne to Marie or Penelope to Polly sounds like it'd made sense in the modern world.

MarigoldPetals · 17/09/2022 21:41

Isolde (Is-ol-da). Nickname Izzy

Hadtocomment · 17/09/2022 21:39

If you like Dolly, what about Polly? It's short for Mary I believe. Strange, I know. But is a standalone name these days. Could be short for Penelope now maybe? Polly sounds as natural as a shortening of Penelope than Nell, which people sometimes use. There's a very old Ancient Greek name Polyxena or Polyzena I quite like. And also Appolonia. All could be possibly shortened to Polly these days. I quite like Dolly, like Dolly Parton, but as others have said, it could be a tricky one for a young girl. There's also Molly (also from Mary).

AdoraLovesCake · 17/09/2022 10:08

i love Lizzie, Elizabeth

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/09/2022 20:54

Dolly is short for Dorothy / Dorothea

In the name of Christ don’t just call her Dolly - she really really may not appreciate that beyond the age of 4. It does carry an air of stupidity along with the retro charm.

Dorrie and Dorey are also nice nns for Dorothea.

Alexandra - Sandie, Sacha, Alecky, Alix
Genevieve - Ginny, Vivi, Jenny
Eleanor / Helena - Nell, Ella, Ellie, Nora, Lena
Marguarite - Margot, Maggie, Peggy, Rita
Caroline - Callie, Carrie, Lina
Penelope - Nell, Pen, Penny, Poppy
Marianne - Molly, Polly, Nancy, May, Annie
Beatrice - Bea, Beattie
Elizabeth - Lizbie, Libby, Buffy, Betsy, Elsie, Lizzy, Lily, Ella, Elsa, Lisa, Beth, Bess, Eliza, Lillian
Victoria - Vicky, Tory, Vita
Charlotte - Chattie, Lottie, Lotta

Tallulasdancingshoes · 16/09/2022 17:56

Constance - Connie

Purpletopaz42 · 16/09/2022 17:43

Charlotte - Lottie
Georgina - Georgie
Theadora or Dorathea - Thea or Dora
Josephine - Josie
Mariah or Naomi - Mimi
Matilda - Tilly
Lillian - Lily
I think Dolly could be short for Dorris too but Dorothy is really nice as well.

TroublesComing32 · 16/09/2022 16:31

I love Isabel shortened to Isa x

Original poster
Redhair1 · 16/09/2022 16:27

Thanks for the messages and suggestions.
I do like Winnie but that's my dog haha. And we already have a Josephine in the family. I do like the "granny names" and I could see a little girl called Dolly

OP posts:
FindingMeno · 16/09/2022 14:18

Winifred - Winnie

Mumofgirls2017 · 16/09/2022 14:13

I love Dorothy nn Dolly

Alexandra
Penelope
seraphina
anastasia
aurelia
clementine
beatrice
cassandra
georgiana
francesca
matilda
rosemary
rosalind
rosanna
madeline
tabitha
tallulah
juliet
josephine
theodora
henrietta
meredith
cecilia
genevieve
eloise
emmeline
evangeline

jrt2022 · 16/09/2022 13:08

Dolly is traditionally for Dolores and Dorothy.

thelittlestbird · 16/09/2022 12:58

Dolly is Dolores I think

TheSandgroper · 16/09/2022 12:56

Isn’t Dolly short for Dolores?

Anyway, there is always Evangeline.

KirstenBlest · 16/09/2022 12:48

I know a Doll short for Dorothy. She's a granny, not a little girl.

emmathedilemma · 16/09/2022 12:27

Pandora too for Dora

jrt2022 · 16/09/2022 12:00

Dolly is a well known nickname for Dorothy - it was my granny's name and I like it more than Dot! You could also use Dot and Dotty and Dolly for Theodora and Dorothea.

From Josephine you can also get Posy, Sephy, Effie and Josie.

Evangeline - Eva, Lena

Magdalena - Maggie, Lena

Hermione - Minnie, Mimi

Jemima - Mimi

Beatrice - Bea

Fivemoreminutes1 · 16/09/2022 11:59

Theodora (Teddy or Dora)
Cassandra (Cassie)
Penelope (Penny or Lola)
Wilhelmina (Minnie)
Eleanor (Nell)
Beatrix (Bea or Trixie)
Edith (Edie)