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Baby names

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

Original poster

Claudia vs Margaret?

81 replies

tickingclock2022 · 05/10/2022 08:37

Hello - first post! Our daughter is due any day now and we are finding names difficult, but feel it's between Margaret and Claudia, with the set middle name of Rose. All have family connections are we are not concerned about meanings. We think that both go with our son's name, are good with Claude as a nn as she gets older, and flitting around the various Margaret nn's. Any thoughts? Thank-you!

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Dinoteeth · 05/10/2022 20:40

HaveringWavering · 05/10/2022 11:09

You're thinking "clodhopper".

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It might be partly that, it could partly be the way Glasgow folk say it with an emphasis on the CLAUD-ia

AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 05/10/2022 20:40

Margaret would be absolutely at the bottom of my list, along with Bertha and Ermintrude. Claudia is lovely, and no-one is going to be asking what it means.

BarmyArmy22 · 05/10/2022 20:34

Moody Margaret in Horrid Henry

dahlianoir · 05/10/2022 20:31

Margaret for sure! Loads of nickname options. It's a strong name with peps. Love it.

SummaLuvin · 05/10/2022 11:17

HaveringWavering · 05/10/2022 11:09

I didn't claim to have done any statistical research. There are lots of "ia" names in my circles- there are 4 Sophias in Reception alone, and two Claudias .

Claudias Winkleman and Schiffer are well-known, I figured it would be more popular. I haven't met a single child called Margaret.

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Looking at the DarkGreener trend map Claudia appears to be slowly and steadily declining in popularity. However, it doesn't included the 2021 data, released earlier today, and there was a slight uplift - rank 521 and 78 babies in 2021 vs rank 609 and 63 babies in 2020. That doesn't seem like an extreme increase to me, just about 2019 which was 73.

That being said Claudia almost always gets a very positive reception here, and I feel like I see it pretty regularly, much more so than actual name usage. It could be that the MN demographic is a high user if the name, or it could be one of those names that is frequently in peoples top 5 but rarely is the name to be picked in the end.

HaveringWavering · 05/10/2022 11:09

Dinoteeth · 05/10/2022 10:50

I didn't know Claudia means lame. But it sounds clumpy to me.

Margaret is a much softer name.

You're thinking "clodhopper".

HaveringWavering · 05/10/2022 11:09

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 05/10/2022 10:49

To the person who said 'Claudias will be a ten a penny'. Really? I just looked it up and Claudia was the 609th most popular girls' name for 2020. Margaret was 357th.

I didn't claim to have done any statistical research. There are lots of "ia" names in my circles- there are 4 Sophias in Reception alone, and two Claudias .

Claudias Winkleman and Schiffer are well-known, I figured it would be more popular. I haven't met a single child called Margaret.

pawkins · 05/10/2022 11:03

I’m not a huge fan of either but I love Margot.
Claudine is nicer than Claudia imo. It sounds softer and less clunky but I’d choose Margaret over it any day. NN Meg or Margot!

Calmontheoutsider · 05/10/2022 10:59

She was a Claudie at primary school but is slowly morphing into a Claudia.

Calmontheoutsider · 05/10/2022 10:55

I have a Claudia Rose! She’s at senior school now but we’ve never had another Claudia in her year.

averythinline · 05/10/2022 10:52

I like both so would wait...many a Margaret in my family with nn Peggy..

Dinoteeth · 05/10/2022 10:50

I didn't know Claudia means lame. But it sounds clumpy to me.

Margaret is a much softer name.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 05/10/2022 10:49

To the person who said 'Claudias will be a ten a penny'. Really? I just looked it up and Claudia was the 609th most popular girls' name for 2020. Margaret was 357th.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 05/10/2022 10:45

Claudia is gorgeous.

Margaret is dowdy.

Karamna · 05/10/2022 10:43

Claudia definitely.

SummaLuvin · 05/10/2022 10:31

Claudia is on my list, so pretty. I love nn Claude and Cloudy, don't care at all about name meanings so not bothered about that aspect.

I don't find anything appealing in Margaret.

Snoe2 · 05/10/2022 10:17

Claudia Rose is beautiful.

HaveringWavering · 05/10/2022 10:06

Margaret is definitely due a revival. There are a lot of Margots and Marguerites out there at the moment. Lots of varied nickname potential. Maggie Gyllenhaal is very cool. Claudias will be ten a penny and personally I think that "a" names are a bit clichéd for girls.

Anyone over a certain age will definitely associate Margaret Rose with the late Queen's sister as she was often referred to as "Margaret Rose" not just Margaret" when she was a child.

stealthbanana · 05/10/2022 10:04

I would say Margaret only because - I actually LOVE Claudia but it means lame. I could never get over that as a meaning!

bravelittletiger · 05/10/2022 10:02

Claudia is much more modern and cooler than Margaret so I suspect she will much prefer Claudia unless you choose Margaret for the birth certificate only and then call her Maggie or something else as her actual day to day name.

thelittlestbird · 05/10/2022 10:02

To echo previous posters both are absolutely beautiful. Claudie and Maggie are both fab nicknames too. I would lean towards Margaret as I favour sensible solid names but really you can't go wrong with either. Great choices. Good luck!

Original poster
tickingclock2022 · 05/10/2022 10:00

Thank you everyone - such quick responses! To answer questions, I had no idea that Princess Margaret was Margaret Rose but as Rose is a family names as far as records can trace, and Margaret was my dear friend and grandmother’s name, we are not fussed. Claudia also has family connections.

OP posts:
Lilacsunflowers · 05/10/2022 08:57

The meaning of Claudia would put me off. In Latin Claudus/Clauda means disabled/lame.

Willdoitlater · 05/10/2022 08:55

Claudia is a lovely name, but it means 'lame', so I'm not keen. Margaret Rose sounds incredibly old fashioned, and wasn't Princess Margaret a Margaret Rose? I personally don't like that connection. Sorry.

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 05/10/2022 08:54

I Love Claudia (Claudie). Margaret, not so much, but some great nickname.

best wishes for a good birth!