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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is name this too out-there or strange?

108 replies

Katypop2 · 08/10/2022 13:20

My baby girl is due on the 22nd and I still haven’t chosen a name for her. The other day I was looking at baby names and came across the name Braelynn. I really like it and I think it is very pretty. It can also be spelled with one N but I prefer the spelling with two as I think it looks more complete. She could be Brae for short. The only problem is, it happens to be a very unusual name and I think people would struggle to spell it. Also which spelling do you prefer, Braelynn or Braelyn? Should I stay away from uncommon names that are hard to spell? My backup names are Ava, Lexi, Lily and Amelia (ik very basic/common but I don’t care about the popularity that much).

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BlackberryCat · 08/10/2022 14:35

I guess there are a lot of English people here. In Scotland a brae is a hillside or slope.

ODFOx · 08/10/2022 14:35

Emilia is much better than Amelia.

ladygindiva · 08/10/2022 14:35

passport123 · 08/10/2022 13:35

Would you like to be called that name? Spend your life spelling it and answering questions about it?

Speaking as someone with a very ordinary name I would love it! I think Braelyn is gorgeous, just the one n for me though.

RosesAndHellebores · 08/10/2022 14:32

I'm sorry op but my first thought was braying like a donkey.

Amelia
Lily
Lexie (if short for Alexandra, Alexine)

ODFOx · 08/10/2022 14:31

It sound rural state US to me but I don't know why. I picture a little girl with plaits and denim dungarees.
It's a pleasant sound to say though.

Mercurial123 · 08/10/2022 14:28

YABVU to call Amelia basic/common. It's a nice name. As for your first choice I wouldn't use it.

Tansytea · 08/10/2022 14:09

Bray is the sound a donkey makes, so I hear this as a really ugly name, sorry. If you had said that you wouldn't be shortening it, that'd make a difference, but otherwise, it's not the strange or the out there element, it's the ugliness of the word bray.

emmathedilemma · 08/10/2022 14:05

Sorry but I think it’s awful compared to your other names. It sounds like something you’d get on that Teen Moms show.

HotChocolateWithMarshmallows · 08/10/2022 14:03

I love Amelia - but I'm biased as it's my name! Lots of options for nicknames too! I'm 30 so wasn't popular when I was young, but I always get compliments on my name even now its grown in popularity!

Wonmoretime · 08/10/2022 14:02

@caitlinrose I didn’t mean to suggest Braelyn was related to Briallen, but pps mentioned it was a nice name and wondered how it would be pronounced

Wonmoretime · 08/10/2022 13:59

@Imissmoominmama

caitlinrose · 08/10/2022 13:59

I'm sorry but I think it's not very nice.

Lily is lovely.

I'm sure that it doesn't mean "primrose", it is Lynn combined with Brae. Briallen isn't pronounced the same. There's no way Braelynn comes from Briallen.

shooketh · 08/10/2022 13:57

NCFT0922 · 08/10/2022 13:40

It sounds very American. I prefer Amelia from your list.

Amelia has a dated feel to me already

Wonmoretime · 08/10/2022 13:57

Briallen is Welsh (means primrose) . Pronounced Bree all enn. LL is a unique Welsh sound, so unless you are Welsh or live in Wales, it’s going to be really difficult.

BCBird · 08/10/2022 13:50

I think the issue re unusual.names is more so if it is pronounced incorrectly rather than if it is spelt wrong. I am.a teacher and think.it is frustrating for both parties when names that are not pronounced correctly.

Ihatethenewlook · 08/10/2022 13:49

The full name is not too bad at all. But she’ll get called bray for short, which is the noise donkeys make. That’s literally as bad as calling a child woof or meow imo

Original poster
Katypop2 · 08/10/2022 13:43

Yes it is

OP posts:
Choopi · 08/10/2022 13:42

Is it pronounced Bray-lynn? So you'd call her Bray, like a donkey for short? I don't think there's great associations with braying tbh so it wouldn't be for me.

coulditgetbetter2 · 08/10/2022 13:41

Sorry I think it's terrible. And what a burden to be constantly explaining it - especially the "quirky" spelling

YukoandHiro · 08/10/2022 13:41

Sorry OP, but it reminds me of Brylcream!
I like Lexi

beonmywaythen · 08/10/2022 13:40

Egg sorry but hate it. Your backups are nice

NCFT0922 · 08/10/2022 13:40

It sounds very American. I prefer Amelia from your list.

Hotandbothereds · 08/10/2022 13:39

I really like it, it’s not common but not crazy out there.

Misterno · 08/10/2022 13:38

Imissmoominmama · 08/10/2022 13:38

I like Briallen. I wonder whether it’s pronounced as it’s spelt.

I was just thinking I like Briallen too - never heard it before.

caramac04 · 08/10/2022 13:38

It’s a lovely name but I’d probably go for one n although it’s not a huge difference.