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Baby names

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

Original poster

Opinions on girl names

80 replies

Ipanema01 · 01/11/2022 08:39

I have 3 boys and we’re expecting a girl - after having a list for so long I’m now finding it really difficult! Appreciate these aren’t to everyone’s tastes but asking for opinions or favourites anyway :-)
Boys are Rafe, Milo and Otis.

Clementine
Cece
Gala
Lilac
Leonie
Etta
Iris
Leo
Clemence
Paloma
Appoline

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GarlicSauce · 16/12/2022 15:17

Would you have considered a traditionally female name for one of your boys? If not it might be worth asking yourself why. I don't mean that in patronising way. Personally I wouldn't like to be called Leo in a family of 3 brothers as no one will be able to tell which is the girl and they will all be forever explaining it.

DurdleSnore · 16/12/2022 14:59

I think Etta is my fave from your list. I like Iris but not with Otis.

DNBU · 16/12/2022 08:21

Leonie! Love it

Original poster
Ipanema01 · 16/12/2022 06:30

SemperIdem · 15/12/2022 23:05

Terrence and Butch are very English/American “male” names, it makes you sound ignorant to disregard how very male Leo is, because it is not from either of those cultures.

Of your list, I like Iris though it isn’t a name I would use myself.

Show quote history

I think it’s a bit much to suggest someone is ignorant because they have a traditionally used boys name on their list 😬

OP posts:
monsteramunch · 15/12/2022 23:22

Calliope is lovely.

SemperIdem · 15/12/2022 23:05

Ipanema01 · 01/11/2022 11:17

Thank you for your opinions, it all helps even if not all are liked!

Gala isn’t a typo, a little girl we met in France years ago and I’ve loved it ever since but invariably I get ‘as in Gala Bingo?’ 😅 or like the apple. It doesn’t really put me off. I don’t like Gaia.

Leo I’m liking more and more and again it doesn’t put me off that’s it’s traditionally used for boys. Every girl’s name I hear seems to sound so cutesy or end in an ‘a’ and I think a little Leo could be cool!

Clementine I’ve had on my list for years and would be ‘Tyne’. I like Cece as a short name…

I really thought boys names were tricky …!

Terrence and Butch are very English/American “male” names, it makes you sound ignorant to disregard how very male Leo is, because it is not from either of those cultures.

Of your list, I like Iris though it isn’t a name I would use myself.

Original poster
Ipanema01 · 15/12/2022 22:42

Thanks again everyone who has commented - still going over all of them repeatedly 😅

OP posts:
MummaR94 · 10/11/2022 21:29

I think Clementine is the best fit out of those but Etta and Iris also go wonderfully with your boys names!

NurseBernard · 10/11/2022 17:11

I imagine it’s pronounced Cee-cee.

DD has a friend with that nickname - for Sienna.

PinkSyCo · 10/11/2022 16:52

I think Etta goes best with your DS’s names. Is Cece pronounced sessy out of interest?

LulooLemon · 10/11/2022 16:46

Clementine - yes
Cece - yes as diminutive of something else
Gala - no
Lilac -no
Leonie - yes
Etta - yes if your surname supports it
Iris - yes
Leo -no
Clemence - no
Paloma - yes
Appoline - no

mathanxiety · 10/11/2022 16:39

Billie, Willie, Stevie, Etc - not a new trend.

Names like that were popular in the American Deep South in the 1920s-40s in the African American community. They were sometimes but not always hyphenated - Willie-Mae, Billie-Jean...

But names like Leo - no.

The OP will be thought of as a woman who has some sort of a problem with having a daughter if she uses this name.

spinachmonster · 10/11/2022 16:28

babyjellyfish · 10/11/2022 12:39

Leo is a boy's name.
How about Cleo?

I think there's a trend starting giving girls names that are traditionally used for boys. I know a Billie - she's amazing- it really suits her- and I've heard of two Stevie's and another one I can't think of right now!

spinachmonster · 10/11/2022 16:26

Also Iona is beautiful I think.

spinachmonster · 10/11/2022 16:25

I think Etta goes really well. It's a lovely name. I love Iris too. Ingrid is nice too or Imogen or Astrid.

babyjellyfish · 10/11/2022 12:39

Leo is a boy's name.
How about Cleo?

watermelonwizard · 10/11/2022 12:06

Iris/Paloma

CantSleepCountingSheep · 10/11/2022 09:25

Galia is nicer than Gala.

Maybe consider...

Alana
Lydia
Eloise
Camille
Ottilie
Ophelia
Emmeline

CantSleepCountingSheep · 10/11/2022 09:22

Clementine - nice
Cece - Cecilia/Cecely?
Gala - apple/ swimming race?
Lilac - prefer Lela
Leonie - meh
Etta - cute
Iris - cute
Leo - boys name but also nn for Leonie if you go with that
Clemence - lovely
Paloma - nice
Appoline - no

NurseBernard · 10/11/2022 07:34

I have an American friend with two daughters called Bryce and Elliot (Ellie).

NurseBernard · 10/11/2022 07:33

A few years ago now, but my DC were at playgroup with a Spanish girl called Leonora, Leo for short - but pronounced Lay-o.

MassiveSalad22 · 10/11/2022 07:27

That’s a fair point about Leo for a girl. I said upthread I love it and I do, but ended up having criteria for our daughter’s name having to be an actual girl name, not a feminised boys’ name. You don’t need a boy name to be cool/strong etc.

Helloimabuzzybee · 10/11/2022 03:55

@Ipanema01 I agree with previous poster that Leo just sounds like you couldn’t be bothered thinking of a girls name after 3 boys so just gave your next favourite boys name / you really wanted a boy. That’s aside from a lifetime of you and her having to explain she’s a girl.

cece cute for a little girl not for a woman.

Clementine, Iris and Leonie are lovely.

Gala is a supermarket where I live ( Ireland). Like calling your child Waitrose so you can add that along with bingo and apple. Not exactly nice connotations to the name. Also not sure why you can’t use Appoline as you’re not French but can use Gala which is also a French name.

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 10/11/2022 03:36

Your sons names are really nice & go very well together. I love your idea of a girl named Leo . Maybe have Leonie on BC but call her Leo . Good luck for a smooth birth .💐

mathanxiety · 10/11/2022 00:54

You can't be serious about Leo for a girl?

You have named three boys already. You've used boy names.

You need to choose a girl name this time because you're having a girl. Your daughter eill thank you.

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