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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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Luredbyapomegranate · 09/11/2022 22:01

Paloma 💯

Clementine - nice, bit twee, popular
Cece - too twee as a full name, ok as a nn for Celia etc
Gala apple. No.
Lilac - It’s ok,
Leonie - nice, although prefer Leonora
Etta - meh. Ok as a nn for Harriet or whatever
Iris - lovely but done to death
Leo - done to death as a boys name, really not fair to give to a girl as a full name
Clemence - misreads as a boys name (similar to Clement) in English
Paloma - love it
Appoline - sounds v v odd in English

Lois
Ines
Clio
Zoe
Aphra
Aster
Stella
Oona
Laurel
Anneli
Verity
Cassia
Cosima
Fernanda
Yolanda
Estella
Celeste
Adeline
Genevievre
Marianne
Vivienne

Mamoun · 09/11/2022 13:31

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 …!

Gala was the name of Salvador Dali's wife.

I like Iris.

What about:

Ivy
Olive
Flora
Leonora

LadyDanburysHat · 09/11/2022 13:30

Love Clementine, also like Iris and Lilac.

GoldIsMyChosenMetal · 09/11/2022 13:23

Leo quite a lot around and all boys so I wouldn’t. I know a great “Leona” but I know you were not looking for an “a” at the end but all my associations with this name are great!

I like Etta, Iris and Clementine.

Isla, Anya, Lena, Lyra - so many “a” names

Non “a” that I like Lorelei, Emmeline, Evelyn and Zoe

Lmgify · 09/11/2022 13:19

Paloma is my fav on your list! Congratulations :)

wishing3 · 09/11/2022 13:17

Love them all to varying degrees!
Leonie is fab, and Gala (heard of cos of Dalí).

Original poster
Ipanema01 · 09/11/2022 13:12

Thanks everyone, so helpful just to see all written down.

A girl is very much wanted and we’re not wanting another boy instead (!) so I do find it funny that it’s deemed weird to use what is considered a boy’s name. It’s not like I’m suggesting Terrence or Butch 😂
I do get bored of hearing lots of very cutesy names constantly.
I think having Leonie with Leo for short/known as Leo would be a good compromise.

At the moment I’m leaning towards
Clementine, Leonie, Gala, Leo, Paloma.
I love Iris but agree it’s similar sounding with Otis. Now I just have to get my OH to agree on some of these!

OP posts:
secrete · 04/11/2022 11:00

I like Clementine, Leonie, Iris and Paloma the most.

Clemence is nice in French, but I can't really imagine it being pronounced correctly in the UK by English monoglots, ever.

I quite like Appoline (I'm more familiar with the spelling Apolline) but I can imagine her getting a lot of "how do you pronounce that?", "Ap-oh-lyne?" etc.

Gala reminds me of Dali's wife, but at the same time I don't think it's a great idea in this country because of the word and bingo company. Gala Dali's real name was Galina (Gala was a nickname) so I'd suggest that.

Cece sounds like a nickname for Cecilia to me. And Leo is very popular for boys so it's not one I would recommend.

Dreamingcats · 02/11/2022 07:49

I love Appoline.

Cece does sound like a short form to me.

I assumed Gala was a typo.

Leo and Clemence are boys names to me and seems really weird after three boys. Especially when Leo is so popular for boys.

I like the others.

I guess in your situation I'd choose Leonie.

Leadfromtheheart · 02/11/2022 06:38

From your list I like
Lilac and Iris
I think
Lilac Iris is lovely x

Penguinsaregreat · 02/11/2022 06:30

Seems a bit odd when you have wanted a girl to give her a boys name, so Leo is a no from me. I think Cece is ok but like others have pointed out it may get mispronounced. Iris would be my choice.

Blowyourowntrumpet · 01/11/2022 22:33

I absolutely love Etta. Makes me think of Etta James.
I don't like any of the others

Coconutcream123 · 01/11/2022 22:33

Leonie or Iris.
Leona would be nice

TRC11 · 01/11/2022 22:30

I love Gala

DeeDeeDaisy · 01/11/2022 18:37

The ones I like from your list are:
Cece
Leonie (could easily get Leo as a nn)
Etta
Iris

NCFT0922 · 01/11/2022 18:15

What about Cleo if you like Leo?

VenusClapTrap · 01/11/2022 18:13

I love Appoline! How about Amandine?

HuntingoftheSnark · 01/11/2022 18:11

I love Leo for a girl - it's my favourite by far from your list.

Pemba · 01/11/2022 18:03

Ohh! Thanks

Itaintwhatyoudoitsthewaythatyoudoit · 01/11/2022 18:01

Pemba · 01/11/2022 17:58

Is Cece supposed to be pronounced like sissy, or see-see, or sessy?

It still feels like it should be short for something else.

Its pronounced 'see see'.

Anotherbloodyusername2 · 01/11/2022 17:59

Leonora/Leo?

Pemba · 01/11/2022 17:58

Is Cece supposed to be pronounced like sissy, or see-see, or sessy?

It still feels like it should be short for something else.

SunsetOverEasterIsland · 01/11/2022 17:54

Etta is lovely and fits well with your boys names. I also like Ines and Luna.

Itaintwhatyoudoitsthewaythatyoudoit · 01/11/2022 17:54

Susannah Constantine's daughter is Cece. I just had a quick look online and it doesn't appear short for anything. Its a lovely name imo.

dream28 · 01/11/2022 17:46

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

My favorites are Paloma, Clemence, Iris and Leonie. I would suggest Cleo, Constance, Cecily or Cecile and Pomeline - which is middle of Monaco's family member Charlotte Grimaldi.
Other ideas: Claelia or Clelia, Mattea or Juliette.