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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which one if your favourite?

69 replies

caitlinrose · 19/11/2022 12:45

Names I've been thinking about this week. DH likes Sarah but I knew quite a few growing up. I know she'd likely be the only one while she's at nursery/in school/at uni but later in the workplace she will still encounter lots of older Sarahs.

Sarah
Maria
Gwen
Peony
Alice
Sophie
Valentine

Valentine and Peony are probably too out there so they are simply names I find interesting, not names for our list. Gwendolyn was on our list but just never looked right to me but Gwen sort of feels too short? Wondering if Maria is a bit boring.

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ShesThunderstorms · 23/11/2022 21:21

Ahh Valentine and Peony are my favourites. But I am a fan of an out there name.

Hadtocomment · 23/11/2022 21:20

Some quite different sorts of names. I like Gwen, but then I really like Gwendolen/Gwendolyn. Perhaps because of a character in a book. I also quite like Guinevere though maybe hard to carry off! Gwen or Guinny both nice with a bit of character.

Maria seems quite different. Beautiful name. International etc. Always seems quite serious to me though. But I do like it.

I think those would be my top two choices of the names listed.

PMAmostofthetime · 23/11/2022 20:41

caitlinrose · 19/11/2022 12:45

Names I've been thinking about this week. DH likes Sarah but I knew quite a few growing up. I know she'd likely be the only one while she's at nursery/in school/at uni but later in the workplace she will still encounter lots of older Sarahs.

Sarah
Maria
Gwen
Peony
Alice
Sophie
Valentine

Valentine and Peony are probably too out there so they are simply names I find interesting, not names for our list. Gwendolyn was on our list but just never looked right to me but Gwen sort of feels too short? Wondering if Maria is a bit boring.

I love Gwen!

ShowOfHands · 23/11/2022 13:32

I know two Valentines (teen and toddler), both boys

mumonherphone · 23/11/2022 13:29

Alice Sophie or Maria all fine. Not keen on the others.

Zara is similar to Sarah and maybe a bit more modern?

NotABeliever · 22/11/2022 23:07

Sophie, Alice, Sarah and Valentina. Unless you're French, I wouldnt use Valentine for a girl.
I really dislike Maria. Boring name aieth strong religious connotations.

Longdarkcloud · 22/11/2022 22:56

What about Marina which sounds very much like Maria but isn’t as common. I think for centuries the most used Christian girls’ name around the world has been Mary/Maria and versions of the same.

OatFox · 20/11/2022 20:22

Alice

KirstenBlest · 20/11/2022 18:55

I know a Haitch. No, I didn't say You mean Aitch

Ihavehadenoughalready · 20/11/2022 17:59

Gwen

fairycupcakes · 20/11/2022 13:47

KirstenBlest · 20/11/2022 12:38

@fairycupcakes , if you say so. I don't know anyone whose name gets shortened to an initial. I know some who get two initials (AJ, PJ etc).

I also know Harry’s and a Harriet that go by H. Some first initials just work as nicknames.

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/11/2022 12:39

Gwen

KirstenBlest · 20/11/2022 12:38

@fairycupcakes , if you say so. I don't know anyone whose name gets shortened to an initial. I know some who get two initials (AJ, PJ etc).

WildCherryBlossom · 20/11/2022 12:28

Maria is beautiful, timeless, elegant, international and underused in this country. It really stands out to me from your list. Lovely!

Valentine I think of as a boys name.

Peony - nice idea but no. There are other flowers with better sounds.

I like Alice a lot but there are so, so many of them. All of my DCs have several
friends called Alice so they all have nicknames to distinguish them.

fairycupcakes · 20/11/2022 12:16

KirstenBlest · 20/11/2022 07:22

@fairycupcakes , not really. If you consider that many names get shortened to the first syllable, Peony and Pia would end up being Pee, but Penelope, Philip and Phoebe wouldn't.

But they all begin with P which means the nickname could become P… I know people with those names listed and some go by P.

rollerblind · 20/11/2022 07:37

Sophie and Alice

KirstenBlest · 20/11/2022 07:22

@fairycupcakes , not really. If you consider that many names get shortened to the first syllable, Peony and Pia would end up being Pee, but Penelope, Philip and Phoebe wouldn't.

fairycupcakes · 19/11/2022 22:47

Sophie, but I actually really like Peony! If you’re brave enough go for it 🌸

fairycupcakes · 19/11/2022 22:45

mathanxiety · 19/11/2022 18:45

I love Alice.

The rest I'm not keen on.

Peony is one I'd completely avoid as the obvious abbreviation is Pee.

the same could be said of any names beginning with P… I think this is a non-issue

Hatscats · 19/11/2022 22:37

What about Sara - or Zara.
love Alice!

resm · 19/11/2022 22:21

I LOVE the name Sarah & think Sadie is a cute wee nickname. Also love Maria from your list, I really like it’s simplicity yet feels very international also to me, similar to Anna.

Gummibär · 19/11/2022 21:21

Valentine in French is pronounced differently though.

Valen-teen like Christine

delshell · 19/11/2022 21:19

KirstenBlest · 19/11/2022 20:25

@ShirleyHolmes , Gwendolen is a welsh name - Gwen-DOLL-enn, not GWEN-duh-lyn

This is true. However, my understanding is that Gwendolen is also the original English spelling and characters with this name and spelling appear in works by George Eliot and Oscar Wilde. So unless you live in a Welsh-speaking part of Wales I think it's fine to use Gwendolen with the English pronunciation.

I love love the name Gwen. I think it stands on its own although personally I would go for Gwendolen on the BC. Gwendolyn looks American to me, and Gwendoline I associate too strongly with Mallory Towers!

Gwen is by far my favourite on your list, OP. If I had to pick a runner up it would be Sophie.

KirstenBlest · 19/11/2022 20:25

@ShirleyHolmes , Gwendolen is a welsh name - Gwen-DOLL-enn, not GWEN-duh-lyn

RandomMusings7 · 19/11/2022 20:14

Gummibär · 19/11/2022 18:59

Valentine is definitely a girl name in French.

Valentina is the German version (and maybe Italian, Spanish?)

Valentine in French is pronounced differently though.

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