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Baby names

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

Original poster

Tilly Kate?

82 replies

elm26 · 12/12/2022 13:01

My DH and I have settled on Tilly for our little girl.

My Nan and Grandad raised me and I miss them both dearly, my Nan's name was Cathleen however my Gramps called her "his Kate" so o was thinking of Tilly Kate as a nod to them both.

Do you think it goes?

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fairycupcakes · 12/12/2022 17:35

Whichwhatnow · 12/12/2022 17:04

Not sure I like them together - I'd probably go for Matilda Kate or Tilly Cathleen.

I don't agree at all that Tilly isn't appropriate for an adult woman. I know four adults called Tilly (I assume they're all Matilda on the BC but don't know - they've all always just been Tilly to me). One is a lawyer, one is a carpenter/woodworker, one is a very cool DJ and the fourth is a SAHM with two preschoolers. They all suit the name.

I agree with Matilda Kate or Tilly Cathleen!

gaf · 12/12/2022 17:13

I love Kate as a middle name but Tilly is such a blah, nothing name. Too cutesy for an adult.

Cas112 · 12/12/2022 17:10

Tilly is cute but hard work to put them two names together

Whichwhatnow · 12/12/2022 17:04

Not sure I like them together - I'd probably go for Matilda Kate or Tilly Cathleen.

I don't agree at all that Tilly isn't appropriate for an adult woman. I know four adults called Tilly (I assume they're all Matilda on the BC but don't know - they've all always just been Tilly to me). One is a lawyer, one is a carpenter/woodworker, one is a very cool DJ and the fourth is a SAHM with two preschoolers. They all suit the name.

RoseBucket · 12/12/2022 17:04

I know a Tilly her actual name is Tallulah.

user1494050295 · 12/12/2022 16:59

Matilda Katherine and then shorten. But would she be known as tilly Kate or just Tilly?

bravelittletiger · 12/12/2022 16:47

Marcipex · 12/12/2022 15:19

I like it; Kate somehow makes Tilly much more interesting.
I am not particularly keen on Matilda. I can’t think what else Tilly is ever short for.

I always thought Tilly was short for Millicent

bravelittletiger · 12/12/2022 16:44

I think Kate is such a pretty and elegant first name. Can't you call her Kate instead of Tilly?

BungleandGeorge · 12/12/2022 16:19

No I don’t think it goes. Either tilly Cathleen or insert a name so Tilly something Kate

sanityisamyth · 12/12/2022 16:11

Agree with Matilda Kate. It's lovely and flows well. You can use Tilly as a nickname - that's lovely too.

postcardpuffin · 12/12/2022 16:08

Ottilie can also be shortened to Tilly.

Marcipex · 12/12/2022 15:19

I like it; Kate somehow makes Tilly much more interesting.
I am not particularly keen on Matilda. I can’t think what else Tilly is ever short for.

KirstenBlest · 12/12/2022 15:17

It's a Tilley lamp. Tilley is a surname

cptartapp · 12/12/2022 15:11

Tilly is awful. Wet and infantile.
I don't like Matilda either but it's better than Tilly.
Isn't a lamp for camping called a Tilly lamp?

Wronglane · 12/12/2022 15:01

Tilly is a very flimsy name. No gravitas. I think both together sound like a street urchin in a dicken’s book.

KirstenBlest · 12/12/2022 15:01

Tilly is too much like till as in checkout to me
Tilly Kate is OK, but I much prefer Kate to Tilly
Tilly seems like a diminutive but if you have no intention of ever using it, then why use the long version.
There will be other Tillys who are Matilda or Ottilie on their BC and your Tilly might feel short-changed.
FWIW, I don't like Ottilie.

DramaAlpaca · 12/12/2022 14:57

It's very pretty but I'd put Matilda Kate on the birth cert myself.

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 12/12/2022 14:55

Agree with others that it needs to Matilda Kate-that's lovely and it means her name can grow with her if she wants it to.

SerenityLoveLamb · 12/12/2022 14:51

I love the simplicity of Kate and think it goes well as a middle name to a frillier first one, but Tilly is such a nickname name, I'd almost want to out then other way round to give them options as they grow.

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 12/12/2022 13:57

Matilda Cathleen or Matilda Catherine for me. Tilly is cute for a young girl, not keen on Kate at all.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 12/12/2022 13:34

If you called her Matilda Cathleen that would give you better hollering material when you need to yell her full name when she commits teenage crimes eg. 'MATILDA CATHLEEN SMITH, IS THAT A PIERCING IN YOUR NOSE?'

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 12/12/2022 13:30

I love Matilda. Tilly is cute, but a nickname.

And Kathleen is also lovely.

BackOnTheBandWagon · 12/12/2022 13:30

Matilda Kate.

Tilly is cute on a little one, but I'd feel silly as an adult introducing myself as Tilly

SallyWD · 12/12/2022 13:29

I only like Tilly as a nickname for Matilda or something. I think a grown woman needs a "proper" name. I always imagine the child as a doctor or lawyer and them wanting a more formal name. Anyway, I think Tilly Kate is fine because to be honest, after announcing the birth you never use the middle name again! I doubt my own brothers know my children's middle names. I think Matilda Cathleen is even better!

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