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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sister for Hugh and Serena

32 replies

Tiredandawake · 18/01/2023 05:08

We've recently discovered we're having our second baby girl this summer who will be sister to 4 year old twins Hugh and Serena.

The names have been narrowed down to:

Joy
Julia
Autumn

I also love the middle name Magnolia (only if we go with Joy) but my husband isn't keen.

Thoughts?

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talkingmorenonsense · 18/01/2023 11:22

Julia is very classy ❤️

HeBrokeMyNecklace · 18/01/2023 11:20

Autumn. Joy reminds me of some frumpy secretary and Julia...well I don't think that needs a revival, it's a mother-in-law type name.

mumonherphone · 18/01/2023 11:07

I like Grace as a first name and think this would go with your other children's names really well. Autumn doesn't really go as it's much more modern than Hugh and Serena but I do like it.

Grace Magnolia or Juliet Grace get my vote.

ODFOx · 18/01/2023 10:19

Hugh, Serena and Julia or Joy.
Definitely not Autumn.

As a pp suggested Juliet is lovely next to Serena, nicer than Julia.

But either Julia or Joy are lovely.

postcardpuffin · 18/01/2023 10:07

Julia Florence is just beautiful, and goes so well with Hugh and Serena.

On “old lady” names, I don’t personally think Julia is “old” — I know a couple of little ones called Julia so it seems like it might be making a discreet comeback! Whereas I know quite a few older Joys so I do associate that with eg. friends of my boomer parents, elderly grandmothers etc.

Autumn is nice but not really in the same register as Hugh and Serena, which have more of a classic vibe. Julia just goes perfectly with them.

junebirthdaygirl · 18/01/2023 09:21

I like Julia but prefer Julie..ending with ee sound.
Julie Ann is lovely l think.
I would give the little one a family second name..make someone's day. Children, l find, like to know where their second name came from.

Mumofgirls2017 · 18/01/2023 09:19

Love Autumn but think Joy or Julia go better with Hugh and Serena and are still lovely

Whatwhatwhatnow · 18/01/2023 09:06

I love Julia.
I also immediately thought of The Handmaid's Tale and wouldn't personally pick Joy.

I like your first names more than middle names. Grace is so overdone unless it has family meaning to you.

Autumn Joy
Autumn Magnolia
Julia Florence

Original poster
Tiredandawake · 18/01/2023 09:05

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 18/01/2023 08:50

Don't go with Joy. Serena Joy is the name of the main awful character in The Handmaids Tale.

Tbh I was waiting for this comment. I don't watch it but I've heard of the character (only after I liked the name). It doesn't put me off too much, like yousaywhatnow said, by the time they're older, it won't be as big as it is now. Plus no one's ever commented on Serena, just asked if I'm a tennis fan 😂

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jjeoreo · 18/01/2023 08:56

I love Serena, that's on our list along with Julia.

So I'd definitely go Julia.

I like Julia Grace - very pretty.

USaYwHatNow · 18/01/2023 08:56

@JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn I have to say I thought exactly the same. And if they were my kids, everytime I listed their names as 'Hugh, Serena and Joy' I would think of that woman! But if you don't know who she is or watch the TV programme then it may not be such an issue! After all, people will forget HM Tale by the time the children are older!

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 18/01/2023 08:50

Don't go with Joy. Serena Joy is the name of the main awful character in The Handmaids Tale.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 18/01/2023 08:49

Isobel

Twoinapod · 18/01/2023 08:40

Before I looked at your list I thought Juliet. I think Serena and Julia don’t flow well as they have similar sounding ends, Juliet might work better.

Joy is a lot to live up to, it might work better as a middle name.

magnolia just makes me think of boring mg house paint. Not a name I’d give.

Autumn is really nice.

Maybe Autumn Joy or Juliet Autumn?

Original poster
Tiredandawake · 18/01/2023 08:32

LegoGoldenDragon · 18/01/2023 07:20

Jpy is a lot to live up to. I can just imagine all the cheer up love jokes if she isn't smiling all the time. Autumn is lovely. The only Julia I know dislikes her name as an old lady name. Saying that, it might be due a come back.

I hadn't thought of this about Joy actually so thank you

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Original poster
Tiredandawake · 18/01/2023 08:30

Thanks everyone, some interesting points on my names. Thinking middle names, what do people think of:

Joy Magnolia
Julia Florence
Julia Grace
Autumn Grace
Autumn Florence

Very hard to pair things with autumn without it sounding descriptive

OP posts:
AllTrussdUp · 18/01/2023 07:34

Julia - from your list (love Serena and Hugh BTW). But Felicity also popped into my head?

LegoGoldenDragon · 18/01/2023 07:20

Jpy is a lot to live up to. I can just imagine all the cheer up love jokes if she isn't smiling all the time. Autumn is lovely. The only Julia I know dislikes her name as an old lady name. Saying that, it might be due a come back.

SallyWD · 18/01/2023 06:49

I only like Julia. It's a lovely name!

postcardpuffin · 18/01/2023 06:42

Definitely Julia - so much more classic and elegant!

ElvisCymraeg · 18/01/2023 06:39

Julia is lovely. I think it's great that you didn't go for "matching" names for your twins- Hugh has a completely different vibe to Serena- So I wouldn't worry about the third name fitting in, go for what you like and what feels right.

HandsOffMyCarrierBags · 18/01/2023 06:26

Aurora

IggyAce · 18/01/2023 06:19

From your list Julia, but Nancy popped into my head when I read the title.

HandsOffMyCarrierBags · 18/01/2023 06:19

Joy. Beautiful and fits well.

autumn also nice

julia seems a bit 70s retro. All the Julia’s I know are 40 or 50 years old.

erehj · 18/01/2023 06:14

I think Julia goes best with the others out of the three.

Hugh and Serena sound quite classic, but Autumn feels a more modern, American name.

Serena and Joy are both virtue names, which seems a bit much.

So - Julia. Although I agree with pp that Juliet is prettier and fresher and would go beautifully.

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