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Baby names

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

Original poster

Do you like the name Romilly?

108 replies

BurntCrumpet · 12/02/2023 18:23

I'm stuck for a name for our little girl. I want something pretty but a bit unusual and I think I like the name Romilly but can't decide if it's a bit too uncommon. What do you think? I'm also not sure of a middle name but thinking it needs to be a one-syllable name so that it's not too much of a mouthful?

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teezletangler · 12/02/2023 20:38

It's a surname to me. I always think of Esmond Romilly, which isn't a bad association at all but I struggle to see it as a girl's name.

Shirley and Beverly were surnames / place names as well, before they became popular girls' names. Hilary / Hillary is similar. Romilly is just another example of quite a common tradition in the English language, it just doesn't have the same popularity.

userxx · 12/02/2023 20:19

WeAreTheHeroes · 12/02/2023 18:26

Not spelled the same, but it's a suburb of Stockport so something to bear in mind.

Exactly this.

SpringIntoChaos · 12/02/2023 20:14

*Romiley 🤦‍♀️ My fat fingers 🤣

OP I forgot to say...I love it as a name too (used to have a bit of a girl crush on Romilley Weeks 😍☺️)

KirstenBlest · 12/02/2023 20:13

No. It's a surname. Jessica Mitford's first husband's surname.

Irrelevantdata · 12/02/2023 20:12

Lovely name, there was a Romilly in a book I loved as a teenager so it's always been on my list.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 12/02/2023 20:10

It's a surname to me. I always think of Esmond Romilly, which isn't a bad association at all but I struggle to see it as a girl's name.

SpringIntoChaos · 12/02/2023 20:09

WeAreTheHeroes · 12/02/2023 18:26

Not spelled the same, but it's a suburb of Stockport so something to bear in mind.

I'm from Romily...no longer live there, but most of my friends and family live there (or in Bredbury and Woodley) 😍

Bournetilly · 12/02/2023 20:08

I like it. I love the nn Romy.

Username123987 · 12/02/2023 19:47

I really like it - it’s on our shortlist! I know 2 Romilly’s (aged 62 and 3!) I think it’s a great name and love Rom/ Rommy as a nn.

ThePoshUns · 12/02/2023 19:30

Yes it's lovely

SagittariusDwarf · 12/02/2023 19:26

I am not a fan of the name at all. Sounds all clunky to me. I seem to be in the minority tho.

jamsandwich1 · 12/02/2023 19:26

I love it. I don’t think I’d use it myself but I think that’s because I’m not bold enough! It’s really beautiful though

VerbenaGirl · 12/02/2023 19:24

I really really like it.

Original poster
BurntCrumpet · 12/02/2023 19:22

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I think it's usually pronounced Romilly as in rhyming with Emily, but maybe depends on where you're from?! I'd say Rom-illy

OP posts:
category12 · 12/02/2023 19:22

Romilly is a perfectly nice name - knew a girl called that growing up.

Original poster
BurntCrumpet · 12/02/2023 19:21

TheYearOfSmallThings · 12/02/2023 19:13

But that's just a bit silly. Those examples aren't real names?

My point was it's not a case of "Josef doesn't make me think of Stalin". Of course it doesn't, but Staliny might.

It's Romilly not Rommel-ly though. Thanks for your input anyway

OP posts:
allthegoodusernameshavegone · 12/02/2023 19:14

I love it, very pretty

TheYearOfSmallThings · 12/02/2023 19:13

But that's just a bit silly. Those examples aren't real names?

My point was it's not a case of "Josef doesn't make me think of Stalin". Of course it doesn't, but Staliny might.

Wishingiwastracytutor · 12/02/2023 19:12

I think it’s a beautiful name.

nameXname · 12/02/2023 19:06

It's a French place name [{https://www.behindthename.com/name/romilly]]
and see also appellationmountain.net/name-of-the-day-romilly/

If you'd call an English child Beverly for example, then why not Romilly?

But I rather prefer Rosemary or even Rosalind/Rosamund as 'full' names behind Romy.

But each to their own, of course.

Valentinesquestion · 12/02/2023 19:05

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teezletangler · 12/02/2023 18:58

My DD aged 7 is Romilly. She gets called Rom by almost everyone, which is a fairly ugly nickname, but it's just who she is now! The full name is a bit of a mouthful. Occasionally I worry that we gave her a slightly too out there name, but she loves her name and gets compliments on it.

I thought we'd call her Romy but DH wasn't on board. It also isn't that natural a fit, as the O is a different sound. If you want Romy you'll need to enforce it from the get go, as otherwise it won't happen, she'll be Rom.

NashvilleQueen · 12/02/2023 18:55

It’s a surname in the Churchill family, so people may think you are related

I'm going to say that's probably quite a remote prospect tbh.

I like it. As others have said I know it by association to the town in greater Manchester but I also know it as a name in its own right.

Original poster
BurntCrumpet · 12/02/2023 18:55

TheYearOfSmallThings · 12/02/2023 18:49

Yes, I know who you are referring to but what difference should that make?

Hitlery
Staliny
Trumpy

There are just so many other names...

But that's just a bit silly. Those examples aren't real names?

OP posts:
HerbalTeaAndCake · 12/02/2023 18:55

It's cute.

Also like:

Verity
Liberty
Florence
Eloise