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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is this a terrible name?

141 replies

RedPandaFluff · 04/03/2023 17:26

DH and I have just had a huge (lighthearted!) barney about what to call DD, due in summer. I love the name Ophelia and I know she's a tragic Shakespearean character but still love it and would happily use it (although obviously we won't use it as we won't both be in agreement!)

DH is adamant that it's a terrible name and doesn't think that anyone else would feel like me (ie make the connection but still think it's a beautiful name).

Naturally, the only thing for it is to throw it open to mumsnetters Grin

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CharitySchmarity · 11/03/2023 14:27

It's not quite my style but I don't think there's anything actively wrong with it. I've known two girls of that name, who would now be about 24 and 18, very different people but they both seemed very happy with their names.

Housenoob · 10/03/2023 23:48

It's not to my taste but it is pretty.

I much prefer it to Ottilie which seems to be the ultimate MN favourite name, yet I've never heard it used in real life.

MrsSkylerWhite · 10/03/2023 23:44

Classic, pretty. What’s not to like?

Anskl · 10/03/2023 23:41

I came here to say 'I feel ya' but several others have beaten me to it.

Ophelia looks beautiful written down though...

HerRoyalNotness · 10/03/2023 19:58

i love it and it was on my list but had a boy. Most likely would have used it. A friend used it for her DD middle name

PurpleFlower1983 · 10/03/2023 19:45

I think it’s a beautiful name and it was on my list but ultimately I couldn’t get away from the tragic connotations. It’s the only association and it’s grim.

Pheasantpluckerswife · 06/03/2023 21:45

So, I really like the name and it was on my list, very near the top, My DH didn't like it either.. but then they named a hurricane Ophelia a month before she was born, so I kind of went off it.. In retrospect I should have called her Ophelia after all 😂

evemillbank · 06/03/2023 21:18

It's a burlesque name Ophelia Butt

Radiatorvalves · 06/03/2023 20:51

As long as your surname isn’t Balls, I think it’s ok. Quite posh, but maybe that suits? I like it.

Mummyof4Ireland · 06/03/2023 20:50

It's a lovely name!! For all 4 of ours I had the final say. During pregnancies he was very vocal on his likes and dislikes but as he watched me labour and birth said babies his exact words were "you can call the baby whatever you want, you've just done all the hard work" I'd never have called any of them something he hated all the same but he'd have gave into princess consuela bananahammock (some friends trivia lol) if I'd asked

OMallytheAlleyCat · 06/03/2023 20:12

It's wanky, like Sebastian. You'd hear it called out in Waitrose etc

Havehope21 · 06/03/2023 19:24

I love the name too but she went mad so wouldn't want my DC to be teased. What about Octavia or Ottilie (my other choices). If you like Shakespeare names that are unusual, you could go for Hero or Cleo.

AnnieMore · 06/03/2023 19:23

I think it’s potentially rather pretentious.

You could carry it off - possibly. But it’s very much a ‘depends on socio-economics’ type of name, imo.

ididntwanttodoit · 06/03/2023 19:20

I like it but it depends on your surname. Ophelia McGinty - no. Ophelia Hamilton - yes.

SomersetONeil · 06/03/2023 19:14

Doone21 · 06/03/2023 19:03

Beautiful. Can you compromise on it as a middle name?

That is not a compromise if you don’t like the name.

Sennelier1 · 06/03/2023 19:06

I love Ophelia, but I agree that both parents should agree on the name of their child 😊

Doone21 · 06/03/2023 19:03

Beautiful. Can you compromise on it as a middle name?

Original poster
RedPandaFluff · 06/03/2023 17:08

I reckon there are roughly equal number of ayes and nays, so I consider myself proven correct Grin

I still think it's lovely but hopefully we'll find a name that we both agree on soon. Well, within the next 4-5 months, anyway!

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 06/03/2023 17:06

I hope your surname isn't Bott. That's what a girl at uni called Ophelia used to get called.

BabyTa · 06/03/2023 17:04

I know two baby Ophelias! So it's definitely a popular name at the moment so if you like it definitely go with it

MushMonster · 06/03/2023 16:57

I would say no.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 06/03/2023 16:54

I have a friend called Ophelia, but she is an actress so I guess it works. I like the name.

Roselilly36 · 06/03/2023 16:43

I like it, I know an Ophelia, pretty name.

GeneralDeborah · 06/03/2023 16:40

It’s a pretty name. But Ophelia the Shakespeare character was so much of an object. Besides her drowning, she’s only really remembered for being desperately unhappy and at the mercy of her deadleg boyfriend and her circumstances.
It’s not a type of namesake I’d personally want to saddle a kid with. If you like the tragic end but want to add in a bit of oomph you could go for Boudicca? Or Medea! That’s a very underused girl’s name…

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 06/03/2023 13:58

ririca · 06/03/2023 12:06

Maybe it's a cultural thing (I'm not English)... But, while people in my culture are aware of Shakespeare, they're unlikely to be deeply invested in it or really care about the Shakespearean connotations of a name. So perhaps it depends on where you live and your community.

TBH I think the average person in the UK will have only passing familiarity with Hamlet. It is not taught at GCSE and is much less widely taught in other phases than Macbeth, R&J, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest etc.

It's much more likely that there is a significant overlap between people who are knowledgeable about Shakespeare, and people who are interested in names and like to discuss them with strangers on the internet!