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Baby names

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

Original poster

Pick me a new name!

86 replies

NewNames23 · 10/05/2023 22:36

Makes a change from baby names I guess Grin

I am wanting to change my first name and need ideas. Criteria is that it has to be obviously female and not mistaken for any other name or be able to be spelled or pronounced a different way. Can't use my middle name as nobody can spell that

I've NC so I can give you my name now if anyone wants to know
Nothing is jumping out at me so turning to MN for names I might not have thought of

And I'm 41 Smile

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Daisybuttercup12345 · 08/06/2023 00:11

Katie
Amber
Sophie
Elizabeth
Fay
Lisa
Victoria
Penelope
Alice
Rachel
Catherine
Grace
Lucy
Anna
Sarah
Claire
Louise
Fiona
Nicola
Caitlyn
Stephanie
Laura
Zoe
Abigail
Tina

airmaxJ · 07/06/2023 03:20

Did you change your name?

TomatoSandwiches · 19/05/2023 17:46

It is strange that people are so frequently mispronounced such a commonly female name, I know a few and they've never had a problem 🤷‍♀️

Delia
Dulcie
Diane/a
Demi
Dorothy
Dora

Eleanor
Emmie
Emma
Esme
Evelyn

Anna
Amelia
Alice
Amanda
April
Ada

Olive/via
Odette

Frequent 40yr old women I know,

Hayley
Victoria
Catherine/Kate
Sarah
Charlotte
Lucy
Louise
Kelly
Christine
Stacey
Amy
Lauren
Rebecca
Theresa
Alison

Aquamarine1029 · 19/05/2023 17:27

Jillian.

WhatsitAlfie · 19/05/2023 17:18

Daniella seems more obviously female

Crikeyalmightey · 19/05/2023 12:23

I heard Leoni recently, and really like it. Sounds feminine to me, and pretty but not too "girly".

MargotBamborough · 19/05/2023 12:18

If you don't particularly dislike Danielle and you don't have a name you really want to use, I would go with Ella. That way you can try it on for size as a nickname for a year or so, see if people actually start calling you that and how it feels, and if you want to make it permanent you can then do a deed poll.

user1492757084 · 19/05/2023 11:26

From Danielle to ..
Alice
Davina
Helen
Nadia
Holly
Sally
Ellinor
Belinda
Sarah
Anna
Grace
Catherine - Cate

FatGirlSwim · 18/05/2023 23:12

Iona is lovely. Be aware that there are two pronunciations/ two names - Scottish Eye-oh-na and Welsh Yonna.

Tadpolle · 18/05/2023 08:23

Caroline
Connie
Kate

Scottyme · 18/05/2023 07:48

I know a few Danielles none have this problem.

I like Cora but you will get called Dora/flora/Laura

garlictwist · 17/05/2023 10:45

I'm 41 and my name is Megan if that helps? I've always thought it an ok name to have.

SleepingStandingUp · 17/05/2023 10:43

Charlotte?

Emma?
Jessica?
Katherine?
Rebecca?
Jennifer?

They might not be terribly exciting, but they're all solid, well known names.

lovemycottage · 17/05/2023 10:42

Lucy
Molly
Anna\ Anne
Mary/ Mary Rose/ Rosemary
Lotta
Rose
Minna
April
Josephine

KnickerlessParsons · 17/05/2023 10:38

What about Daniela? No Daniel-ing then.

Allthebears · 17/05/2023 10:23

Danya /Danica?

Or a name which keeps the 'elle' sound of 'Danielle' (a lovely name!), like Estelle, Isabelle, Michelle etc.

Or just Elle - Ellie for short.

I feel your pain, by the way. I've got a name which is a pretty well-known, standard girls name here in the UK. However, I lived abroad from age 1- 9 and in Europe the name is overwhelmingly 'male' (especially when you factor in the confusion of pronunciation!). It was pretty annoying having to constantly correct people - my mum still says that with hindsight she would have chosen the European female equivalent!

Sugarfree23 · 17/05/2023 00:16

I'm Scotland hence never having heard the Welsh version- everyday is a school day

PickledScrump · 16/05/2023 23:26

@Sugarfree23 i live in the north wales area so the welsh version is more common to me. Thought it was worth mentioning as the op didn’t want various pronunciations. I usually prefer welsh pronunciations but actually prefer Eye-oh-na version

Sugarfree23 · 16/05/2023 22:55

PickledScrump · 16/05/2023 20:24

@Sugarfree23 the Welsh pronounciation is like Yonna. It’s also a unisex name

I didn't know there is a Welsh pronunciation of it. I've only heard it as in the Island or as a girls name after the island

PickledScrump · 16/05/2023 20:24

@Sugarfree23 the Welsh pronounciation is like Yonna. It’s also a unisex name

NewNames2023 · 16/05/2023 20:21

@Sugarfree23 TBF if they can't manage Danielle, Iona might be a stretch Grin

I got another email from a distant colleague today with "Hi Daniel"
Replied through gritted teeth "it's Danielle"
Managed not to add that the clue was in the email address and the signature

Even my dad is Confused "but why? It's never been a problem before the last few years"

eatdrinkandbemerry · 16/05/2023 20:12

Jennifer
Rachel
Amber
Leanne
Leah
Lisa
Diane
Marie
Laura
Lauren
Lynn
Ruth
Kerry
Kelly

Sugarfree23 · 16/05/2023 20:07

PickledScrump · 16/05/2023 19:29

I’m surprised people have such trouble with such a well known name as Danielle. Who are those idiots?

Id avoid Iona as there is different pronounciations.

Something like Dana is great. Not too wildly different but an established name

How is it possible to have more than one pronunciation of Iona?

Eye-own-a

NewNames2023 · 16/05/2023 20:02

Dana I'm thinking I would get da na or dane ah so...

Anne/Anna/Annie any variation is a no as it's a family name
My surname is one syllable and ends with an E

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/05/2023 19:59

That’s annoying. Have you/would you try Daniella? It might read more obviously as a female name.

Otherwise to save a bunch of hassle I’d so for something that could be a short form.

Ella
Anna - or Annie, Nancy, Nina (traditionally nns for Anne)

or stretch it to Diana? (You have all the letters!)

All v feminine names

I am not a fan or Dana or Dani myself, they are a bit 80s backing singer now on her uppers…

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