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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls baby names that are "cool, but not Americanised"

131 replies

tax19 · 04/06/2023 08:01

Hello

So we are having a surprise born august.
We have decided a boys name but cannot decide a girls name.
I like Nina but DH has vetoed
He likes Marnie I have vetoed on the ground it's a bit American.
We are looking for something shortish, just a bit hip and cool but not to out there. Even something a bit "surfery".
Any suggestions welcome!

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OSU · 04/08/2023 15:32

Marla?

DuchessOfSausage · 04/08/2023 15:28

@RitzyMcFitzy , look at the graph on Darkgreener. It's shot up since 2013. There's definitely a link with the actress. The Wolf of Wall Street came out in 2013.

RitzyMcFitzy · 04/08/2023 15:20

I'm not sure it's a Margot Robbie influence. I think it's just people looking for the next thing in 'vintage' names. The Victorian names like Harriet and Florence and the Edwardian names like Elsie and Ruby have been done to death so people want to find something that's vintage yet fresh, hence the move to more 1930s vibe names likes Margot and Nancy.

DuchessOfSausage · 04/08/2023 15:13

@RitzyMcFitzy , the name Margot is #57 on Darkgreener. The data is for names registered up to and including 2021. It's on a steep upward curve.
Babies called Margot in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)

I know the parents of 3 Noahs and they all thought they were picking an unusual name.

Baby Names in England & Wales

Find the perfect name for your baby or spot naming trends - explore the names chosen for babies in England and Wales since 1996.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#margot

Fiadht · 04/08/2023 14:09

@RitzyMcFitzy definitely from the influence of Margot Robbie, there are lots now although I do like the name but can imagine in 5 years time schools will have lots of little Margots

RitzyMcFitzy · 04/08/2023 10:56

csam · 04/06/2023 08:20

I recently heard the name Margo on a little girl. I thought unusual but not too out there!

I wonder if all the parents calling their daughters Margo/t also think they're picking an 'unusual but not too out there' name. I feel like every other baby girl is called Margot these days.

Hotgoose · 04/08/2023 07:31

Jodie
Robin/ Robyn
Jade
Josie
Roxy

FlutteryButterfly · 04/08/2023 07:30

Suki

Bonnie

Polly ( yes I know!)

Jaye

Ally

Libby

Etta / Ettie

user1492757084 · 04/08/2023 05:34

Betty
Cressida - Crest
Dawn
Delphine
Pania

user1492757084 · 04/08/2023 05:24

How about ..
Layne (Layne Beachley)
Lleyn
Stephanie
Lucy
Adira
Lucie
Indigo
Azure
Shelley
Morwenna
Ripley
Azul
Bethany
Roxy
Marina
Gidget
Daisy - Daize
Dory or Eldoris
Cordella
Any C name like Cecel - CeCe

Crikeyalmighty · 03/08/2023 11:41

Sky
Jessica
Tessa
Cora
Dora
Scarlett
Tamsin
Darcey
Ella
Eloise
Harriet
Isla
Jasmine
Lara
Layla
Roseanna
Sabrina
Sadie
Tamsin

Scottyme · 02/08/2023 23:09

Worked on a summer camp in Ohio for several summers. I know 3 Marni's (no e) all Canadians.

Whattheflipflap · 02/08/2023 21:18

Astrid

thegreylady · 02/08/2023 21:06

Cleo
Stella
Lara

Sealover123 · 01/08/2023 17:10

Jade
Zoe
Layne
Kai
Malia
Maya
Morgan
Lana
Sage

LanaHighes125 · 01/08/2023 15:36

Andrea
Florence
Astrid
Cora
Zoe
Alix
Aaliyah
Electra
Sophie
Kassie
Riley

JamSandle · 07/06/2023 19:51

Whitney
Valerie
Jasmine
Skyla
Skye

JamSandle · 07/06/2023 19:49

Honey
Whitney
Sapphire
Ruby
Lorelei
Dawn
Serena
Phoebe
Jessie
Roxie
Roxanne
Sabrina
Jessica

JamSandle · 07/06/2023 19:46

Aqua
Reef
Misty
Monique
Rochelle
Tallulah
Seraphine
Seraphina
Shelly
Sandi

JamSandle · 07/06/2023 19:16

Shakira
Tyra
Sandrine

KayEmAy · 07/06/2023 18:49

I'm American so not sure how helpful I will be but I will lean into the criteria and see what happens :)

Demi
Sadie
Kaia
Meg
Bay (love on it's own or for Bailey/Baylor)
Daisy
Lena
Wendy
Gigi (Gemma/Gia)
Rey (Freya)
Tess
Maeve
Shay / Shae
Callie (okay very American but also very surfery and cool lol)
Perrie
Eden nn Denny
Roxy / Roxie
Naia
Hayden
Harlow nn Lo, Harley
Alex
Monroe
Olive nn Liv, Olly

annawc · 05/06/2023 23:39

Sage
Neve / Niamh
Jade
Willow
Isla

OnSusansFloor · 05/06/2023 09:44

When I was looking for a short, cool name for DD I was desperate to use June - to me it sounds so fresh and cool. But DH thought it was an old lady name so he vetoed 😭 I still love it though!
I think I know what you mean by "American" names, OP. I have family in America and there are some names that wouldn't raise an eyebrow over there but would be seen as very "out there" here!

DuchessOfSausage · 05/06/2023 09:37

@Assssssssssss , did you mean Dorothy?

narrichi · 05/06/2023 09:31

I can't help but wonder, is "Americanised" some kind of euphemism for names having certain class connotations? (Because of the Big Brother woman?) Because I've never thought of Marnie as being a particularly American name. If anything, I would consider it to be British e.g. the book When Marnie Was There. I would certainly not be shocked to meet a British woman with this name.

Of course there is a lot of overlap between American and British names. If you really want to avoid American-style names then I would suggest looking for English names that are rarely used in America like Darcy or Imogen, or Welsh names.

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