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Baby names

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

Original poster

Critique my girl list please

64 replies

starryeyeze · 05/07/2023 12:50

Baby girl due soon and we're struggling to find names we both like.

DS has a really common name and it is a bit annoying when there is always another boy with his name wherever we go, so we wanted to go more off piste with DD.

So far, names we both agree have potential include:

Chloe
Amelie
Tamia
Sierra
Niamh (one parent is Irish)
Aoife
Eloise
Gabriella

Any thoughts?

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Maireas · 05/07/2023 19:07

The only one I dislike is Sierra.
Just makes me think of Ford Sierra - and not in a positive way.

Whatisityoucantface · 05/07/2023 19:00

Aoife and Niamh, by miles the best!!

shoopshoopdedoo · 05/07/2023 17:19

Love Chloe, Aoife and Niamh. Not fond of the others.

Jennalong · 05/07/2023 16:46

I like them all except Tamia and
Sierra . The first sounds like it is stomach condition and I'm sure my father once owned a Ford Sierra car.

Plentiful · 05/07/2023 16:43

Niamh or Aoife, which are ageless classics. I think Chloe is very dated, likewise Sierra, and the others don’t stand out particularly.

cptartapp · 05/07/2023 16:39

I only like Eloise but is likely to get shortened to the ubiquitous Ellie which is done to death.
Prefer Louisa.

MerryChristmasToYou · 05/07/2023 16:14

It might not be shortened @Duttercup , but I've seen it misspelt as Elouise (ugh!) a fair few times. I think it's a mouthful, and chances are if I do, then so will others. All the El names seem to blur into each other. Elodie doesn't do anything for me - it looks pretty but sounds bland, as does Amelie.

PickledScrump · 05/07/2023 15:48

Niamh was very popular a few years back. They’ll all be around 4-10 now so it will likely be quite dated. It seemed to be THE name for girls for a while with a variety of spellings.

Of your list I like Elouise, I only know of one and she’s always Elouise, it never gets shortened

Duttercup · 05/07/2023 14:56

Not convinced Eloise is a mouthful or would get shortened. There's one in my toddler's nursery group and if a 2 year old can pronounce it, I'm sure everyone else can manage. There's an Elodie too which is quite pretty.

helpmum2003 · 05/07/2023 14:54

Niamh, Gabriella and Eloise are lovely and not too common although would Eloise get shortened to Ellie?
Juliet?

babysharkdoodoodedoodedoo · 05/07/2023 14:52

Eloise and Gabriella 😍 Niamh nice too.

Original poster
starryeyeze · 05/07/2023 14:22

I'm glad I made this thread, it's helped a lot.

No love for Tamia or Sierra (the more 'out their' names') but a lot of love for Niamh (which has surprised me a little) and some of the French names.

I do like some of the new suggestions too.

I'm going to show this thread to DH later and hopefully we make some final decisions.

OP posts:
FirstFallopians · 05/07/2023 14:13

If you are irritated by the popularity of your sons name, it would be nothing compared to the ubiquity of Chloe and Amelie.

Niamh and Aoife are a bit dated in Ireland- they’re still being used, but there are loads cutting about it their mid-late twenties, a bit like Chloe. They also blend into those Eve/Eva/Ava kind of names.

OopsieeDaisy · 05/07/2023 14:07

I love Elodie (I know this isn’t on your list but saw it mentioned above). I also like Chloe, Eloise and Gabriella.

MerryChristmasToYou · 05/07/2023 13:53

Tamia nn Mia because Mia on its own is a bit ridiculous, sorry. I read Tamia as Tam-ya like Tanya.

Persiana · 05/07/2023 13:39

It's such personal taste isn't it. I'm not keen on any of your list apart from Gabriella.

Other ideas that may be new

Celeste
Jemima
Sasha
Allegra
Francesca
Penelope
Nina
Stella
Cleo

wellingtonsandwaffles · 05/07/2023 13:35

Actually sierra does have the E sound too!

wellingtonsandwaffles · 05/07/2023 13:35

Eloise and Elodie favourites
Niamh lovely
Others not so keen

interestingly every name you like (apart from Sierra) has a strong “e” sound in it. So how about :
Aubrey
Avery
Heidi
Marie
Ruby
Sadie

beeskipa · 05/07/2023 13:30

Chloe - a lot of them around
Amelie - no
Tamia - not keen, never heard before
Sierra - makes me think of police radio haha
Niamh (one parent is Irish) - love
Aoife - love
Eloise - love this, think it's due a comeback
Gabriella - makes me think of High School Musical haha

FlowerTink · 05/07/2023 13:27

Amelie is VERY popular, I have two girls, one primary and pre-school and they both know multiple Amelies/Amelias. Love Niamh and Eloise, they're beautiful.

FoodFann · 05/07/2023 13:26

Love Chloe, Amelie and Eloise. Dislike the rest (sorry!). Congrats on baby!

Puffalicious · 05/07/2023 13:26

I have 3 boys, but my girls ' lists were:

Rowan
Mirren/ Murran
Maisie
Eilidh

MerryChristmasToYou · 05/07/2023 13:25

Thank you. If you go to the ONS page, there's more info including data from past years. The data only covers England & Wales.

Willowview · 05/07/2023 13:24

I prefer the bottom four names,

sorry, can't resist, Iris, Cora and Nancy.

Such a wonderful time for you 🐣hope you've got a big fan, I remember struggling with the heat!