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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby nearly 3 weeks old. No name yet!

61 replies

ToBeNamed · 03/12/2023 15:24

Keen to finalise asap. Please help.

Shortlist:
Etta (possibly Arietta)
Phoebe
Islia (anglicised take on Eilir)

Older sibling has a flower name, with Welsh middle name (one of my parents has Welsh background).

Wanting fresh sounding and somewhat different name that’s likely to suit across ages.

Most shortlisted names have an issue of some kind e.g. someone very recently used same name or used similar name in past; or concerns about spelling.

Please be kind. My first time posting.

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Original poster
ToBeNamed · 03/12/2023 16:22

Thank you all. Very helpful - confirming much of what my partner and I have wondered and additional feedback really appreciated.

Sister is Lily with middle name Carys. I worried about the popularity of Lily when naming her but partner and I both loved it and have surprisingly found it not to be an issue yet for her age range.

There were sisters Lily and Elsie in my family tree a few generations back. I do like the name Elsie or the name Elsa as alternatives for baby too and either would seemingly suit her as well. But wonder if Elsie’s rising popularity in the UK may generate the same worry as before with Lily and know Elsa is linked to the film Frozen. Any thoughts on these names in relation to the shortlist?

Any other suggestions come to mind based on the shortlist, this info or otherwise?

Many thanks

OP posts:
Gnomegnomegnome · 03/12/2023 16:15

I really like Arietta/Etta. It’s beautiful.

Congratulations @ToBeNamed

MarthaMayWho · 03/12/2023 16:08

I like Arietta but I like unusual names and stay away from the top.
I like the name meaning, names with similar meanings are Melody, Ariana, Aria.
I left it till week six so no rush haha!

cheezncrackers · 03/12/2023 16:03

Etta is a nickname for Henrietta or some other name ending in -etta. On its own I don't think it works.
Phoebe is okay.
Islia? I really dislike made-up or 'unique' spellings. Either use the Welsh and suck up the endless 'How do you spell/pronounce that?' or use a different name.

Ellmau · 03/12/2023 16:00

Phoebe is a lovely name.

Not Islia, people are bound to think it's a mistake for Isla.

Etta is OK, but not Arietta - it sounds made up. Marietta might be OK?

KirstenBlest · 03/12/2023 15:34

Etta (possibly Arietta) - Arietta looks made up. Etta sounds like 'Ate a'
Phoebe - fine
Islia (anglicised take on Eilir) - should that read Isla? Woildn't know how to say Islia - Izz-lee-ah?
If you mean the Welsh name Eilir, it sounds nothing like Isla or Islia, and is usually a man's name. Eilir is not easy to transcribe but is a bit like EY-lirr

OhpoorMe · 03/12/2023 15:34

LylaLee · 03/12/2023 15:28

Don't you legally have to register the birth?

You have 6 weeks to register

MaloneMeadow · 03/12/2023 15:32

Phoebe 100%. Etta isn’t a real name, very much just a nickname and Islia will lead to a life of pronunciation/spelling issues

Floralnomad · 03/12/2023 15:28

Of those 3 Phoebe . I don’t like Etta and Islia auto corrects to Isla and you will constantly be correcting people because they see the first couple of letters and assume .

LylaLee · 03/12/2023 15:28

Don't you legally have to register the birth?

Elderflower2016 · 03/12/2023 15:28

All sound lovely. Only downside to number 3 is that it might be annoying for the child to explain how to pronounce/ spell name frequently. You could use that as a Middle name maybe? But just go with your heart don’t worry about what anyone else thinks!!