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Baby names

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

Original poster

Lottie or Dottie

130 replies

mymindislikeamarshmallow · 22/12/2023 23:36

Which one do you prefer? I don't want to use the traditional longer names Charlotte or Dorothy. Be kind, baby here (nearly 2 weeks old, she needs a name!) thanks.

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MerryChristmasToYou · 23/12/2023 11:24

@BungleandGeorge , I didn't say they were better, just that I like both.
Most people don't become PM or HCJ.
We've had PMs with names like Tony and Liz, but they had longer BC names.

Christmascracker25 · 23/12/2023 11:20

I have a Dorothy nn Dottie and have had nothing but compliments on her name! I absolutely love it!

Maireas · 23/12/2023 11:17

Please don't call her Dottie.
Lottie is fine, but remember, as pp have said, she's not always going to be tiny and cute.

BungleandGeorge · 23/12/2023 11:13

There’s absolutely nothing inherently better about using ‘Charlotte’ or ‘Dorothy’ and there’s no issue with a prime minister or high court judge being called lottie. Let’s face it if you are born into such a privileged family that you could consider those careers your name is unlikely to make an ounce of difference! I do think Dottie has slightly unfortunate connotations and personally much prefer Lottie.

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/12/2023 11:06

Of the two without using a longer name, Lottie.
Dorothy and Charlotte are both nice

Redlarge · 23/12/2023 11:06

Yes for dachshunds

recyclemeagain · 23/12/2023 10:57

@Fleur405 I am a bereavement counsellor and I have a name that MN would consider twee/childish/unprofessional etc. I don't have a longer version of my name and I wouldn't want it anyway, I'm in my mid-40s now and can genuinely say nobody has ever had issue with my name being a nn version of a more proper name. So I don't think it would have an impact on any professional capabilities to the degree people on MN like to believe it could. Prior to my current role I also worked in a senior management position where again I was not held back at all by my name.
That said, I prefer Lottie to Dottie.

LittleGreenDuck · 23/12/2023 10:33

Definitely prefer Lottie, ideally with Charlotte as the full name, but I think Lottie stands up ok on its own if you really don't want to use Charlotte.

Not really a fan of Dottie on its own, it's a bit twee, though Dorothy is nice.

Congratulations on your new little girl.

LaurieStrode · 23/12/2023 10:19

PaddyIrishWoman · 23/12/2023 08:17

Charlotte on birth certificate, nice classy name for the future in case she becomes a Judge, Professor, Prime Minister etc but Lottie to everyone else.

Jesus christ what a ridiculous comment!!!!!!

I prefer Lottie OP. It was on my list when I was pregnant.

It's not ridiculous.

What is ridiculous is saddling a human being with a doll's name. She's not going to be an infant forever.

Do people seriously not envision their children becoming adults? Twee names undermine individuals in academia, the jobs market, professional circles. It's just selfish to give kids a pet name for life.

ElevenSeven · 23/12/2023 10:14

Charlotte with Lottie as short name.

Really not a fan of Dottie or Dorothy, sorry!

LaurieStrode · 23/12/2023 10:12

FrostieBoabby · 22/12/2023 23:46

Charlotte on birth certificate, nice classy name for the future in case she becomes a Judge, Professor, Prime Minister etc but Lottie to everyone else.

Yes, please.

YOU don't want the real name but SHE may not wish to go through life bearing only a childish diminutive nickname. Come on.

Fleur405 · 23/12/2023 10:06

Of the two I prefer Lottie.

I think Dottie is very sweet as a nickname but it just isn’t a proper name for someone who in the future might want to be able to introduce themselves as a serious person/do a high power job or a job where a bit of formality is important (like I don’t know, a funeral director or a bereavement counsellor). I suppose though that she could go by a middle name in those scenarios?

PaddyIrishWoman · 23/12/2023 09:59

Why is everyone blatantly ignoring the clearly stated
"I don't want to use the traditional longer names Charlotte or Dorothy."
in the OP!? 😂
It was a simple question. Do you prefer Lottie or Dottie....

Sugarfree23 · 23/12/2023 09:55

I know a Katie who goes by Kate - Katie is too babyish

dollybird · 23/12/2023 09:54

Katypp · 23/12/2023 07:10

All the managers in my job are from the first generation of -ie names and sound more like a group of girls you would invite to tea than serious colleagues. Sorry!
I am sure to their generation they sound perfectly sensible and OK. But to my ear (they are around 30, I am mid-50s) their names just sound daft on grown women called Poppy and Katie.

Show quote history

My cousin is called Katie, and she's 46! Just Katie, not Catherine.

LutonBeds · 23/12/2023 09:13

user1477391263 · 23/12/2023 06:19

Really, really don’t like either, sorry. Dottie makes me think of a mad old lady with wild hair. Lottie, if you really must. But every Charlotte I know hates “Lottie” with a passion.

I’m a Charlotte and was given the nn ‘Charley’ as my family didn’t want me to be called Lottie. I hate it if someone tries to shorten it to Lottie and they are swiftly corrected!

And to pp who said about Boris, his name isn’t Boris, that’s his middle name. He is Boris to the public and Alex in private (real name Alexander).

autienotnaughty · 23/12/2023 09:10

They are both cute but Dottie means ditzy or mad (as in mental health not anger) so I'd probably avoid that.

threeisquiteenough · 23/12/2023 09:09

Charlotte- good string name for CV/ Jobs in future

Lottie- adorable for a little girl

Charlie- depending on personality, another great version of the name

So I would go with this as it is very versatile

Congrats on baby!

Nineteendays · 23/12/2023 09:05

I love Lottie. I think it works as a stand alone name too.

I really dislike Dottie. Sounds like someone who’s a bit scatty and not on the planet

Viviennemary · 23/12/2023 09:04

Dottie is simply awful. So Lottie I suppose.

LittleBearPad · 23/12/2023 09:02

signaturecollection · 23/12/2023 00:43

I like Lottie. Though I notice the comments about how she can never be a judge etc with a name like Lottie have started already Xmas Confused For the record, there is absolutely nothing to stop anyone named Lottie, Xanthia, Yooneek or Barbie from becoming a judge, prime minister etc etc. It really has bugger all to do with the name. If someone with as dull a name as Boris (and as shit as his job as Boris) can achieve prime minister then there is absolutely no limit.

OP Lottie is absolutely lovely! I do like Dottie too and it's definitely less frequently used but I would definitely put Dorothy or Dorothea on her birth certificate so that she has some options when she's older. My son is Daniel but only ever known as Danny since his first day born! But he has the choice of Daniel or Dan if he ever wants to use them. Congratulations on your baby girl!

His name is Alexander, nickname Al. Boris is a persona.

AnOrdinaryWoman · 23/12/2023 08:55

I love Lottie.

FWIW my DD has a shortened version of a longer name. I wasn't going to give her a longer name that we would never ever use! Shortened name on the BC. 2 now, and only one person who was a random stranger I met in a coffee shop asked me what it was short for. If someone introduced themselves to me as Liz, I wouldn't say "aw yes, short for Elizabeth right?", I would just call them Liz.....

LikeItOrLumpIts · 23/12/2023 08:55

Lottie. Dottie is awful.

janfebmarchapril · 23/12/2023 08:50

Love them both but prefer lottie

Jane0Jane · 23/12/2023 08:49

Lotta?
From the Charlie and Lola books. Sounds more complete.

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