Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Anthea - yes or no?

108 replies

HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 13:16

I think I quite like Anthea for baby DD (expected early September). But... is it old fashioned in a bad way?

Surname starting with F. I like Thea too, but Thea F- is a mouthful.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Moveoverdarlin · 22/04/2024 17:54

WhiteLeopard · 22/04/2024 13:24

It does sound a bit dated. How about Andrea?

Christ Andrea is worse than Anthea! And Anthea is bad! Not keen on Thea either.

MavisPennies · 22/04/2024 17:54

One of the nicest colleagues I had was called Anthea so I'm giving it a 👍

Original poster
HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 17:52

@BresciaBike I've only ever known one, and she's probably 90 by now.

OP posts:
BresciaBike · 22/04/2024 17:51

I like it, it sounds refreshing rather than dated. Perhaps because there wasn't a sea of Antheas like there were Traceys, Michelles, Carols, Sandras etc.

Original poster
HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 17:51

@ColourByNumbers88 short T first names are out because we have a F surname... My sister is Anna, which is a lovely name but might get confusing for my 2yo DS.

@ElasticElsa I think it might have been overlooked recently. In my opinion Anthea is pretty without being twee, but I don't want to give a name lots of people would think is a weird choice/would group with Tracey.

OP posts:
ElasticElsa · 22/04/2024 17:22

I love it! Not popular granted, but extremely pretty. wouldn't let one very minor celeb change my mind, seems very silly to as you can find an annoying person for every name you come up with.

ColourByNumbers88 · 22/04/2024 17:21

Cannot read that name without seeing Turner. But now that I think about it I'm actually visualising Amanda Holden's face! Anthea Turner was lovely.

Prefer Thea or Tia or even Anna.

Axx · 22/04/2024 17:17

No. Anthea turner.

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 22/04/2024 17:15

I prefer Andrea but Anthea is alright

RuthW · 22/04/2024 17:15

I like it. Go for it

Ioverslept · 22/04/2024 17:15

Yes

Original poster
HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 17:14

Arghh! The book agrees on Anthea Turner.

Anthea - yes or no?
OP posts:
Original poster
HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 16:28

Well. I've just bought a baby name book for kindle. Perhaps I'll be back later with some more ideas.

OP posts:
Talipesmum · 22/04/2024 16:14

HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 13:37

Haha ok this is a lot of no votes!

@Talipesmum and the bonus is you can use the nickname panther? ☺️

Totally.

DuchessOfSausage · 22/04/2024 16:10

@HmmAnthea , she was on telly a lot. Squeaky clean pretty girl-next-door image. Blue Peter, Lottery results, Top of the Pops presenter.

Became famous as Bruno Brookes' partner, moved on to Peter Powell then married PP's married best mate. Sold her wedding photos to OK! or Hello! magazine and the result was the photo pp. Became a Z-lister.

Anthea doesn't become Anfea, it's Amfea. Anyone remember Samamfa Fox? Smile

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 22/04/2024 16:08

My dh and dd would both pronounce it Anfea as they both seem to struggle with the th sound for some reason!

ohthejoys21 · 22/04/2024 16:07

No!

Mandarinaduck · 22/04/2024 16:05

I really like it - love the -th-sound and it makes a change from Thea et al. Pretty but strong too.

Original poster
HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 16:04

@CheapThrillsMeanNothing hmm ok. I'm in the north east, but it might be annoying for her if she moves south. I have family in Kent - one of my cousin's kids is Thorben but they pronounce it Forben 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 16:01

I've just had to Google Anthea Turner. I can't really remember much about her, despite being a 90s kid.

OP posts:
CheapThrillsMeanNothing · 22/04/2024 16:00

HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 15:56

Haha - ok, ok, it's a no then.

I can't hear the lispy-ness though? Is it the potential for 'th' to become 'f'? It wouldn't in my local accent.

The 'th' would become 'f' in London and parts of the South East. Maybe on away from these areas. Like Arthur would be pronounced 'Arfur'.
I'm not keen on it as a name though. Althea and Athena are much better in my opinion.

Original poster
HmmAnthea · 22/04/2024 15:56

Haha - ok, ok, it's a no then.

I can't hear the lispy-ness though? Is it the potential for 'th' to become 'f'? It wouldn't in my local accent.

OP posts:
Moreteaandchocolate · 22/04/2024 15:46

I don’t hate it but wouldn’t use it personally

I like Thea, but agree that might not work as well with an F surname

Remoteaccess · 22/04/2024 15:42

Dreadful, dull and lithpy

cassiatwenty · 22/04/2024 15:40

@DuchessOfSausage 🤣