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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names you LOVE but would never choose...

164 replies

poppymango · 19/06/2024 17:57

For example:

A name associated with a famous celebrity

Something gorgeous but very obviously from a movie/book franchise

Something that sounds way too posh (or not!)

Etc.

I loved the name Merida (from the movie Brave) and was very disappointed to learn that it's not actually a real Scottish name at all! Naming your daughter after a Disney princess seems like something you may regret.

I also saw a TV show once with a character called Persephone, Percy for short. I love it but we are in no way posh enough to pull it off. Sigh.

What are yours?

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Original poster
poppymango · 07/02/2025 04:15

LookingAtMyBhunas · 06/02/2025 09:11

I love it! My friend had an Erriette, they just made it up. Fuck it.

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At least with Arrietty you can say it’s a literary name 🙂

OP posts:
lurkerchan · 07/02/2025 00:10

Yuzuriha. It's Japanese, pronounced exactly how it's spelt with emphasis on the last syllable. Saw it in an anime and thought it was beautiful. Never going on a real child though.

Mumofgirls2017 · 06/02/2025 22:43

I love Melody, but I absolutely know what you mean!

LookingAtMyBhunas · 06/02/2025 09:11

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 04/02/2025 05:15

Arrietty. I know it’s a made up name for the borrowers so wouldn’t use it but I really love it.

I love it! My friend had an Erriette, they just made it up. Fuck it.

LookingAtMyBhunas · 06/02/2025 09:10

Rufus.

LookingAtMyBhunas · 06/02/2025 09:09

Indigo nn Indie but for a boy.

DP loves it and was the one to suggest it

I'm currently 7w3d pregnant but I don't have the balls.

Partridgewell · 06/02/2025 06:31

christmasearly · 05/02/2025 19:33

Always loved the name Isis but would never use it (for obvious reasons!)

I am from Oxford, and was only very narrowly persuaded not to call my daughter Isis. I'm so glad I didn't! She was obviously born before the terror group were known about.

christmasearly · 05/02/2025 19:33

Always loved the name Isis but would never use it (for obvious reasons!)

TimPat · 05/02/2025 14:29

Melody. It's so pretty but feels a little hippy-ish which I don't think I can pull off.
DD's name is mentioned in this thread as being posh and we are not posh at all so I guess it's all about perception!

lilyanna80 · 05/02/2025 14:18

Love Vlada but not Slavic. Similarly love Wolfgang but not German. I couldn’t use a name like that when me and DH are so generic English, would seem so naff. Love the names though!

mum1345 · 04/02/2025 18:58

YouveGotAFastCar · 03/02/2025 12:02

I’m dying to use Valentina but also don’t want Val or Tina.

My husband loves Sophie but I don’t… I am struggling!

I would use the nickname Valley.. I love that!!

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 04/02/2025 05:15

Arrietty. I know it’s a made up name for the borrowers so wouldn’t use it but I really love it.

toomanytonotice · 03/02/2025 20:43

YouveGotAFastCar · 03/02/2025 12:02

I’m dying to use Valentina but also don’t want Val or Tina.

My husband loves Sophie but I don’t… I am struggling!

I know a valentina, the family are South American.

they use what I can only phonetically describe as ”valey”. Not quite valley, but with a kind of Spanish accent.

it’s lovely.

I quite like Len or Lenny as a nickname as well.

YouveGotAFastCar · 03/02/2025 12:02

I’m dying to use Valentina but also don’t want Val or Tina.

My husband loves Sophie but I don’t… I am struggling!

Original poster
poppymango · 03/02/2025 08:32

fairyup · 03/02/2025 06:47

Atlas.

Never brave enough, but I think it's a great name

It's super cool, but a lot to live up to!

OP posts:
Original poster
poppymango · 03/02/2025 08:31

Lifealittleboulder · 02/02/2025 18:18

Dorothy - it was my beautiful grandmas name and I adored the film the wizard of oz when I was little, I discovered how much I loved to sing thanks to that movie and it was just my happy place. Unfortunately I think it’s dated now

primrose - my grans favorite flower and I love the nickname Pim, but again feels a bit dated

Caleb - would have absolutely named one of our boys this but a sibling got there first so I now have a nephew who’s caleb

dulcie - loved it and would have been very tempted but I know kids would have called her “dull dulcie” or something mean

harriet- but I don’t like Harry and it was too much of a risk!

Aww I love the name Dorothy, I think traditional names are more popular now anyway so I don't think anyone would think it unusual. You could call her Doro or Dottie for short (Doro is my fave!)

Primrose/Prim makes me think of Katniss' little sister in The Hunger Games. Great name!

OP posts:
fairyup · 03/02/2025 06:47

Atlas.

Never brave enough, but I think it's a great name

Happyinarcon · 03/02/2025 04:37

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 19/06/2024 19:29

Marsali
Eilidh
Laoghaire

Too difficult for non Scots to spell or pronounce

Andrea - murdered by many accents

Jenna and Callie - my favourite names growing up as was a Blake's 7 fan.

Servalan would have made a great middle name.

BebbanburgIsMine · 03/02/2025 04:07

@ToffeenutLatte

It hasn't done Ford Kiernan any harm! Smile

user1492757084 · 03/02/2025 03:55

Majella
Claire
Bloom
Floribunda

Pippin
Griffin
Jock
Clancy

doyouknowthemuffinman42 · 03/02/2025 00:16

Tayenne

Like cayenne or Taycan (Porsche)

AmiablePedant · 03/02/2025 00:00

CoffeeChocolateWine · 19/06/2024 19:16

I think the name Seraphina is beautiful but I just find it a bit much for a small child to pull off! I'm also not sure what potential shortenings would be and this is an issue for me. I would be full of regret if my child ended up with a shortened version that I really dislike. As a result, all my children have names that are only 3 or 4 letters!

Also love Dmitri but not sure I would use it having no Greek blood between us! I also like Lysander but it's a bit...well...Shakespeare!

Oh please don't bash Shakespeare. He did after all give us Rosalind, Viola, Oliver, Orlando, Sebastian, Celia, Beatrice, Juliet, Jessica, Edmund, Edgar, Miranda, etc etc without anybody flinching at the names. Although I really really have always wondered at people who name a girl child Regan. (Happens more in the States.)

Gillyyy · 02/02/2025 23:12

When looking through our family tree we have a few ancestors called Septimus, Sep for short.

I really liked it but traditionally it’s used for your seventh son, and that seems like a lot of effort!

Hograddish · 02/02/2025 20:10

Sproutofthisworld · 20/06/2024 10:24

I adore the name Valentina but it’s too frilly for DH and also the nn of Val or Tina are so far away from the feeling of the full name.

Edited

Valentina is on my current list for baby 3, due in about 6 weeks, but am put off for the same reasons!

Also love but couldn’t use:

Priya
Gwendoline
Eleftheria
Suki

StormingNorman · 02/02/2025 19:11

Leopoldina to be known as Polly

I read it 20+ years ago in a Nancy Mitford book and fell in love with it.