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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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PreggersWithBaby2 · 02/02/2025 19:09

I love the name Mallory but would never use it because of its meaning.

I also love the name Clara but it's a place near where I'm from so couldn't use it.

Picklewicklepickle · 02/02/2025 18:50

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!

My DC is 8 and has been friends with a Dottie, a Primrose and a Hattie.

Printedword · 02/02/2025 18:21

Years ago I met someone with a daughter called Fabia. I thought it was lovely, but then it was the name of a popular Skoda car

Lifealittleboulder · 02/02/2025 18:20

Ooh I also loved Clementine - it’s so pretty - but it’s also an orange

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!

Rockmehardplace · 23/06/2024 23:37

Velvet

Lyric

LucyEleanorModeratz · 23/06/2024 19:26

Madeleine was top of my girls names list but we feared the McCann connotations are still too strong sadly (appreciate others may disagree) so we went in another direction names wise

evtheria · 20/06/2024 21:30

RoseUnder · 20/06/2024 20:06

Arwen

I do know a little boy called Socrates. Hope he grows up to be clever!

I met lots of Socrates-es in Greece! It's pronounced very differently there, like soh-KRAH-tiss.

Mycatsmudge · 20/06/2024 20:42

I lean towards spice/ herby names:
Saffron
Juniper
Camomile
Coriander
Anise
I also love ancient Roman/Greek names:
Io
Icarus
Phaethon
Calypso

RoseUnder · 20/06/2024 20:06

Arwen

I do know a little boy called Socrates. Hope he grows up to be clever!

RogueFemale · 20/06/2024 19:54

Psyche

RogueFemale · 20/06/2024 19:53

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?

Gogo

TribeofFfive · 20/06/2024 19:51

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

I really loved this name for DD but had the same reservations as you!

MissingMoominMamma · 20/06/2024 19:50

I really love the name Lettice!

TribeofFfive · 20/06/2024 19:50

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!

There’s a Serephina at the school I work at. She’s known as Fifi.

RogueFemale · 20/06/2024 19:46

JollyHostess101 · 20/06/2024 09:56

Atticus- DH was not to be convinced so lucky we had a girl!!

You could've had Attica! Really nice name.

Mumofgirls2017 · 20/06/2024 19:29

Redberies · 20/06/2024 17:38

Apart from Elvis or Titiana, most of these are not that unusual?

We actually have a Quentin and a Coco (nickname) in the family.

Show quote history

Yeah I know, but they’re beyond my personal braveness threshold 😅 personally I’d love if I met a kid with those names but know they’re very marmite.

Original poster
poppymango · 20/06/2024 17:52

Redberies · 20/06/2024 17:39

Ok, maybe Zeus is a little unusual actually!

You’d have to be a very strong character to pull off Zeus!

OP posts:
ItsHardknocklife · 20/06/2024 17:46

Picklewicklepickle · 19/06/2024 21:26

Esmerelda and Tuesday.

I love Betsy but DH wasn’t brave enough so it’s DC1’s middle name.

Surprised by the mentions of Juno, they’re ten a penny round here!

I wanted Esmerelda but partner said no so ended up with Esme instead.

Redberies · 20/06/2024 17:39

Ok, maybe Zeus is a little unusual actually!

Redberies · 20/06/2024 17:38

Mumofgirls2017 · 19/06/2024 23:46

Oooh good thread

Elvis
Clarence
Quentin
Zeus
Thor
Everest
Lionel
Lysander

Xanthe
Olympia
Titania
Pixie
Pollyanna
Marigold
Clover
Coco
Luella

Apart from Elvis or Titiana, most of these are not that unusual?

We actually have a Quentin and a Coco (nickname) in the family.

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.

molotovcupcakes · 20/06/2024 10:20

I also love felix, but apparently that’s for cats only

My son is a Felix who is 17 now and it has hardly come up at all, just occasionally since he was a kitten child.

PippetyPoppetyPie · 20/06/2024 10:18

Triskeline · 19/06/2024 19:08

‘Obvious reasons’?

Show quote history

It spells Anal backwards

HungUp77 · 20/06/2024 10:16

Anwen
Theodora
Tanaquil (friends said it sounded like an antidepressant brand name)
Millicent
Artemis
Georgiana
Plum (I know)

Kind of regret not using Anwen…