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Baby names

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

Original poster

What were you nearly called?

237 replies

Abigail47 · 08/08/2024 19:13

I was nearly called Deborah or Scarlett.

They were in my parents top three names.

Then they finally chose my name.

I feel a bit of a connection to those other two names.

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Blueuggboots · 09/08/2024 10:28

Rowena.

BoleynMemories13 · 09/08/2024 10:14

I think they only ever had one choice for me for a girl. It was my mum's favourite name. Very classic. A popular choice but I love it (and I love that it's still in the top 100 today, rather than being associated with the 80s).

They had fairly classic choices for a boy too as I've been told they were considering Michael, Matthew or Steven. I really like Matthew and could have lived with the other two. I would have probably liked them more if they actually were my name to be honest. I think most people have a close affinity to their name don't they? Well, either that or they absolutely hate it. There doesn't seem to be much inbetween when it comes to your own name. Most people seem to either love it or hate it.

romdowa · 09/08/2024 09:11

Abigail47 · 08/08/2024 22:18

It's funny that we all end up what we are called because one parent overrules the other.

My dad's choices were overruled by my mums

With my own ds we had two names picked, we knew he was a boy and dh said you're the one having the operation so you choose . I chose just as I was being put under 🤣

Amdone123 · 09/08/2024 08:48

@Abigail47 yes, it's interesting the 'overruling' bit.
Nowadays, it's definitely a joint decision but I was born in the 60s ( as were my other siblings), and my mum chose all our names. Poor dad had no choice - though I am quite happy about that.

Amdone123 · 09/08/2024 08:43

My dad wanted to call me Ruth or Carmen.
I like Ruth ( now), but I don't think I'd have liked it when younger. Plus, I'd have been Roof to the other kids.
Carmen - all I see is a lady with a bowl of fruit on her head.
Instead I got a timeless classic. I was 1 of about 7 at school, but it never bothered me and I still really like my name.

Jennalong · 09/08/2024 06:58

@ Waterboatlass
Anne was after my dad's mum , and I've always assumed Andrew because it sounds Anne like.

GreenMarigold · 09/08/2024 06:57

Gwendoline. I actually prefer it to the name I was given, especially shortened to Gwen.

summerbreze · 09/08/2024 06:52

Francessca

StiggyZardust · 09/08/2024 06:47

Graham. Bloody Graham.

Waterboatlass · 09/08/2024 06:43

Jennalong · 09/08/2024 06:38

My other girl name was to be Anne .
If born a boy Andrew .

Hang on, I've just realised the late queen had kids called Anne and Andrew . Do you reckon she deliberated over whether they were too matchy??

Waterboatlass · 09/08/2024 06:41

Rhiannon. Nothing wrong with it but not 'me'.

Jennalong · 09/08/2024 06:38

My other girl name was to be Anne .
If born a boy Andrew .

Rowgtfc72 · 09/08/2024 06:24

Chantelle marie.
I'm actually Rowena- dad named me after the aussie soap actress, rowena Wallace,who he fancied. She played nasty Patricia in sons and daughters!

BanditofBrisbane · 09/08/2024 06:18

@Littlebitpsycho
@BanditofBrisbane why the 🤢 emoji for chloe?

Because I don't like it at all, it wouldn't have suited me and culturally at the time it would have made me stick out like a sore thumb.

Gowlett · 09/08/2024 04:56

Stephanie.

mathanxiety · 09/08/2024 04:54

Abigail47 · 08/08/2024 19:40

I was reading this really interesting spiritual book lately.

It said that the babies parents don't pick the babies name.

The soul of the baby picks the name . And the parents pick up on the vibration.

Very interesting

I know for a fact that one of my aunts picked my name because my parents couldn't agree on the French version or the English version of the name they had in mind (think Louise/ Louisa). The name she picked was the name of the saint whose feast day I was born on, and it was already taken by two other women in the family.

moonisblue · 09/08/2024 00:08

Rosalind 🙄

Rookie93 · 09/08/2024 00:06

Was going to be either Anthony or Antonia. Arrived as a girl but on the way to register the name my older sister insisted I was called something else entirely and I was. That's big sisters for you.

spiderlight · 09/08/2024 00:05

My dad wanted to call me Theodora or Alison. Not exactly the same vibe! If I'd been a boy, I would have been Richard.

MrsAvocet · 09/08/2024 00:03

I actually was called a different name for the first few weeks of life. I was Julie - my sister's choice apparently. But my Mum just didn't take to it and said it didn't suit me so she chose my actual name just before they ran out of time to register my birth.
I 'm glad. Julie isn't awful but my name suits me much better and I was the only one in my year at school whereas there were lots of Julies.

momtoboys · 09/08/2024 00:01

Helen. They were going to call me Nellie!

BashfulClam · 08/08/2024 23:59

Gareth but I can’t out with the wrong bits. My mum was convinced I was a boy…

BluebellsareBlue · 08/08/2024 23:59

I love this!! Im1975 august 26th. I had no name, nurses suggested mums name (gran) Elsie-Ann, nope! Other grans name? Mabel? Nope! So my mum thought paula, my dad wanted Jane, then suggested Pauline and then they agreed on Paula, so dad trots down to register my name and registers Paula-Jane

DumbassHamsterSitterPerson · 08/08/2024 23:57

My mum was so convinced i was a girl that she didn't even pick a boys name for me. She picked a girls name and that's what I'm called. I've seen bits of her diary that she kept when she was pregnant and I'm referred to as my name the whole time.

TickyBooo · 08/08/2024 23:56

@Abigail47 can I ask what book please? Sounds interesting!

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