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Baby names

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

Original poster

Willa or Pearl

54 replies

ladycarlotta · 24/09/2024 14:35

I'm 39 weeks and I think we have it boiled down to these two options for our baby girl. Which would you go for?

I'm aware they are both potentially quite trendy, with Willa being rarer in terms of use but more often mentioned in lists like these?

We also liked Ilse/Ilsa/Ailsa/Elsa but have issues with each of those options so I think we're just giving up on it.

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ZiggyZowie · 28/09/2024 23:23

Neither

What about

Ruby

Willow

Fern

Saffron

Suz8 · 28/09/2024 23:18

Love both OP. Willa Cather and pearls are just so beautiful and timeless. Willa Pearl is nice.

Katielovesteatime · 28/09/2024 05:29

I love Willa but ADORE Pearl.

SnowFrogJelly · 26/09/2024 00:53

Pearl

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 25/09/2024 23:56

Yep, I don’t get it either OP- I can only assume it’s because William and Willow are Top 50 popular and therefore people think they are less likely to be teased? 🤷‍♀️ (I like William, Willow and Willa, Wilhelmina etc - the Will nn is very cool and suits strong willed people imo 🤣)

Orders76 · 25/09/2024 23:55

Pearl is already dated but classic, and was Janis Joplin's nickname so if you like music....
Sorry, but Willa is terrible. I love Winnie or winter.

Original poster
ladycarlotta · 25/09/2024 23:48

I don't understand this fixation on "she'll be called Willy" when nobody ever says that about all the little boys called William.

OP posts:
LessOfMe99 · 25/09/2024 23:44

Pearl-fine.
Willa- dislike. And will get "Willy" teasing.

Original poster
ladycarlotta · 25/09/2024 23:41

Wow, a lot of hate for Willa! Luckily I still like it. I am a Willa Cather fan though. And it's not necessarily short for anything, Willa/Guilla goes back over a thousand years.

Pearl we initially planned to use as a middle name as it has family connections but actually we've slowly ended up realising we really like it as the main event. But definitely will have it somewhere in the name, it might be Willa Pearl.

I do love Ilse but I just think the spelling will get annoying.

Thanks everyone! Really good to have feedback to ponder.

OP posts:
PurpleChrayn · 25/09/2024 23:12

I love Pearl.

Willa sounds like a drunken Southern Belle saying "Willa, or won't ah?"

mycatsanutter · 25/09/2024 22:44

I know a Willa , it's never mispronounced and it really suits her .

MillenialAvocado · 25/09/2024 22:03

I like Pearl! Willa will just end up being called Willy by her classmates :(

Jemimapinotduck · 25/09/2024 21:29

Teenage daughter just asked willa what??? Definitely pearl

Newdaylucky · 25/09/2024 15:31

Pearl wins.

Boohop · 25/09/2024 12:35

Definitely Pearl! What a lovely name.

Peonies12 · 25/09/2024 10:41

Willa is too close to Willow. Also very likely to get teased with a name like that. Pearl is lovely.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 25/09/2024 10:16

I don't like Willa at all. Pearl is much nicer, although since we're discussing accents, Pearl can sound like Pell. ExDH had a friend called Pearl and for ages I thought her name was Pell until I saw it written down.

SerenaWaldorf · 25/09/2024 10:13

Oh I love them both! I think Willa is my favourite of the two, it makes me think of a cool, fun, feisty girl. I think Willa Pearl is lovely as first and middle though, unless you already have a middle name you're using.

CurlewKate · 25/09/2024 10:09

And I think Willa might be a difficult name for a little one to say..

CurlewKate · 25/09/2024 10:08

I love Pearl.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 25/09/2024 09:25

Willa makes me think of the naughty toddler Willa Jean in the Ramona Quimby books but that's a very dated and niche reference. It will be constantly misheard and misspelled as the much more popular (and much nicer) Willow.

I'm usually one of the people who say that children are rarely teased for their names but I think Willa is just too close to 'willy'. Sorry. Pearl is pretty, but challenging in some rhotic accents.

JollyTallTeddy · 25/09/2024 09:23

I like Pearl. I've been watching Whitstable Pearl and the Pearl character is Kerry Godliman, who is very cool!

shoopshoopdedoo · 25/09/2024 09:19

Seems I’m in the minority, but I’m afraid I don’t like Pearl at all. I can’t imagine being called Pearl!

So, I’d choose Willa.

(Love Ilse though).

VoteLabour · 25/09/2024 09:15

I'm not keen on either of them. Willow Pearl is nicer.
Pearl is much nicer than Willa as a first name.

PrincessOfPreschool · 25/09/2024 04:37

I prefer Willa. Pearl sounds a bit Essex to me (maybe it's the Pearly Kings and Queens!).

When I came on here for advice I ended up dumping all the names I liked as I got put off! One in particular I wish I'd just gone for as I loved it and still do. In the end I asked the midwives on my ward to pick.

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