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Baby names

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

International name for a girl

41 replies

CortieTat · 10/11/2024 11:41

Both me and DH come from families with long-standing traditions of recycling names (this often leads to funny/confusing misunderstandings as people share the same names across generations).

Name has to be international (European) as the family is spread across Europe, we used to move a lot as well.

We already have a recycled name for a girl but I’m very open to adding a new one to the mix, at least as a second name.

Ple help me become a bit more creative, both DCs are named after aunties and grandparents.

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Parker231 · 12/11/2024 08:31

We had the same issue - DD has Elisabeth as a middle name

Enna7985 · 12/11/2024 08:28

Eva🤔

Ygfrhj · 11/11/2024 08:36

Ana or Anna
Olivia
Sofia
Clara
Petra
Rosa
Nina
Margot

Some international babies I know living overseas currently.

user1492757084 · 11/11/2024 08:27

Clara Pomeline
Mary Ellen

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 10/11/2024 20:46

I think a lot of the Classical (Latinate/Ancient Greek) names are spelt the same across most European countries? (even if there are sometimes some variation in pronunciation). As you’ve discovered with Helena and Maria. So:

Julia
Marina
Celia
Emilia
Olivia
Isabella
Alexandra
Anna
Antonia
Victoria
Cecilia
Claudia
Gabriella
Sophia
Serena
Lydia
Larissa/Lara
Natalia

With Shakespearean Helena, I especially like Julia, Marina and Celia (or Olivia, Isabella and Emilia if you don’t mind something more popular). Subtle Bard names for the win!

CortieTat · 10/11/2024 17:43

RobertaSaunter · 10/11/2024 12:05

Do you want a name that just works across cultures as is (like Maria), or do you want a name that has a few versions depending on culture (like Mary/Marie/Maria, Elizabeth/Isabel, Eleanor/Elena/Lenore)?

As is.

OP posts:
whydoihavetowork · 10/11/2024 17:07

Annabel / Annabelle
Louisa / Louise / Eloise
Francesca / Francois
Martina / Martine
Eleanor / Elenia / Elena
Gemma
Lydia
Antonia

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/11/2024 16:34

Stella

luckylavender · 10/11/2024 16:11

Carmen, Marion, Yvette. Yvonne, Monique. Sylvie, Alice, Anya, Emily, Eugenie, Natalie. Agnes, Agatha, Lucy.

StormingNorman · 10/11/2024 15:24

Anne
Alexandra
Sophie

ShittyShouter · 10/11/2024 15:23

GiantRoadPuzzle · 10/11/2024 14:57

Nina

Perfect

Enko · 10/11/2024 15:18

Laura

CornishTeaTime · 10/11/2024 15:13

Colette
Margot
Beatrix
Sophie
Juliett

mrselton · 10/11/2024 15:10

Apollonia (from The Godfather).

Some other lovely Italian names if you have a look…….

Chiara

Alessandra

Gabriela

FBE · 10/11/2024 15:05

Emma or Anna

I have a dd with one of these names for the same reason and we considered these two

RobertaSaunter · 10/11/2024 15:04

Catherine
Sophia
Anastasia
Eugenie
Beatrice
Emilia
Rose
Anna
Lucy/Lucia
Chloe
Clara
Julia

GiantRoadPuzzle · 10/11/2024 14:57

Nina

SemperIdem · 10/11/2024 14:56

CortieTat · 10/11/2024 12:07

Thank you! We already have Helena Maria (named after an aunt and granny). My solution for DC3 was just to go for the lazy option with Maria Helena but DC1 wasn’t happy about it.

Why on earth would you do that? How odd.

Gwenhwyfar · 10/11/2024 12:47

MistyF · 10/11/2024 11:56

Marina
Louise
Helena
Beatrice
Nerissa
Polina
Rebecca
Olivia
Olympia
Valeria
Gabriella
Heidi
Rose

I've only ever heard of one Nerissa in my life and only in one country.

Gwenhwyfar · 10/11/2024 12:46

resm · 10/11/2024 12:00

Anna/Ana

I think Anna is the most pan-European female name.

YouveGotAFastCar · 10/11/2024 12:41

ThatshallotBaby · 10/11/2024 12:40

Valentina

I also love this; but it’s a popular name amongst girlfriends of footballers right now, and DH is convinced it’ll be shortened to either Val or Tina, both of which we dislike…

YouveGotAFastCar · 10/11/2024 12:41

We’re looking for similar.

Our front runners if DS was a girl were Sophia or Eva, but both are massively popular now, which I don’t love. It also seems a bit odd alongside DS’ well-known but not commonly used name.

ThatshallotBaby · 10/11/2024 12:40

Valentina

ThatshallotBaby · 10/11/2024 12:39

Alexandra
Rosa
Christina
Miranda
Beatrice
Julia
Natalia

user2848502016 · 10/11/2024 12:38

Louise/Louisa
Gabrielle/Gabriella
Isabel/Isabella

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