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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls name shortlist - help!

42 replies

BromptonBay · 14/12/2024 20:28

DD is due next month and DH and I are still arguing over names.. all of these are life long favourites of mine - I just can’t choose!!

Isabel (Izzy/Ella)
Beatrice
Maeve
Pippa
Lara

Not overly fussed re: popularity or meanings, just want options on the names themselves.

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SE13Mummy · 14/12/2024 23:12

I like Beatrice, Emma and Maeve from your list. Beatrice and Maeve because they don't have an 'uh' or 'ee' sound at the end but Emma because it somehow sounds a bit different from the other very vowely names e.g. Eva, Ava, Amelia, Isla etc etc.

Isabel is a lovely name but if you want Ella as a nickname, Isabella would be the more obvious one to go for.

Brodpit · 14/12/2024 23:05

Beatrice is lovely. Maeve would go well as a middle.

Cressie2 · 14/12/2024 22:52

Isabel is so beautiful.

Enough4me · 14/12/2024 22:49

Isabel Amber
Go well together

Moreteaandchocolate · 14/12/2024 22:45

BromptonBay · 14/12/2024 22:36

After further discussion with DH we’ve also got Emma, Sasha & Amber added to the mix! 🙈

I like these too! Amber is my favourite! I’d pick Amber or Lara from your ideas so far ☺️

MissyB1 · 14/12/2024 22:45

Amber is pretty.

Original poster
BromptonBay · 14/12/2024 22:36

After further discussion with DH we’ve also got Emma, Sasha & Amber added to the mix! 🙈

OP posts:
MissyB1 · 14/12/2024 22:33

Love Pippa and Maeve.

Latticexmas · 14/12/2024 22:28

Tootjaskoot · 14/12/2024 21:52

Lara Beatrice is beautiful.

Yes

Nap1983 · 14/12/2024 22:23

All nice names. My favourite is Lara, Least favourite is Maeve.

SemmaLina · 14/12/2024 22:17

Isabel (Izzy/Ella) I prefer Isabelle
Beatrice I love this and would have chosen it. , but we had George
Maeve no
Pippa I like Phillipa ,
Lara like this

SkaneTos · 14/12/2024 21:58

My favourites from your list are Beatrice and Maeve.

Tootjaskoot · 14/12/2024 21:52

Lara Beatrice is beautiful.

ridl14 · 14/12/2024 21:47
  1. Isabel (Izzy/Ella) - lovely name and great nicknames if she wants them.
  2. Maeve - I think it's a great name and known enough in the UK (assuming that's where you are?) not to be too mispronounced.
  3. Beatrice - pretty but I'm not a fan of the nickname Bea. Could be seen as a little dated by some. I do think it's a classic though and great literary associations.
  4. Lara - not bad but not really a fan, it feels a little pretentious. I really prefer Lana, Lorna, Cora.
  5. Pippa - not a fan personally 1. I don't love nicknames as names and 2. It just reads very horse-owning posh girl to me (sorry!)
Mumofgirls2017 · 14/12/2024 21:43

Basically they are all fine.

I’d pick maeve.

Moreteaandchocolate · 14/12/2024 21:36

Lovely list - I like all your ideas! My order of preference would be-

  1. Lara - pretty, easy to spell / pronounce, doesn’t get shortened, great for all ages, not overused or dated.
  2. Maeve - same advantages as Lara.
  3. Pippa - love this. Only disadvantage is some people may assume it’s short for Philippa.
  4. Beatrice - pretty. My only thought is that Beatrice sounds quite formal to me and Bea is very informal - there isn’t an everyday “middle ground” option for a nn.
  5. Isabel (Izzy/Ella) - I know you don’t mind popularity but I think it’s the most commonly used name where I live if you include all the spelling variations, which has taken the shine off it for me
BootballJoy · 14/12/2024 21:08

Isabel (Izzy/Ella) - my favourite spelling of the name. I do like it. I know you said you aren't bothered by popularity - but she might be correcting spellings etc a bit, there are loads of Isabelles around.
Beatrice - fine. Love Bea as a shortening.
Maeve - not a fan
Pippa - I've always liked Philippa with Pippa as a shortening
Lara - I don't like the 'ar' sound, prefer Laura or Lyra, but that's just personal taste.

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