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Baby names

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

Original poster

What words would make lovely sounding baby names if they didn’t mean what they do?

212 replies

OliveLeader · 01/01/2025 17:08

In light of the rise of pretty-sounding nouns which work beautifully as names (Wren, Aurora, River etc), what are some words that you think would make beautiful sounding names if the words didn’t have the meaning they do?

For instance, I have a soft spot for Farfalle. Elegant and feminine, but slightly chic! Paella would also very much work in this vibe.

Or for a boy, isn’t Faucet quite noble and yet sensitive?

I can picture an absolutely adorable little Miasma and her brother Artery - don’t they just sound nice?

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SkiingIsHeaven · 06/01/2025 01:09

Archipelago
Corona
Fandango
Miasma

BettyBardMacDonald · 06/01/2025 00:58

Fordian · 03/01/2025 22:41

Neuralgia

For the win!

GlitterDragon · 05/01/2025 23:03

Serendipity

Shesnotfromroundhere · 05/01/2025 22:57

What an interesting thread!
Most of the names I might have come up with seem to have been thought of already.
The only name I could think of was Lemur.
Also Tamarind has a nice sound to it.
I think lately a name I've found to be very pretty is actually the name of a river and the name means either Muddy River, or Oyster River, neither meaning is as nice as what I think the name is:
Susquehanna.
(suss- kweh-hannah).

HolaOla · 04/01/2025 05:51

My first language was Polish though born and bred in london and I recently saw a tiktok of a non Polish speaker talking about random words she'd heard during a trip which would make brilliant baby names.
Jajka (yaykar) for a boy. Eggs.
Makrela, Insulina and Lyszka (whishkar) for a girl. Mackrel, Insulin and Spoon.
Yet I was given grief for Kaia being too out there 🤣

mathanxiety · 04/01/2025 04:41

Zucchini
Courgette
Endive
Romaine
Alfalfa
Maris Piper
Coffee
Mocha
Radish
Lentil
Fennel
Chive
Mint
Dill
Paprika
Tapioca

Fordian · 03/01/2025 22:41

Neuralgia

DefyingGravitea · 03/01/2025 10:23

Saschka · 03/01/2025 09:52

Duvet IS pronounced duvé isn’t it? Duvay. It isn’t doo-vet.

Show quote history

It was meant to be a joke on the back of a previous thread where someone explained a name using its actually pronunciation but the joke failed 😂

Saschka · 03/01/2025 09:52

DefyingGravitea · 02/01/2025 21:41

Duvet. Pronounced duvé!

Duvet IS pronounced duvé isn’t it? Duvay. It isn’t doo-vet.

ILoveAnnaQuay · 03/01/2025 08:32

Many years ago we were in Zimbabwe and the trend at the time was for low income people to give their children "aspirational" names associated with white/well off people.

We went to an art gallery and in the foyer was an exhibition of paintings from children at the local primary school. Amongst the names were Mortgage, Cheque, Mercedes (I know that's a real name) and Telephone. The (male) receptionist at one of the hotels we stated at was also called Telephone.

FKAT · 02/01/2025 23:06

Amygdala is a great name.

Ironically I think they would be an West London instagrammer with a penchant for sharing their very expensive jewellery and location tagged domestic routine before falling foul of house robbers.

DefyingGravitea · 02/01/2025 21:41

Duvet. Pronounced duvé!

Peppapiggedout · 02/01/2025 21:05

Amygdala

Salmonella

Hibernia

Pollypoppy · 02/01/2025 20:41

username7367 · 02/01/2025 20:36

Ceramic
Tile
Chairs
Alphabet
Viva
Tangerine

There was an actress in Neighbours who’s real name was Viva.

Pollypoppy · 02/01/2025 20:40

I work in a pharmacy and there are so many drug names that would make great baby names, how about Apixaban? Pixie for a nickname or for the extra cool moms Brilique 😂

username7367 · 02/01/2025 20:36

Ceramic
Tile
Chairs
Alphabet
Viva
Tangerine

Whatee · 02/01/2025 19:16

I see I'm late to the party, but I offer girls' names of

Humidity
Precipice
Chandelier
Antarctica (are proper nouns allowed?)
Acrylamide
Cassava

and for the boys

Mortice
Dextrose
Benzene
Cornice
Lathe
Chisel
Colon

and

Diol
Meniscus

for either boys or girls

DPotter · 02/01/2025 17:47

Quiche - androgenous name. Dependable, not overly imaginative, a safe pair of hands in a crisis

endsnewyearsday · 02/01/2025 17:36

I actually heard someone call their toddler daughter "Ciabatta" once.

Phineyj · 02/01/2025 17:19

Peccadillo. A naughty little boy, but charming.

Autocorrect suggested Piccalilli, which is perhaps his twin?

Brightredtulips · 02/01/2025 17:14

Tarkan · 02/01/2025 01:03

Every year I look forward to the NRS list of baby names in Scotland from the previous year. One year there really was a little Porphyria.

I've also spotted Panda and Possum at different times. There have been other interesting names that don't begin with P but for some reason those ones have stuck in my head.

Show quote history

The schools(scottish) teach it as a love poem when its clearly about a disease.

OrchardBlack · 02/01/2025 17:00

My family and I were discussing this on xmas day!

MIL suggested Masturbation. I like Syphillis.

AlbertCamusflage · 02/01/2025 16:31

Verruca
Dearth
Austerity
Incel
Polycystic
Astroturf

littletesco · 02/01/2025 16:21

Patella for a girl or or Rumba

ILoveAnnaQuay · 02/01/2025 15:35

@Radio4head one of my friends went to a Mother and baby group where a woman turned up with a baby called Lilith.....