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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?

OP posts:
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Pieceofpurplesky · 01/01/2025 22:39

I have actually taught kids with some of these names!

Tarragon, Tartiflette and Bourguignon and Yarrow would be awesome

Gorganzolabrie · 01/01/2025 22:23

Polyp
Pheromone
Hiatus
Hernia
Herpes
Angina
Kidney

Shetlands · 01/01/2025 21:36

Bulimia
Cello
Pumice
Angola
Aldi
Fargo
Dilemma
Fistula

Mochudubh · 01/01/2025 21:07

I was on the matty ward with a mum who called her daughter Brogan (not sure of spelling) I didn't say anything but wondered why she thought the Gaelic for "shoes" made a good name.

Edited to add, this was Scotland and though I have only primary school Gaelic it struck me immediately.

Oh, also remembered, though there's a risk this could be outing given the above, my DC was at school with a Tequila.

AnxiousAnnie1984 · 01/01/2025 20:51

The thread I didn’t know I needed! 😂

Ebi Tempura, Credenza and Duvet for a girl

CandyLeBonBon · 01/01/2025 20:39

Tortellini and Mozzarella

butterfly0404 · 01/01/2025 20:36

Diphtheria
Masquerade
Vanity
Vanilla
Plum
Mascarpone
Treacle

TickingAlongNicely · 01/01/2025 20:22

Scarletina (modern name for Scarlet Fever!)

TickingAlongNicely · 01/01/2025 20:21

Tibia
Patella
Ulna

Brightredtulips · 01/01/2025 20:20

Influenza. Porphyria (Robert Browning poem about a genetic disease . Royalty have it in their bloodline - the Madness of King George

NigelHarmansNewWife · 01/01/2025 20:19

I like the suggestion of Limerence.

Duplicity for a girl, Turbulence for a boy, nn Turb.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 01/01/2025 20:18

Isis.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 01/01/2025 20:17

ZiggyZowie · 01/01/2025 17:20

Stream

I see no particular reason why Stream wouldn’t work. After all there are plenty of people named River and Ocean. They’re just normal names that no one bats an eye lid at.

louderthan · 01/01/2025 20:13

Colditz

Kitkat1523 · 01/01/2025 20:11

chowder

longagoandearlynow · 01/01/2025 20:09

Rubella
Epiphany
Vivacious

TwoUnderTwitTwoo · 01/01/2025 20:04

Melena.

Beautiful sounding name for a girl, foul-smelling medical emergency.

12purplepencils · 01/01/2025 19:37

Paedophilia? 😬 m

anything ending in -philia really is objectively a pretty word without the meanings!

Pigsinblankets13 · 01/01/2025 19:37

Emelene · 01/01/2025 17:38

Rosacea and Eczema!

Eczema - really flaky, always cancelling plans last minute

12purplepencils · 01/01/2025 19:36

Gigolo

12purplepencils · 01/01/2025 19:35

Dementia is gorgeous 😆
especially if you pronounce it De-men-tee-ah

12purplepencils · 01/01/2025 19:34

Croupe (for a boy)

12purplepencils · 01/01/2025 19:34

Vagina

Melanoma

DearestItIsSnowing · 01/01/2025 19:33

Couple of people have suggested Coriander, including the OP for a boy. That would be helpful if you didn’t know which gender your child would choose when they are older - Lynda Snell’s stepdaughter on The Archers is called Coriander.

I think Clementine isn’t that unusual. Winston Churchill’s wife was Clementine, and another had a song (she wore herring boxes without topses as sandals) and a film named after her, if she ever existed.

Gethsemane, nn Geth or Sem, would work for a boy, too.

Persista · 01/01/2025 19:32

Retina, Slave, Halitosis, Antenna, Arson, Nougat, Fragility, Carvery, Dementia.