Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Margaret or Lavinia

79 replies

Summer8summer8 · 08/01/2025 11:30

Hi which name is better for daughter: Margaret or Lavinia?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 08/01/2025 20:38

Hurrah for Margarets! I have one. Anybody who knew her as a small child calls her Daisy. At secondary school and sports she started later she's Margaret. Her friends call her Peggy. Love the poster who calls her Margaret "Ret".

It's an excellent name.

Those who say it is dreadful could do well to remember that there are more polite ways of saying it isn't to your taste. Just as with any name there are actual human beings who either have the name themselves or have given it to their child.

HoundsOfHelfire · 08/01/2025 20:26

Margot is nice too

maddiemookins16mum · 08/01/2025 20:25

LouisvilleSlugger · 08/01/2025 17:07

You can’t saddle a baby with Margaret!

Pretty much what some people said in the early - mid noughties about Florence and look how that took off.

GRCP · 08/01/2025 20:16

GRCP · 08/01/2025 20:14

Margaret but I wouldn't shorten to Margot

That should say I WOULD shorten to Margot!

Lavinia sort of reminds me of lavatory and vagina...

GRCP · 08/01/2025 20:14

Margaret but I wouldn't shorten to Margot

AnareticDegree · 08/01/2025 20:11

Margaret is a lovely name. It also shortens well for everyday.

Purplecatshopaholic · 08/01/2025 20:06

Awful, awful, awful! Sorry op.

MummytoE · 08/01/2025 20:05

Is there a secret third option?

BlackChunkyBoots · 08/01/2025 20:01

Margaret. I have a fondness for Peggy and Meg as nicknames.

Lavinia=toilet in my head. Sorry.

Hoppingabout · 08/01/2025 19:48

Madge or Lav

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 08/01/2025 19:36

Both will likely get shortened, so of the two definitely Margaret. It’s a bit out of fashion but is a classic that will eventually come back and the nickname choice is amazing - from Greta to Maggie via Meg, Mae, Daisy, etc etc. She can make it her own.

While I love Roman names (Octavia, Aurelia, Annia or Atia anyone?) - I’m less keen on the sound of Lavinia, as both the obvious shortenings “Lav” and “Vin” don’t have pleasant sounds. Lucilla or Livia instead? Or consider being really brave and giving similar style Virginia a comeback? (As it’s a gorgeous sound imo but unfortunate associations)

CoffeeBeansGalore · 08/01/2025 19:35

Joyce Grenfell's George don't do that had a Lavinia in the Nursery.
Have never met one.
Zinnia is pretty, without the unfortunate Lav.
Not sure about Margaret.

CluelessAsFuck · 08/01/2025 19:27

"Margaret, Margaret, Margaret!!!!!!"............."Yes?"

Lungsonfire · 08/01/2025 19:21

Lavinia is lovely.

Twinklybeam · 08/01/2025 19:20

Ooh Margaret. Let’s bring it back!

Onelifeonly · 08/01/2025 19:18

Neither. There are so many other lovely girls names.

SemperIdem · 08/01/2025 19:14

Of the two, Margaret.

I think Davina is more usable than Lavinia.

WellsAndThistles · 08/01/2025 19:08

I don't think we're quite ready for the next generation of Margaret's yet.

Still an 'old but still living' name for now but I expect it will become popular again once once all the Margaret's have died off.

Whatisityoucantface · 08/01/2025 19:05

Oh Margaret by miles! It’s got character, and as others have said loads of great options to shorten it.

salamithumbs · 08/01/2025 19:05

To be honest I don't like either, but I do quite like Maggie, Meg, Maisie and Daisy so for that reason I'd say Margaret

Pigsinblankets13 · 08/01/2025 18:59

Margaret is awful and frumpy unless you'd always call her Maggie which is a bit nicer!

Lavinia is so much nicer

allmycats · 08/01/2025 18:34

Margaret is much nicer and so many choices to shorten.

mrsm43s · 08/01/2025 18:33

Objectively, I prefer Lavinia, but I think it's probably a hard name to live with, and poor diminuitives.
I don't like Margaret or Maggie, and instinctively think 'Thatcher".
So I guess neither for me.

Snugglemonkey · 08/01/2025 18:27

Margaret. So lovely. Loads of lovely diminutives. I love Peggy.

Ossoduro2 · 08/01/2025 18:15

Lavinia is a beautiful name if she grows up in Italy - the English pronunciation of it isn’t anywhere near as nice as the Italian unfortunately.

Margaret is a bit old lady but I like maggie and margo.