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Baby names

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

Original poster

Tilly. Yah or nay?

58 replies

chocolatyweekendahead · 17/04/2025 12:43

My SIL suggested Tilly for my DD (due in June) but I'm not so keen. I think it's ok as a nickname for Matilda but as a stand alone name in it's own right I find it a bit wishy washy. Like not much ooomph to it! Doesn't sound like the sort of name that would suit a grown woman. More like a name for a pet or nn for a young baby. SIL doesn't see my point and keeps trying to push OH for Tilly. What do other think?

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BCBird · 17/04/2025 16:38

Nay. Conjures images of a gymkhana type . If that could be your child then fine I suppose

Moreteaandchocolate · 17/04/2025 16:36

I only like it as a nn for Matilda.

Spinderella2 · 17/04/2025 15:20

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Emanwenym · 17/04/2025 14:48

@pearbottomjeans , I know them. They have an older sister called Molly. Wink

@chocolatyweekendahead , you don't like it. Why are you even entertaining the idea.

I'm not that keen on Matilda . Tilly seems a bit wet. Tilda is awful.

I'm amazed at the number of posters who think their offspring might be high court judges, and that judges need to have certain type of names.
Here's a list of the current ones: List of High Court judges of England and Wales - Wikipedia

Heidi2018 · 17/04/2025 14:25

Rule number 1 of choosing a name... don't discuss names with anybody else other than your other half!! Tell her no, end of!

CheeseAndHamToastieAndCrisps · 17/04/2025 14:01

Who cares what your SIL wants or thinks?

It’s a nothingy name.

MissSkate · 17/04/2025 14:00

We named my daughter Matilda, fully intending to call her Tilly as a nickname but it just didn't suit her and we ended up really disliking it. She prefers to be called Tilda, I love that she has a 'Sunday best' name and her nickname, she chooses who calls her what.

BubblegumGiraffe · 17/04/2025 13:49

The name is irrelevant - SIL shouldn’t be pushing anything, it’s not her child?!

CountryTunes · 17/04/2025 13:44

Nay

username462025 · 17/04/2025 13:43

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Veggielepsy · 17/04/2025 13:38

Not for me, I wouldn't like to be called just Tilly or any nickname really. Matilda, fine, with Tilda for short. If it isn't to your taste that's that though

DejaMooo · 17/04/2025 13:33

I hate it when people do this, it’s weird. I’m currently pregnant and my mum is constantly trying to push a name on us that we’re not keen on, to the point where she’s referred to the baby by that name a couple of times in conversations. You don’t like the name, so that’s the end of it. Just do what I do and shut people down when they ask about names - just say you have some ideas but wont be talking names until after the baby’s born.

ScruffMuffin · 17/04/2025 13:26

I'm not keen - it's a bit twee, but OK as a nickname I suppose. Anyway, the ONLY people who get to decide are you and your partner. Don't tell your SIL what you've chosen until she meets the baby, as she seems to think she gets a say!

Cynic17 · 17/04/2025 13:25

I love Matilda, and Tilly is pretty cool too.
But do put Matilda on the birth certificate, then she has a proper grown up name when she is CEO of some huge company.

ODFOx · 17/04/2025 13:24

I agree with your assessment. It’s a cute nickname for a young Matilda, but doesn’t necessarily suit a grown woman. I work with a Tilly; she uses Till as she finds her own name too twee.

elm26 · 17/04/2025 13:24

My 2 year old is Tilly (not Matilda) and we love it 😊

SeventeenClovesOfGarlic · 17/04/2025 13:17

Why is your SiL being so weird about this? It's none of her concern, just don't discuss names with her.

Tbrh · 17/04/2025 13:16

Only as a nickname

Spinderella2 · 17/04/2025 13:10

Aw I like it. One of my lovely friends growing up had this as her nickname but it did suit her. Tilly if you’re out there you were the best!!

BoleynMemories13 · 17/04/2025 13:08

It's a nickname with little substance.

It doesn't matter what we think though. You're not keen. Tell her it's a no and move on. She doesn't get to name your baby!

AdaColeman · 17/04/2025 13:08

Let your SinL name her own children, not your children.
Matilda is a fantastic name, and I like Tilda as a nickname. Tilly is a great name for a burlesque dancer!

Sleepnplay · 17/04/2025 13:06

I actually love Matilda, but would use Tilda as a shortening. I find a lot (but not all!) 'y/ie' girls names wishy washy, but they are plenty popular. Sounds like it's SIL's style but not yours, so it'd be a 'no'!

ScentOfAMoomin · 17/04/2025 13:01

You don’t like it, so the conversation is over!

(I don’t like it either). I doesn’t pass my three basics checks.

yelling “Tilly come in, it’s bath time”

saying “Tilly I love you, be mine forever”

and considering “is Tilly ready for promotion to become a Supreme Court Judge”

Comedycook · 17/04/2025 13:00

It's fine...not a huge fan though.

Anyway, I've never heard of a sil having a say over the name...how odd.

pearbottomjeans · 17/04/2025 13:00

I think you shouldn’t put weight on what SIL thinks about names. Why even consider it if your initial reaction was ‘no, it’s wishy washy’? I feel the same as you.
I know siblings Matilda and William who go by…. Tilly & Billy 😐