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Baby names

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Original poster

Girls name list - thoughts?

33 replies

TenThousandSpoons00 · 22/05/2025 02:24

Hi everyone, I’m keen to hear your thoughts on our list of possible names so far, as well as any suggestions. We have a bit of a mixture of classical/longer ones and others but do tend to like more traditional names. I’m still early in pregnancy so have quite a while to still decide, hence the long list! Thanks :)

  • Catherine (Kate/Kit for nn)
  • Frances (Frankie)
  • Margaret (Meg)
  • Rosemary (Romy)
  • Carys
  • Mara
  • Rhiannon
  • Maia
  • Sylvia/Sylvie
  • Iris
  • Cara
  • May
  • Clare
  • Nina
  • Gabrielle
  • Sofia
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BristolDolly22 · 28/05/2025 23:05

Catherine (Kate/Kit for nn) : nice, versatile but quite ordinary.
Frances (Frankie) : not keen on Frances but I like Frankie, would personally go for Francesca
Margaret (Meg) :Hate Margaret, like Meg.
Rosemary (Romy): too twee for my taste.
Carys: love this!
Mara: ok, nice quirky name.
Rhiannon: like but don’t love this.
Maia: life time of correcting spelling and pronunciation.
Sylvia/Sylvie: another twee name.
Iris: no
Cara: Ok
May: dull
Clare: also dull
Nina: Personal dislike of this name due to experience but objectively it’s pretty,
Gabrielle: love this but love even more Gabriella:
Sofia: love this but quite popular at the moment.

So for me I’d vote Carys or Gabriella from this list.

Mandarinaduck · 28/05/2025 22:44

Nice list - Catherine and Clare are my favourites, and I also like Carys.

Some other suggestions
Carey
Carmen
Frida
Susannah
Jane
Melissa

AnneMarieW · 28/05/2025 22:23

If you have an Alexandra already then I’d be looking for something similarly classic and traditional so K/Catherine nn Kit is a great choice. Margaret also fits well although feels quite dated in comparison (but perhaps the myriad of cooler nn’s available from Meg to Mae to Greta might make up for that). Francesca rather than Frances also fits too imo - for some reason I generally like a longer name to match Alexandra. I do have a soft spot for Sylvia (Sylvie) too , although again it’s perhaps a bit dated compared to more classic Alexandra.

Otherwise I’d expect the sister of an Alexandra to be named something like Christina (Kit/Christy), Caroline (Carrie/Callie), Cecilia (Cici), Victoria (Vita), Georgina (Gigi), Juliet (Jules/Letty), Charlotte (Lottie), Marianne (May) etc.

CuriousA · 28/05/2025 14:54

I love the idea of a longer name and a more informal nn like Margaret (Maggie) and Francesca (Frankie). Also really like Maia and Iris.
Sylvia seems dated to me but I know 2 little girls with the name so perhaps it is coming back. I'm from Wales and like Rhiannon but it is probably an older name here, not that that's a bad thing. Not a fan of Nina

Original poster
TenThousandSpoons00 · 28/05/2025 11:55

Thank you guys :)
Carys was a very close runner up for our first daughter, for some reason it isn’t as high on the list this time round. But I’ll maybe just take a few weeks and try not to think about it too much, see where my thoughts settle! Would ideally like to get the shortlist down to 2-3 choices before baby arrives but we will see.

OP posts:
KayEmAy · 27/05/2025 18:21

Lovely list, but Carys stands out to me <3

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 24/05/2025 11:32

Catherine (Kate or Kit) or Carys - both lovely - grown up but fun at the same time and currently unusual.

  • Frances (Frankie) - nice but quite popular
  • Margaret (Meg) - Ok
  • Rosemary (Romy) - Romy will date
  • Mara - it’s a demon. Also sounds like a barmaid
  • Rhiannon - nice but I think you need to be welsh
  • Maia - way too many Mays/Maisies
  • Sylvia/Sylvie - I like it, maybe Sylvia as her full name. Sylvie is quite popular
  • Iris - lovely but way overdone
  • Cara - Ok, bit nothingy
  • May - nice but way overdone
  • Clare - Ok
  • Nina - nothingy
  • Gabrielle - nice but Gaby is grim, and they all seem to be Gaby or Ella - which is way overdone
  • Sofia - lovely but done to death
cremebruleee · 24/05/2025 09:54

I have a Nina so this is my favorite from your list! I also love Iris and Sylvia/Sylvie.

As an aside, no one has ever referred to her name sounding like an ambulance. They haven’t used the two tone siren on emergency vehicles since the early 00’s and most young people will have never heard that sound.

papayalover · 24/05/2025 09:23

Lovely list @TenThousandSpoons00. I have a daughter with one of those names and another is my other daughter's middle name.

The only name I don't like from your shorter list is Rhiannon.

  • Catherine/Katherine (Kate/Kit for nn)- Beautiful classic and goes well with Alexandra.
  • Frances/Francesca (Frankie)- I love Francesca, prefer Francis for a boy
  • Margaret (Meg/Maggie)- Another lovely classic name. I think some will think it old fashioned which may or may not bother you.
  • Rhiannon - not keen as above
  • Maia- Beautiful, multicultural name with lovely meanings (as long as you are pronouncing it My-ah). The popularity and scope for mispronunciation may or may not bother you.
  • Sylvia/Sylvie- I like this too
  • Iris- beautiful, fairly popular in some areas
  • Nina- I like Nina but was always, irrationally, put off using it as it reminds me of an ambulance siren!

Other classics that you might like with older sister Alexandra: Eleanor, Helena, Beatrice, Susanna, Cecilia.

Original poster
TenThousandSpoons00 · 24/05/2025 02:08

Josephine has been used within close family already :) Appreciate the suggestion though. Shortened list now looks like this:

  • Catherine/Katherine (Kate/Kit for nn)
  • Frances/Francesca (Frankie)
  • Margaret (Meg/Maggie)
  • Rhiannon
  • Maia
  • Sylvia/Sylvie
  • Iris
  • Nina
I’m sure there are more options out there that might fit, we’re still in a fun early stage not too close to having to actually decide!
OP posts:
RatOfTheHighway · 23/05/2025 10:10

Oo I like a previous posters suggestion of Josephine (nickname Josie) it goes lovely with a sibling called Alexandra

Original poster
TenThousandSpoons00 · 23/05/2025 08:48

Francesca feels too posh for me? Which is probably not logical. It’s actually beautiful and I agree it goes quite well so I should think on it a bit more :)

OP posts:
Moreteaandchocolate · 23/05/2025 08:42

TenThousandSpoons00 · 23/05/2025 08:15

Thanks everyone - Interesting to see a lot of people like Catherine, as it’s my front runner but not my husband’s :)

My husband’s favourites are Gabrielle and Sofia/Sophia and I have the same thoughts as some posters - can’t stand Gabby nn so it’s probably out! And Sofia is beautiful but it does put me off a bit how common it is.

Maia and variations are not wildly common where I am so that is a little less of a concern.

For those who have made suggestions, I like lots of them.

We have an Alexandra already so @user1492757084 is definitely thinking along the same lines we do :) because of that Alice is not an option, and probably not Amy either as like to have different initials. We know lots of Elizabeths otherwise would consider. Violet is lovely but a good friend has a toddler called Violet. Edwina and Davina don’t appeal, I’m not sure why. Victoria is nice but for some reason just doesn’t seem right.

With Alexandra I like Katherine best from your list. Do you like Francesca nn Frankie? I always think that goes so well with Alexandra.

Firsttimebabymummy · 23/05/2025 08:17

TenThousandSpoons00 · 23/05/2025 08:15

Thanks everyone - Interesting to see a lot of people like Catherine, as it’s my front runner but not my husband’s :)

My husband’s favourites are Gabrielle and Sofia/Sophia and I have the same thoughts as some posters - can’t stand Gabby nn so it’s probably out! And Sofia is beautiful but it does put me off a bit how common it is.

Maia and variations are not wildly common where I am so that is a little less of a concern.

For those who have made suggestions, I like lots of them.

We have an Alexandra already so @user1492757084 is definitely thinking along the same lines we do :) because of that Alice is not an option, and probably not Amy either as like to have different initials. We know lots of Elizabeths otherwise would consider. Violet is lovely but a good friend has a toddler called Violet. Edwina and Davina don’t appeal, I’m not sure why. Victoria is nice but for some reason just doesn’t seem right.

I have an Alexandra! I think Catherine pairs best from your list.
Josephine?

Original poster
TenThousandSpoons00 · 23/05/2025 08:15

Thanks everyone - Interesting to see a lot of people like Catherine, as it’s my front runner but not my husband’s :)

My husband’s favourites are Gabrielle and Sofia/Sophia and I have the same thoughts as some posters - can’t stand Gabby nn so it’s probably out! And Sofia is beautiful but it does put me off a bit how common it is.

Maia and variations are not wildly common where I am so that is a little less of a concern.

For those who have made suggestions, I like lots of them.

We have an Alexandra already so @user1492757084 is definitely thinking along the same lines we do :) because of that Alice is not an option, and probably not Amy either as like to have different initials. We know lots of Elizabeths otherwise would consider. Violet is lovely but a good friend has a toddler called Violet. Edwina and Davina don’t appeal, I’m not sure why. Victoria is nice but for some reason just doesn’t seem right.

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 23/05/2025 06:03

My favourites from your list, in order ..

Catherine - Cate, Cat, Kitty
Rosemary - Rosie
Gabrielle - Gabe
Margaret - Meg, Maggie, Peggy, Daisy
Clare
Sophia - Soph
Iris

The others are nice but not names I would choose myself.

Do you like ..

Mary
Sophie
Edwina - Edina, Dwina, NIna
Davina
Alice
Alexandra
Victoria

BootballJoy · 22/05/2025 20:45

Catherine (Kate/Kit for nn) - really like this. A rare choice for a baby, although not in my generation! I like Kit for a girl's nickname.
Frances (Frankie) - I prefer Francesca but Frances has grown on me recently.
Margaret (Meg) I appreciate rather than actually like the name Margaret. Classical, lots of historical associations. Just a harsh sound. Meg is nice though.
Rosemary (Romy) - not a fan of either the full name or the diminutive.
Carys - nice
Mara - prefer Maria. Or Clara.
Rhiannon - not a fan.
Maia - very popular but still nice.
Sylvia/Sylvie - both good.
Iris - ok
Cara - ok
May - I like it as a first name. Reminds me of the character in the novel Possession whose actual name is Maia but goes by May because it's less flowery, unfussy etc.
Clare - never liked it
Nina - love Nina
Gabrielle - not a fan. Gabby/Gabs not nice shortenings.
Sofia - love it spelt Sophia, although popular if that bothers you.

I'd go Sophia, Katherine (Kit), or Nina.

RatOfTheHighway · 22/05/2025 20:06

Maia (Myah etc) is extremely popular with under 5’s in local area (I can think of 7 that I’ve met at baby groups/nursery etc) so I would swerve that one.

Love Mara and Frances the most out of the rest of the list.

RabbitsRock · 22/05/2025 20:02

Another vote for Sylvie

Original poster
TenThousandSpoons00 · 22/05/2025 20:00

Thanks so much everyone it’s really helpful to hear all these opinions :)

OP posts:
Emanwenym · 22/05/2025 08:46

Catherine (Kate/Kit for nn) - use Katherine to avoid the initial variation. I don't like Cate or Cat. Not keen on Kit but Kitty is ok. Would just put Kate on the BC.
Frances (Frankie) - like Frances, but it will get Francis a lot. I don't like Frankie.
Margaret (Meg) - like both but don't like Megan.

Cara - like
Nina - I quite like it
Iris - ok, nice but has 'rainbow baby vibes.

May - not keen. Drab especially as a middle name
Mara - not keen
Maia - meh
Sofia - overused. Lots of Sophias and Sofia.

Carys - frumpy and dated
Rhiannon - dated. The Ree-annun mispronunciation is horrible
Sylvia/Sylvie - I dislike Sylvia
Clare - nice but very 1970s
Gabrielle - 1970s name. Not keen on Gabby/Gaby
Rosemary (Romy) - not keen on either

Mumofgirls2017 · 22/05/2025 08:11

Iris, Nina and Sylvie would be my picks 🥰

chipsnmayo · 22/05/2025 07:01

Nina is my favorite

Clare is dated, as is Gabrielle, Rhiannon, Cara and Kate to some extent, all popular in the 90s/00s. I do like Rhiannon and Cara though.

May, Rosemary and Margaret are to old fashioned for me.

Iris/Frankie/Sylvie/Sofia/Maia (and it's variations) are flavour of the month.

pilates · 22/05/2025 06:57

Nice names except Margaret and Rhiannon.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 22/05/2025 06:53

Also love Alice and Amy.

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