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

Emily Rose or Lily Catherine?

65 replies

Cocor8 · 27/07/2025 16:40

I like both Emily and Lily as first anmes but struggling to decide. I think Catherine as middle name to a short soft name like Lily gives it a lot of stronger classic vibe and it’s the name of my dhs grandma who just recently passed away.

I love Emily too although I know it’s way past its peak and think rose is prettier with it than Catherine.

thoughts?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
ginasevern · 02/08/2025 15:42

Catherine Rose.

DJEvil · 02/08/2025 14:54

Rose is the best name from the bunch.
Emily, Lily and Catherine are all nice but meh. Rose is beautiful but gets hidden away as a middle name.

Calliopespa · 02/08/2025 14:48

muddyford · 28/07/2025 17:03

I like Catherine Rose!

Yes I do too.

I like Lily but to me its more a nn from Elizabeth.

CuppaWhiteTea · 02/08/2025 14:41

Both are gorgeous

Calliopespa · 02/08/2025 14:38

Whycantyouwhisper · 27/07/2025 22:35

Emily Catherine

I like Catherine Emily! It flows slightly better to me!

SophiaSW1 · 02/08/2025 09:50

Rose is such a common middle name it’s become pretty pointless

Gemstonebeach · 02/08/2025 09:42

Lily Catherine out of your choices but prefer Emily Catherine

828Pax · 02/08/2025 09:41

girljulian · 27/07/2025 16:42

Immediately thought of The Exorcism of Emily Rose and then A Rose for Emily, which, while a fantastic story, is very much about murder and worse. I wouldn’t put those names together I’m afraid!

I'm also reading a book about a murder and the victim is Emily Rose! It's a pretty name though, I really love Lily Catherine!

CharlieBoo · 02/08/2025 09:33

The world does not need another Lily…and that’s what she will be. Emily is gorgeous.. good luck in choosing x

AuntMarch · 28/07/2025 23:28

girljulian · 27/07/2025 16:42

Immediately thought of The Exorcism of Emily Rose and then A Rose for Emily, which, while a fantastic story, is very much about murder and worse. I wouldn’t put those names together I’m afraid!

I knew twins with the names and had immediately thought the same. I think someone must have pointed out eventually because they became "Rose and Emily" all of a sudden as toddlers after always being "Emily and Rose" 😂

BootballJoy · 28/07/2025 23:25

Lily Catherine (or Emily Catherine if you prefer Emily).

Eta Apologies no idea how that sent again! I guess I'm voting for Lily Catherine twice!

Daffodilsarefading · 28/07/2025 20:09

Lily Catherine is lovely.

Emanwenym · 28/07/2025 18:19

Emily Catherine Rose is overkill. It's like the Firstame Middlename Louise Surname of its time.

muddyford · 28/07/2025 17:03

I like Catherine Rose!

Pemba · 28/07/2025 16:57

Emily Catherine Rose would be nice.
Lily has been overused for quite a few years now. It's pretty, but a bit insubstantial. The very classic Catherine gives it a bit more gravitas.

Just Emily Rose is very pretty but like pps said, this combination was used a lot about 25 years ago. Plus the horror film? And it's also the name of an actress, starred in the fantasy series Haven of a few years ago (loosely based on a Stephen King story). In that case Rose was her surname I suppose.

Original poster
Cocor8 · 28/07/2025 16:32

user1492757084 · 28/07/2025 14:58

Of the two I choose Lily Catherine.

In order of preference I like ..
Rose Catherine
Catherine Rose
Catherine Emily
Catherine Lily
Lily Catherine
Emily Catherine
Rose Emily
Emily Rose

All nice names.It depends on your opinion.

Edited

Thank you for the different combos they are all lovely.
Is there any reason you put Emily rose last though?

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 28/07/2025 14:58

Of the two I choose Lily Catherine.

In order of preference I like ..
Rose Catherine
Catherine Rose
Catherine Emily
Catherine Lily
Lily Catherine
Emily Catherine
Rose Emily
Emily Rose

All nice names.It depends on your opinion.

GottaGoToWorkTomorrow · 28/07/2025 13:58

Too many Roses around. Makes me think of rose from the dead, I don’t know why.

I have gone right off the name Lily after hearing about Bonnie Blue and Lily Philips. 🤢

Catherine is a very pretty name. How about Catherine Elizabeth aka Princess Kate.

legoplaybook · 28/07/2025 13:09

Chasepaw5 · 28/07/2025 13:03

I don’t think it’s common anymore so I doubt you’d find one in each class these days, the pairing of Emily with the middle name rose was very popular about 25 years ago.
Emily in general isn’t as popular now and if someone were to chose it I doubt they would go with rose, even thought they are both classics Emily Rose together somehow feels dated imo.

Show quote history

The 2 I know are primary school age rather than under 5 to be fair.

Iocainepowder · 28/07/2025 13:08

Sorry I also think of ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’

I would vote Emily Catherine.

Lily is nice but very common so there will be a few in her class. If you’re ok with that then fine. I have one of those common names where there were 4 of us and it was annoying.

Chasepaw5 · 28/07/2025 13:03

legoplaybook · 28/07/2025 09:55

Everyone thinks Emily Rose is pretty, that's why there's one in every class!

Show quote history

I don’t think it’s common anymore so I doubt you’d find one in each class these days, the pairing of Emily with the middle name rose was very popular about 25 years ago.
Emily in general isn’t as popular now and if someone were to chose it I doubt they would go with rose, even thought they are both classics Emily Rose together somehow feels dated imo.

Mcdonaldsbreakfast · 28/07/2025 12:57

Emily Rose is so unbelievably dull. Every girl has Rose as a middle name (if they don’t have Grace or May).

She’ll also be the eleventy billionth Lily in her school, but Lily Catherine is nice.

Nevertrustacop · 28/07/2025 10:19

Would you consider Lillian Catherine?

sashh · 28/07/2025 10:16

girljulian · 27/07/2025 16:42

Immediately thought of The Exorcism of Emily Rose and then A Rose for Emily, which, while a fantastic story, is very much about murder and worse. I wouldn’t put those names together I’m afraid!

Me too.

OP It is a horror movie based on a 'true' story.

TappyGilmore · 28/07/2025 10:14

Another vote here for Catherine Rose! Catherine is a lovely name and there are so many ways that it can be shortened.

Emily and Lily are both over-used and quite dated now, with Emily being at peak popularity probably 25 years ago and Lily 15-20 years ago. And I don’t think either of them flow into Catherine if that were to be the middle name.