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Baby names

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

Teacher struggling with names

135 replies

ARodeoQueen · 16/08/2025 07:34

I'm 25 weeks and we don't know if I am having a boy or girl. We love old man boys names like Walter, Wilfred, Oswald but we are struggling on girls names. I really love long girls names. My favourites are Genevieve and Evangeline. The problem is I have one lovely niece and her name is Evie. So I feel that they are too close to her name.
To complicate things further me and DH are teachers. I would really like a name that I haven't taught - which narrows it down significantly. Whenever I hear a name I just picture a face of a child I've taught. If that makes sense! I want a 'new' name. It was really hard naming my son 5 years ago and this one is harder. Middle name will be Joan if it's a girl. I do like Gwen so potentially Gwendolyn or Guinervere. I'd be greatful of any suggestions. Thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
CaptainCallisto · 20/08/2025 10:36

Jamfirstest · 19/08/2025 08:24

I love Joan. There won’t be other Joan’s in her class

I know three under five...

salmonseatoast · 19/08/2025 15:56

I would rule Genevieve out if her cousin is Evie. Gwendolyn / Gwen is lovely.

How about:
Winifred
Bianca
Portia
Ashley (lovely sound, English roots)
Winona
Cressida
Diana
Laura
Isis (too soon?)

Amazingstoke · 19/08/2025 15:03

What about Joanna or Joanne or Johanna?

Jamfirstest · 19/08/2025 08:24

I love Joan. There won’t be other Joan’s in her class

millymollyminging · 19/08/2025 08:01

I love Adeline, numerous nicknames available.
or Evangaline?

Asuitablecat · 19/08/2025 07:57

Peregrine (Perry)

Nia.

Never taught either of those. Would have in Wales though.

mamap14 · 19/08/2025 06:54

When named our daughter Emilia in 2014 and at the time it was really unique…and since she’s been born we’ve come across sooo many!! Variations of spelling but all sounding very similar! Number 2 was a boy and is Louis and we’ve met only one…when I was pregnant with our third (2022) I really loved Polly, Jemima & Clementine. I also loved Callie, but my hubby wasn't keen and she ended up being called Hallie! We’ve come across 2 Hallie’s since she’s been born.

timoteigirl · 18/08/2025 20:42

Keziah Joan
Isolde Joan
Philomena Joan
Lavinia Joan
Vivienne Joan

Emanwenym · 18/08/2025 19:43

It's #751, @Hazelmaybe , but so is Louisa. If OP is in Wales, she could end up with more than one Gwen, or a Gwen, Gwenllian and Gwendolen in the same class.

Hazelmaybe · 18/08/2025 19:37

Go to the ONS list and rule out any in the top 70, then see what you can find! I expect Gwen will be ok

mummysmagicmedicine · 18/08/2025 18:06

Terrence
Percival
Wilbur
Phillip- Pip
Malcom
Edwin
Bruno
Merrick
Fenton
Reginald
Roscoe
Magnus
Spencer
Fergus
August
Rupert
Montgomery
Sullivan
Hartley
Albert

Primrose
Estella
Colette
Sylvie
Kitty
Pearl
Rosemary
Celine
Saskia
Tabitha
Emmeline
Ines
Odette
Bronwyn
Marigold
Octavia
Clementine
Isadora
Daphne
Camille
Dorothy

Emanwenym · 18/08/2025 13:42

@Mylittlebobble, Only 127 Gwen- names were registered in England and Wales in 2024, so it can't be that popular.

Mylittlebobble · 18/08/2025 13:30

Gwen is gorgeous but is very popular in Wales for babies.

everythingthelighttouches · 18/08/2025 04:13

Diana

Arlingtonchase · 18/08/2025 04:07

I don’t think Evangeline is too close to zevie, because of where the stress falls.

if you’re going to call the baby Guinevere, please do spell it right!

user1492757084 · 18/08/2025 03:58

Genevieve Joan sounds wonderful.
Just neevr use Evie as a nick name.
Viv, Gen, GenJo.

Gwen is also smart.
Gwen Joanna is a name I'd love to have.
Think Joan and Joanna Lumley. Gwen is bright and not common.

Angelica Joan

rocket74 · 18/08/2025 00:15

Honor
Meredith
Iris
Martha
Elspeth
Xanthe
Juliet
Savannah
Ophelia

All proper spellings and not that easy to shorten.

MumOf4totstoteens · 17/08/2025 18:59

My DD is called Aubree. “Aubree strawberry”Different spellings of course, but it was one of my patients names. He was an old man lol Aubrey I think his was spelled. It means leader of the elves. I thought we would call her Bree for short but we don’t lol. It’s a rare name where I’m from but I believe more common in America

EggsBen · 17/08/2025 15:01

How about Leontine, or Emmaline?

Liliwen · 17/08/2025 14:49

There’s also Ginevra which is pretty and you could go for Ginny as nickname

PrincessOfPreschool · 17/08/2025 14:13

I like Genevieve a lot, and Gen/ Jenny/ Ginny for short, which is nothing like Evie.

PrincessOfPreschool · 17/08/2025 14:10

ridl14 · 16/08/2025 07:53

I don't think Genevieve and Evangeline are too close to Evie, if it helps.

Also a teacher! I've taught lots of girls so will have a think about some standout names:

Juliet
Wilhelmina (could NN Willa)
Dorothea
Alethea
Rosalind
Amalia

I know 3 Amalias. One is 9, one is mid 30s, one is 11.

Btowngirl · 17/08/2025 13:22

Loveee these off of pp’s lists! Cordelia (Delia) or Rosalind (Rosa)

Emanwenym · 17/08/2025 13:05

@LadyMonicaBaddingham , they say Gwenly-un and if corrected say Gwenthly-Ann.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 17/08/2025 11:51

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 16/08/2025 21:14

Gwenllian is a nice alternative for Gwen.

A gorgeous name, but may cause problems for people unable or unwilling to pronouse the Welsh letter 'll' correctly. GWEN LEE ANN is not nearly as beautiful

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