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

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?
Set a reminder
Original poster
ARodeoQueen · 16/08/2025 14:31

Thank you everyone for all of these suggestions!I will go through them with my husband later. Really appreciate your ideas!

OP posts:
Emanwenym · 16/08/2025 12:04

@menopausalmare , those are nice names and a refreshing change.

I'd be wary with names like Kateryna. I work in an international organisation and it's popular.

Emanwenym · 16/08/2025 11:53

Gwendolyn or Guinervere.
It's Guinevere.
Gwendolyn is ok, but the Welsh Gwendolen from which it is derived is much nicer, with the stress on the Dol, not the Gwen. She could be Gwen or Dol(ll/lly). Which leads me to Dorothy - Dot is cool and Dottie is cute.
If you like Gwen, you could use Gwenaëlle, which is Breton.

Oswald is a bit too Moseley.

menopausalmare · 16/08/2025 10:39

CaptainCallisto · 16/08/2025 08:44

My teacher best friend did exactly this (well, they're possibly more 1950s) for her two DDs - she's got a Barbara and a Susan.

Show quote history

This is the first year I've taught a Barbara. She's 11. Jane, Susan, Lisa, Debbie, Sue and Donna are pretty safe bets.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 16/08/2025 10:02

Cassiopeia
Adrianna
Adrienne
Verona
Mariette
Fenella
Catriona
Elspeth
Morgana
Hannaliese
Claudette
Collette
Sarah Jane

SeasalterSadie · 16/08/2025 09:41

Vivienne
Adelaide
Honor
Lysette
Zandra
Nova
Beatrice

ladyamy · 16/08/2025 09:39

I’m a teacher too and know exactly what you mean.

Enko · 16/08/2025 09:36

Kerenza
Marianne
Christina
Christabel
Penelope
Seraphina
Davina
Marina
Dorotka
Wilhelmina
Philomena
Natalia
Ariadne
Esmeralda
Cornelia
Antonella
Caroline/a
Violetta
Marietta
Eloisa
Thomasina
Rosalinda
Honoria
Stephanie
Sabrina
Horacia
Lindsey

Mylittlebobble · 16/08/2025 09:30

Can I recommend one that's a bit 'out there' but in keeping with once being popular? I love Ashley or Ashleigh. Such a gentle sound, and lovely to say. No harsh edges. I haven't met any little Ashley's.

buckleten · 16/08/2025 09:29

How about Georgiana or ursula?

BCBird · 16/08/2025 09:28

Love Rosalind. Can be shortened to Rosie for casual.

Merrilymerrilymerrily · 16/08/2025 09:23

Veronica

Asuitablecat · 16/08/2025 09:21

I went for classic names, but not that common. Think I had taught 1 or 2 of ds and only 1 of dd. No negative connotations!

What would i go for today?

Theodore
Peter
Robert
Grufydd

Rita
Lillian
Seren
Ffion/Fiona
Felicity
Audrey

Thedoorisalwaysopen · 16/08/2025 09:19

vdbfamily · 16/08/2025 07:49

Katerina,shortened to Katja or Kat?

I met a Kalantha the other week - I think she is Kat sometimes. I thought how usual but very pretty.

lemonraspberry · 16/08/2025 09:06

Jessica
Delores
Madeleine

Paaseitjes · 16/08/2025 09:02

GJ are a difficult to say letter combination, but I guess you won't use both together once she's been introduced to everyone.

Alysette was on my list and fits the mediaeval French theme

rainbowstardrops · 16/08/2025 09:00

I was going to say Genevieve even before I read that name in your post! I don’t think it’s too similar to Evie at all. It’s beautiful

Atissue123 · 16/08/2025 08:57

I actually really like your name so far Gwendolyn Joan. Really cute and unusual.second to that on my list I’d say Hermione Joan or Penelope Joan. Or you could also use Philippa and have a Pippa Joan?

Atissue123 · 16/08/2025 08:54

Henrietta (can be Etta for short)
Hermione (can be Mia or Mione)
Mariella
angelica / Angelina
Eleni
jennifer
josephine
Alison/Alicia
Nina
katerina
Penelope (can be Penny or Nell)
Dorothy
Emmeline
Annabelle
Francesca
Georgina
Tamsin

a few ideas there - I like Gwen and I like Evangeline but honestly I think too close to the cousin’s nam unless the nickname is genny (which is lovely).

JollyJolene · 16/08/2025 08:49

It’s so tricky, isn’t it?
If it helps at all, we chose our son’s name before I taught any with the same name. I went on to know two boys with the same name before I had my son, but it didn’t sway us. His name wasn’t popular at the time but is now. I would say there’s one in most year groups in my current primary school. However, I don’t associate his name with them at all.

CaptainCallisto · 16/08/2025 08:44

menopausalmare · 16/08/2025 08:16

Look to the 1960/1970s for names that you don't hear in the classroom. I teach too and it's very hard choosing a name that you haven't taught, everyone is familiar with and deserves a come back.
Leigh is pretty.

My teacher best friend did exactly this (well, they're possibly more 1950s) for her two DDs - she's got a Barbara and a Susan.

ScullysMate · 16/08/2025 08:16

We chose names that I had never had in my class or in my nursery and didn’t know any child outside of those settings with those names either. It was really difficult as I have worked with children since I was 16 and I was 39 when I had my first. Even argued with my husband as he suggested names that I absolutely could not use (difficult families, notorious locally)

Both times came back from maternity leave to have a child in my class with the name of my baby! I couldn’t believe it 🤣

menopausalmare · 16/08/2025 08:16

Look to the 1960/1970s for names that you don't hear in the classroom. I teach too and it's very hard choosing a name that you haven't taught, everyone is familiar with and deserves a come back.
Leigh is pretty.

Westfacing · 16/08/2025 08:14

Vivienne
Venetia
Rosamund
Emmaline
Martha

Zippidydoodah · 16/08/2025 07:57

Evangeline is very close to Evie, as that’s a well known nickname/shortening. You could very easily end up with an Evie of your own when she gets older. Genevieve if pronounced the proper (French?) way doesn’t have the Eve sound in it and could be shortened to Gen/jenny.

Swipe left for the next trending thread