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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?
HelloHattie · 16/08/2025 07:56

Seraphine (a)
Clementine

Mumofgirls2017 · 16/08/2025 07:55

Seraphina
emmeline
octavia
cordelia
clementine
theodora
henrietta
rosalie
aurelia
meredith
juliette
cecilia
vivienne
tabitha
dorothea
annabelle
anneliese

Zippidydoodah · 16/08/2025 07:54

I love Isadora! It makes me think of Isadora moon, though (not necessarily a bad thing!)

The rest of that list is lovely, too.

Maybe if you go for a generation or two in from the old lady names, you might find some nice ones?

Caroline?
Stephanie?

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

LavenderBlue19 · 16/08/2025 07:51

My friend who are teachers have tended to use names that were more popular when we were children - one actually said it was because she'd never taught a child of that name.

vdbfamily · 16/08/2025 07:49

Katerina,shortened to Katja or Kat?

CurlewKate · 16/08/2025 07:48

Russell Howard has a very funny “bit” about all his favourite names being his wife’s exs!

OublietteBravo · 16/08/2025 07:47

How about Marianne or Rosalind?

Moreteaandchocolate · 16/08/2025 07:45

I love Gwendolyn n Gwen!

These were all used fewer than 50 times in 2023, so you might not have taught any-

Althea
Cordelia
Corinne
Delphine
Dolores
Estelle
Georgette
Isadora
Juliana
Leonie
Natasha
Roberta
Selina
Tamara
Theresa

Thissickbeat · 16/08/2025 07:37

Can you play around with the recent ONS girls name data list? Filter it for names over, say 8 characters, then go through the less popular ones?
I'm sure someone popped up the nice, but underused names the other day.