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

Massively struggling to pick a girl's name!

117 replies

goldenlabby · 12/09/2025 20:05

My husband and I have very different taste in names, and are really butting heads over what to name our daughter. We also have a long and unusual surname to consider.

Here is the full list, some are his favourites and some are mine so I'm keen to get some unbiased responses to them.

Daphne
Octavia
Tamara
Celine
Helena (Hel-ee-nuh)
Dorothy
Vera
Beatrix (Bea or Trixie)
Catherine (Kitty)
Clara
Tabitha
Margaret (Maggie)
Penelope
Maud

We are really struggling and as such have gone a bit off-piste in a desperate attempt to find something we can agree on.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Sparklesandspandexgallore · 12/09/2025 20:25

Clara
Catherine
Beatrix
Margaret
are my favourites:

LivingTheDreamish · 12/09/2025 20:23

Yes this is a good list OP. I'm not a fan of every name, but the ones that jump out as a bit special are:

Daphne - I've always liked this, it's elegant and unusual
Clara - a beautiful, simple name
Tabitha - ignore the witchy connotations, it's actually a biblical name
Margaret (Maggie) - or how about Meg?

Plastictreees · 12/09/2025 20:23

I agree with a pp that Delphine is nicer than Daphne, and is a good swap.

Comedycook · 12/09/2025 20:22

Celine and Tamara are my favourites from your list.... absolutely gorgeous, elegant and glam.

Maud is the worst on your list.. So frumpy

Sixtimesnow · 12/09/2025 20:21

Clara or Celine for me.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 12/09/2025 20:21

All good:
Helena (Hel-ee-nuh)
Dorothy if shortened to Dot or Dotty
Beatrix (Bea or Trixie)
Catherine (Kitty) but prefer Katherine spelling to shorten to Kitty
Clara
Tabitha
Margaret (but dont like Maggie. How about Meg?)
Penelope - will you be happy when it's shortened to Penny?
Maud

Swap
Daphne to Delphine
Celine to Selina
Tamara to Thomasin
Vera to Verity or Vashti

typicaltuesdaynight · 12/09/2025 20:20

Tabitha is gorgeous and under used I think

emmaal · 12/09/2025 20:20

Also, to add, I mean Margie pronounced like Margee rather than Marjee

Ddakji · 12/09/2025 20:19

Catherine (but not Kitty)
Margaret (but not Maggie)

emmaal · 12/09/2025 20:18

Love Tabitha! 😍 that’s by far top choice

also like Penelope, Clara, Celine but prefer spelt like Selene (or Selena), strongly dislike Margaret, and don’t really like Maggie, but do like Margie as a nickname?

Do you like Penny? I love that name and seems in keeping with your list

Plastictreees · 12/09/2025 20:17

Daphne - Not a fan. I think this is due a revival though.
Octavia - Not to my taste. Prefer Ophelia.
Tamara - Not to my taste.
Celine - It’s a nice name but I strongly associate it with the singer.
Helena (Hel-ee-nuh) - I think this is a lovely name but only if it’s pronounced Helen-a which I believe is typical.
Dorothy - Due a revival but sounds too ‘old lady’ IMO. Prefer Dorothea.
Vera - As above.
Beatrix (Bea or Trixie) - Beatrice is nicer. Trixie sounds a bit Only Fans.
Catherine (Kitty) - Catherine yes, but don’t like Kitty at all.
Clara - It’s okay.
Tabitha - Cats name.
Margaret (Maggie) - Okay, a bit dowdy.
Penelope - Nice.
Maud - Just sounds old fashioned and ugly to me.

From your list my favourites are Helena (with correct pronunciation), Catherine and Penelope.

It seems like one of you likes old fashioned granny chic names, while the other likes more modern names - hopefully you find something you both like!

Original poster
goldenlabby · 12/09/2025 20:16

Nicolathecat · 12/09/2025 20:15

I think that's a great list. My personal favourites are Daphne and Maud. I met a young french woman called Maud once (people called her Maudie) and it really reframed that name for me and made me think it was really nice on a young person.

Oh I really love Maudie as a nickname, thank you!

OP posts:
Nicolathecat · 12/09/2025 20:15

I think that's a great list. My personal favourites are Daphne and Maud. I met a young french woman called Maud once (people called her Maudie) and it really reframed that name for me and made me think it was really nice on a young person.

koalamoon · 12/09/2025 20:15

Daphne - love
octavia - like the scoda?
tamara - not keen
celine - love, really classic and timeless
helena - like it but you will get a lot of miss pronunciation
Dorothy - not keen
vera - not keen
beatrix - like with nn Bea, really don't like Trixie)
Catherine - classic but boring
Clara - love
tabitha - no
margaret - also no
penelope - don't hate it but it's v common where I am
maud - not keen

WaltzingWaters · 12/09/2025 20:12

Maud - absolutely not.

The only one I love is Clara. Maggie, Bea, Daphne, and Celine also nice.

Pinkelephant66 · 12/09/2025 20:11

Octavia out of those

BunnyRuddington · 12/09/2025 20:11

Quite like Tabitha.