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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby Girl - if we like these names

40 replies

Confusedmermaid1 · 29/09/2025 21:41

We’ve got a while left yet but we’re due a baby girl in January. For years DH and I thought we had a girls name sorted, Robyn, but I’ve gone off it as I don’t like the nn Rob/Robbie.

Names I like but DH isn’t keen on
Lilith (nn Lily) - our surname is one syllable ending -LL so he thinks it’s too many L’s 😅
Genevieve (nn Evie) but he prefers Evelyn which is too popular for me
Hazel - It’s in our address so DH says no but we probably won’t live here forever!
Sylvie/Sylvia - he’s just not that keen

His names that I’m not overly keen on
Rosalie (nn Rose/Rosie) - bit too cutesy for me but I do prefer other Rose names
Florence - lovely but too popular
Olivia - way too popular for me
Cecelia (nn Cece) - I could probably come around to this but I don’t love it
Arya - doesn’t sound great with his family’s regional accent 😅

I don’t want anything too popular, I have a name which is so of it’s time you could guess my age within a year or two I bet 😂 there was 3 in my class at school. DH has a super popular but more timeless name so he’s less bothered.

We want to avoid names beginning EL.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for us, maybe something that combines our tastes?

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miniaturepixieonacid · 30/09/2025 22:45

I think Robyn is a gorgeous name and I've never known it to be shortened.

I also really like Genevieve and Sylvie/Sylvia from your list and Arya from your husband's (I've never linked it to Aryan)

Names that give me the same vibe as Robyn:
Astrid, Aphra, Ailsa, Bronte, Bryony, Bethan, Cerys, Celest, Cherry, Cleo, Dulcie, Delphi, Devon, Eden, Erin, Erica, Eden, Faith, Giselle, Grace, Georgie, Honor, Halle, Iris, Ivy, India, Inez, Imogen, Juno, Juniper, Jemima, Josette, Kirsten, Kiki, Katy, Keziah, Lara, Luana, Leonie, Lois, Marta, Miranda, Niamh, Neriah, Noelle, Ondine, Odette, Pippa, Phoebe, Quinn, Romilly, Rivkah, Ramona, Rowena, Rosina, Saffron, Sorrel, Sidonie, Stella, Seren, Sadie, Taryn, Tegan, Thea, Tamara, Tamsin, Verity, Vanessa, Vashti, Wren, Xanthe, Zeryn, Zara, Zoe

whataweekImhaving · 30/09/2025 17:58

If you like Genevieve, how about Genevra?

Or Flora, Sarah (nn Sadie, although I prefer Sarah), Claudia, Marina?

ElixirOfLife · 30/09/2025 17:30

Claudia
Carrie
Thia
Beth
Pixie

LoudPlumDog · 30/09/2025 13:21

Estelle
Ebony
Xanthe
Dyani
Vivienne
Asha
Hillary
Terese
Patrice
Narelle
Esther
Liliana
Saskia
Bethan
Freda
Celeste
Katrine
Julia
Rhiannon

Calliopespa · 30/09/2025 12:40

Angelil · 30/09/2025 12:38

I'm a teacher and currently have a Genevieve in one of my classes. Her nickname is Gen! The 'eve' part being at the end of the name seems to mean it doesn't translate into a nickname...if that helps.
I think Robyn and Florence are both lovely names, for what it's worth; I've been teaching for 17 years and have never taught a Robyn or a Florence (though I have taught a Robine!). My husband's cousin is called Florence but she's over 40! I've never met anyone else with that name.

I know a Genevieve (my age) who is known as Veve (pronounced VeeVee)

Angelil · 30/09/2025 12:38

I'm a teacher and currently have a Genevieve in one of my classes. Her nickname is Gen! The 'eve' part being at the end of the name seems to mean it doesn't translate into a nickname...if that helps.
I think Robyn and Florence are both lovely names, for what it's worth; I've been teaching for 17 years and have never taught a Robyn or a Florence (though I have taught a Robine!). My husband's cousin is called Florence but she's over 40! I've never met anyone else with that name.

Fizzysticks · 30/09/2025 12:28

Hazel is really lovely.

how about….

Rosanna
Willa
Fiona
Marigold
Josette
Lupita
Sasha
Saskia

WhereAreWeNow · 30/09/2025 12:14

Sylvie, Sylvia, Celeste are my favourites from your list.

PistachioTiramisu · 30/09/2025 12:12

How about Rozanne? Also

Gabrielle
Sabrina
Vanessa
Gillian
Aimee

IfHeWantedToHeWould · 30/09/2025 12:06

Evie is as overused as Evelyn. I think every third girl is an Evie. Or Lily.

DuchessOfNarcissex · 30/09/2025 10:14

Lilith (nn Lily) - Lilith is awful. You don't want popular but Lily is overused
Genevieve (nn Evie) but he prefers Evelyn which is too popular for me - Evie is overused. I don't like Genevieve or Evelyn.
Hazel - OK
Sylvie/Sylvia - I detest the name Sylvia, and Sylvie sounds middle-aged.
Rosalie (nn Rose/Rosie) - Rosie is very popular. Not keen on the Rose names. Rosalie is too frilly
Florence - too popular
Olivia - too popular
Cecelia (nn Cece) - Cecilia is better. Cece is awful
Arya - too close to Aryan. Aria is overused.

Robyn will get shortened regardless of you insisting on the full name.

Vivienne - doesn't appeal
Celeste - awful
Eira - I don't get the love for it, dislike the Eye-ruh and Ay-ruh pronunciations, but it might suit a January-born girl.

Rosalind - I like it and Ros is fine.
Rosemary - not lovely but it's not awful
Lilian - not lovely

Try the names with the surname. Something like Hazel/Rosie/Lily Hall/Hill sounds like a building or street name (might not apply - can't think of any other surnames right now).

Springtimehere · 30/09/2025 08:52

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urbanbuddha · 30/09/2025 08:46

Rose. Your DH’s pet name for can be Rosalie.

deeahgwitch · 30/09/2025 08:35

Whereland · 29/09/2025 22:11

I doubt many people would nickname Robyn to rob/robbie, they’re very masculine

I thought that too @Whereland

Mumofgirls2017 · 30/09/2025 07:49

Helena
meredith
rosalind
esther
martha
annabelle
beatrix
juliet
emmeline
clara
edith
vivienne
tabitha
daphne
felicity

Original poster
Confusedmermaid1 · 30/09/2025 07:30

Thank you everyone!

Some lovely names and some we have already discussed and still disagreed on 😅
Vivienne, Celeste and some of the Welsh names, especially Eira, were on my list. I’m Welsh and DH isn’t and he/his family have a very strong accent so we sort of ruled out Welsh names.

I had Rosalind on my list for nn Rose but DH preferred Rosalie and didn’t know if it would be Ros rather than Rose for nn.

Rosemary and Lilian are both lovely but feel more ‘old fashioned’ than the alternatives we had. I think either way the Lilith/Lilian is still too many Ls for DH 😂

I agree that we can just call her Robyn and family will follow our lead. I think the shortening thing is more so when she goes to school or something. We all call my niece her name in full and now she’s gone to school she insists it’s not her name, her name is nickname, because that’s what all the teachers call her..

Arya/Ariya/Aria is DHs nerdy pick from some fantasy thing (either GOT or LOTR I expect) which might explain why it’s a bit of a mismatch compared to the rest of the list. We’re not white supremacists I promise 🙈

OP posts:
OMFGSOB · 29/09/2025 23:31

Rowan
Althea
Willow
Rosalyn

Mistyglade · 29/09/2025 23:12

I’m with your DH those names are lovely.

Calliopespa · 29/09/2025 23:11

ChocolateCinderToffee · 29/09/2025 23:09

Cecily
Robena and shorten it to Bena?
Phoebe
Tamsin
Laura

I love Sylvie. Sylvia a?

Yes, Cecily is a good meeting ground between Lily and Cecelia.

Laura is sweet and underused.

I think Robena sounds too much like Ribena!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 29/09/2025 23:09

Cecily
Robena and shorten it to Bena?
Phoebe
Tamsin
Laura

I love Sylvie. Sylvia a?

LavenderMillie · 29/09/2025 23:04

Robyn is my favourite and I’ve never known it be shortened. I also love Genevieve and Hazel.

What about
Rosalind
Cecily
Flora

PurpleFlower1983 · 29/09/2025 23:03

Cora
Colette (nn Lettie)

MummytoE · 29/09/2025 23:03

Vivienne
Penelope
Lillian

Mandarinaduck · 29/09/2025 23:00

Robyn is lovely. Just call her Robyn.

I don't think your name choices are so different ultimately.

Some ideas:
Rosarie
Rosamund
Celia
Selena
Florentina
Fleur
Sienna

fgsaname · 29/09/2025 23:00

Penelope (Nell)
Abigail
Katherine
Martha
Aurora
Honor
Ivy
Isla
Gabrielle
Claudia
Lydia
Stella
Heather
Yasmin

I also like Elizabeth and Eliza but they don’t meet your criteria