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Baby names

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

Original poster

Tell me what your name is without telling me what your name is

807 replies

BatsatHalloween · 14/10/2025 17:20

My name has a male and female variant
It was number 36 the year I was given it
It was acceptable in the 80s
It's a bit French
It's also a little bit Essex
Most people shorten it

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/10/2025 14:23

DaughterOfSqualor · 14/10/2025 23:50

Hmm. I think outing myself on MN is probably the daftest thing I'll do all week, but who's watching? Grin

Ok. My name is fairly traditional, and wasn't particularly common when I was a child (nor is now). It has several legitimate variant spellings but mine isn't the most common of those spellings. My mother was inspired by a Jane Austen novel she was reading while pregnant (no, not that one!) and the spelling is the same. It's also the name of a medieval French queen but not the right spelling. I'm mostly known by its diminutive though. (oh and the wrong spelling is immortalised in the title of a very well-known song...)

@SquitMcJit - you are right, but I use one of the variant spellings.

@DaughterOfSqualor - we are a rare bunch, I think.

Toastforteatonight · 15/10/2025 14:17

Love this!

I'm Rocky's other half

Albemarle10 · 15/10/2025 13:36

CrostaDiPizza · 15/10/2025 13:27

Vanessa

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Got it!

CrostaDiPizza · 15/10/2025 13:29

WalkingWavy · 15/10/2025 05:39

No but that’s a great guess! I’m never sure if that’s pronounced A-leen or eye-leen

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Oh, come on!

CrostaDiPizza · 15/10/2025 13:27

Albemarle10 · 15/10/2025 02:08

NC for this!
My name is not from Ancient Rome or Greece or the Bible or a saint’s name but it is the name
of a member of a famous acting family.

Vanessa

Thebrink · 15/10/2025 13:04

wizzler · 14/10/2025 20:35

My name is very short, not much more than an initial really. You never ever meet anyone called this who is younger than 55

Kay?

Original poster
BatsatHalloween · 15/10/2025 12:48

hairyunicorn · 15/10/2025 12:30

Not quite, main character, male

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Renee!
Gorgeous name

OP posts:
Albemarle10 · 15/10/2025 12:45

hairyunicorn · 15/10/2025 12:36

@Violinist64 and @Albemarle10 , correct and thank you. I spell it differently, but love my name.

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PS - apologies for lack of accent!

hairyunicorn · 15/10/2025 12:36

Violinist64 · 15/10/2025 12:32

Renée. A lovely name.

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@Violinist64 and @Albemarle10 , correct and thank you. I spell it differently, but love my name.

Albemarle10 · 15/10/2025 12:32

hairyunicorn · 15/10/2025 12:30

Not quite, main character, male

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Renee!

Violinist64 · 15/10/2025 12:32

hairyunicorn · 15/10/2025 12:30

Not quite, main character, male

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Renée. A lovely name.

Violinist64 · 15/10/2025 12:31

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 11:11

I used to be able to (and probably still could if I really concentrated!) the whole of The Lady of Shalott.
I love it, and all the associated paintings of it (mostly Pre-Raphaelite) - a shout out to my English teacher back in the 80s 🙂
It's a lovely name.

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Thank you. And so ìs Charlotte.

hairyunicorn · 15/10/2025 12:30

BatsatHalloween · 15/10/2025 11:54

Yvette?
Which is very lovely

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Not quite, main character, male

Original poster
BatsatHalloween · 15/10/2025 11:54

hairyunicorn · 15/10/2025 11:48

TV show - Hello, hello

Yvette?
Which is very lovely

OP posts:
hairyunicorn · 15/10/2025 11:48

TV show - Hello, hello

PastaAllaNorma · 15/10/2025 11:46

Casparina · 15/10/2025 10:45

A short and sophisticated palindromic name
Some say simple, some say plain
In Italy and Sweden, they spell it just the same
But I lose a letter (usually) when travelling in Spain.

I admire the work you put in there!

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 11:11

Violinist64 · 15/10/2025 11:00

Spot on. I think it was easier going through life as Elaine rather than Chiquitta!

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I used to be able to (and probably still could if I really concentrated!) the whole of The Lady of Shalott.
I love it, and all the associated paintings of it (mostly Pre-Raphaelite) - a shout out to my English teacher back in the 80s 🙂
It's a lovely name.

Violinist64 · 15/10/2025 11:00

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 10:47

Elaine!

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Spot on. I think it was easier going through life as Elaine rather than Chiquitta!

ExquisiteSocialSkills · 15/10/2025 11:00

RightOnTheEdge · 14/10/2025 22:50

I spent my whole childhood with people saying "but that's a boys name!"
It's spelt like the French for like/love.
When I was at school the other kids used to all sing the theme tune to a cartoon at me about a boy and his dog and his magic light.

Jaime

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 10:56

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 10:54

I was kinda hoping for Chiquitita though 😅

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Whoops sorry, wrong person! I was referring to the Abba song one.

I liked your poem 🙂

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 10:54

Casparina · 15/10/2025 10:52

Bingo!

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I was kinda hoping for Chiquitita though 😅

Casparina · 15/10/2025 10:52

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 10:48

Anna?

Ana in Spain?

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Bingo!

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 10:48

Casparina · 15/10/2025 10:45

A short and sophisticated palindromic name
Some say simple, some say plain
In Italy and Sweden, they spell it just the same
But I lose a letter (usually) when travelling in Spain.

Anna?

Ana in Spain?

CharliesAngles · 15/10/2025 10:47

Violinist64 · 15/10/2025 10:28

My name is in a poem by Tennyson and a fairly obscure Abba song 🎵

Elaine!

Casparina · 15/10/2025 10:45

A short and sophisticated palindromic name
Some say simple, some say plain
In Italy and Sweden, they spell it just the same
But I lose a letter (usually) when travelling in Spain.