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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sheila, Lorraine or Glinda?

213 replies

plinkyplonk123 · 29/12/2025 21:00

I know these names are unconventional but I was thinking they might be nice. I was originally going to go for Sheila or Lorraine (Lorrie for short) but after watching Wicked I’m thinking maybe Glinda would be fun!

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CookingFatCat · 30/12/2025 04:16

Is this for real?? Have a bloody heart. Bad then, worse now.

Tammygirl12 · 30/12/2025 04:04

Fiona, Claire, Shirley, Susan, Joanna, Denise, Diane, Janet, Helena

mathanxiety · 30/12/2025 03:45

plinkyplonk123 · 29/12/2025 21:57

another name I was thinking of was Greta perhaps, or Alison maybe? They’re perhaps a tad bit less controversial?

Both are lovely!

mathanxiety · 30/12/2025 03:40

FairViewRosie25 · 29/12/2025 21:32

But spelt Shelagh as Gaelic surely

Lol.

Adding 'gh' to a name doesnt render it 'Gaelic'.

miniaturepixieonacid · 30/12/2025 00:38

I really don't think Glinda is useable. It's only associated with Wicked/Wizard of Oz.

I don't think of Lorraine as a granny name because my best friend at primary school was a Lorraine and that was in the mid 90s. But maybe she was the end of the Lorraines, idk. I don't think it's a bad name. And Lori and Lainey are cute.

I don't like Sheila. I think of that stupid game 'Say g'day to Bruce, Sheila' in terrible Australian accents.

TomatoSandwiches · 29/12/2025 23:57

If you like those what about Bridie or Alma?

NameChange30 · 29/12/2025 23:51

I don't think people are quite ready for Alison, Lorraine and Sheila to come back into fashion yet. They are very much names of women aged 55-75 so they're not quite grandma chic yet.

I have worked with several women with these names, all at least 10-15 years older than me, and my mum has a close friend with one of the names... I have mostly positive associations but certainly don't think of the names as being fresh or new or suitable for a baby.

I actually quite like Greta but maybe that's just because of Greta Thunberg. I've never come across a Greta in real life I don't think.

RecordBreakers · 29/12/2025 23:32

plinkyplonk123 · 29/12/2025 21:28

Guys I know they’re unconventional but some of these comments are really mean. #Bekind

But surely it is better you hear what people are thinking now, and choose a different name for your dd, than you actually give her one of these names and she has to live with it for potentially the next 90 years ?

Isn't that the point of asking strangers, anonymously on the internet - that you get to know what people really are thinking, rather than people trying to politely think of something nice to say ?

Nanny0gg · 29/12/2025 22:42

Blarn · 29/12/2025 21:12

Some posts you have no choice, you are just clearly being unreasonable.

I think Lorraine is the best out of the three Glinda will be like all those poor children who were named after Game of Thrones characters.

Show quote history

I quite like Arya

agirlandherdog1234 · 29/12/2025 22:41

agirlandherdog1234 · 29/12/2025 22:31

Is this a wind up? Genuine question. I'm getting the vibes 🤣

Edited

I'm only asking if it's a wind up, not because I'm ridiculing the names, but the vibe I'm getting from OP's posts on the thread. I do think people are generally very unkind about names on MN.

Skybluepinky · 29/12/2025 22:41

Of course not, I’m assume you have been drinking to much Xmas Sherry.

Giraffehaver · 29/12/2025 22:36

With every kindness OP I think your hormones are running amok

Whatsinanames · 29/12/2025 22:32

I’m gonna vote Sheila.

10 years ago all the cool parents were calling their kids Arthur and Winston and Albert and we thought they were mad. Now all the hippest kids in town have these names.

I reckon we’ll see a resurgence in unloved grandma-type names soon. Maybe lots of little Enids and Getrudes (Trudy?) coming soon.

But made-up names like Glinda or Rapunzel or even Arya (sorry to all the Aryas out there - George RR Martin 100% made up your name which factually did not exist before Game of Thrones) - hard no.

agirlandherdog1234 · 29/12/2025 22:31

Is this a wind up? Genuine question. I'm getting the vibes 🤣

IndigoBluey · 29/12/2025 22:28

Sheila’s Wheels ad comes to mind

supersonicginandtonic · 29/12/2025 22:26

My parents originally named me Lorraine but changed it when I was 6 weeks old as my grandad kept calling me quiche. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Manename · 29/12/2025 22:26

I think names you suggested are fine apart from Glinds that I associate with which. I don’t know anything about trends

SnowFrogJelly · 29/12/2025 22:24

plinkyplonk123 · 29/12/2025 21:00

I know these names are unconventional but I was thinking they might be nice. I was originally going to go for Sheila or Lorraine (Lorrie for short) but after watching Wicked I’m thinking maybe Glinda would be fun!

This is a wind up right

Loloj · 29/12/2025 22:22

i bet Sheila and Lorraine become more popular in 10+ years or so - loads of old fashioned names are back in in e.g Lily, Ava, Peggy, Pearl, Matilda. The names OP has quoted are just not quite “old” enough yet to have come back around.

Sheila is my grandmas name and she is lovely 🥰

Katypp · 29/12/2025 22:22

Imagine this thread was 10 years ago.
Would the posters who always describe Ada, Olive or Stanley as 'gorgeous' have said the same about them back then?
They would not. They would be as uncomplementory about those names then as others are about the OP's today.
It's all about trends. Today's old lady/man names always look ridiculous to my 58 year old ears.
The Sheila and Lorraine generation of names WILL come back.

Cattyisbatty · 29/12/2025 22:21

Also knew a Lydia who would now be 21!!

Abouttoblow · 29/12/2025 22:21

Have you not considered Balonz?
That's really cute.

BoundaryGirl3939 · 29/12/2025 22:20

Sheila....spelt 'Síle' is common in Ireland and I like it. I like the 'Síle' spelling but that might not work in England.

Cattyisbatty · 29/12/2025 22:19

I know a lovely Sheila - she’s in her 90s though!
Even for my age 50s - it’s old - I met one when we were early 20s (from the USA) - you would never have heard it here.
Lorraine - the 70s are calling! I do like Lainey though for a girl.
Glinda - absolutely not.

Anothercoffeex · 29/12/2025 22:16

Horse quiche glider, first things that come to my mind when i read the names.
Op if your happy with them go for it.
But they sound awful to me sorry.