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Baby names

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

Original poster

Strong girl name

69 replies

SnugOliveZebra · 06/02/2026 20:18

We are trying to decide between Isadora or Beatrice?

If we go with the former, she would be known as Dora or Isa because we are less keen on ‘Issy’.

Would love to hear thoughts!

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Calliopespa · 07/02/2026 13:43

SquareSweetsThatLookRound · 07/02/2026 13:38

I didn’t until I remember Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing.
I also think of Katharine as a strong name as it reminds me of Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth as well as it’s got a grit to it.

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I think Catherine and Elizabeth are featuring because of Catherine the Great and Elizabeth 1.

It's association I think.

Cleopatra has a strong sound too for similar reasons.

Calliopespa · 07/02/2026 13:41

If you like Isadora and Dora and want something strong, I'd say Theodora has a stronger sound.

But personally I like the soft, sibilant sound of Isadora. It's romantic.

SquareSweetsThatLookRound · 07/02/2026 13:38

LeedsZebra90 · 06/02/2026 20:21

They aren't what I would view as strong names - but much prefer Beatrice.

I didn’t until I remember Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing.
I also think of Katharine as a strong name as it reminds me of Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth as well as it’s got a grit to it.

Calliopespa · 07/02/2026 13:36

bells456 · 06/02/2026 20:30

Both quite nice. I’d be more pleasantly surprised to meet an Isadora though.

I thought that too!

Not sure I'd use it myself, as I'm not a fan of Dora especially, BUT it is a pretty variation on all the Isabellas etc and I'm not sure why it hasn't had more of a revival. It is fresh and unusual at the moment.

I would personally go for Issy or Isa for short, but you could do either. I think it's a good choice of name op. Like others, I would have described it as classic and pretty more than strong - which for me would be something like Helga, Gretel, Catherine, Edwina. I think of Isadora as soft, sibilant and pretty.

I also love Beatrice BUT dare I say it, I am actually getting a bit tired of Eliza, Beatrice and Florence. They were fresh for a while but I think they are getting a bit overused. Still lovely names though.

I don't think you can go wrong with either.

Cocktailsandcheese · 07/02/2026 10:47

I think they're both quite frilly names, but prefer Beatrice out of the two.

NamingNoNames · 07/02/2026 10:40

I think short names come across as strong names. Me too. Something like Tess or Kate sounds stronger than, Tessa/Teresa or Katie/Katherine.

I'm not sure that Ruth sounds 'strong' but it certainly doesn't sound weak. I'd think of it as a good name and the person likely to be even-tempered, pleasant and quite sensible. Beatrice is probably a bit like that.

Isadora is too long and vowelly IMO.

TempsPerdu · 07/02/2026 10:29

They’re both nice names but I wouldn’t say they were especially strong. Beatrix I think sounds a bit stronger than Beatrice, due to the spiky X-sound. I see ‘strong’ names as more along the lines of:

Catherine
Josephine
Helen/a
Rosalind
Frida
Greta
Astrid
Aster/a
Isolde
Vita
Honor
Gaia

Lots of Scandi/German-style names with plenty of consonants sound strong, as do those with an obvious strong historical or mythological namesake.

Cetera · 07/02/2026 08:10

Personally I think short names come
across as strong names. Nicknames are a funny thing. I know several women who have them (Jo, Becky, Nicki, Sam etc) and all of them say they wish their full name had been used from an earlier age and not the nick names, but then you get stuck with them and that’s that.

Eenameenadeeka · 07/02/2026 08:04

Beatrice

Mumofgirls2017 · 07/02/2026 07:27

isadora nn Dora/ Dottie/ Dolly/ isa

Lampzade · 07/02/2026 06:35

Victoria
Elizabeth
Ruth

LivingTheDreamish · 07/02/2026 06:01

I lova Isadora. When she's little you can pick her nickname (Dora is cute) but you'll have to live with what she gets at school unfortunately.

BeeandG · 06/02/2026 23:34

I have a Beatrice who is 12. Known as Bea. She is strong, determined and fiesty. Her name suits her.

fellupthekerb · 06/02/2026 23:32

I have a Beatrice who is 5 - often called Bea (bee). So that’s my vote!

LizzieLazzie · 06/02/2026 22:16

Princess Beatrice is who I would think of immediately. You might or might not like that association but worth bearing in mind.

NamingNoNames · 06/02/2026 21:54

@TheBlueKoala ·
Come again?
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · Today 20:49
Boudica

Boudica - Wikipedia

UnusualOtter · 06/02/2026 21:50

I've always thought Beatrice was a strong name, due to Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. "Come, bid me do anything for thee" "Kill Claudio". Definitely strong minded!

Norastroud · 06/02/2026 21:48

I love Isadora nn Dora!

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 06/02/2026 21:47

TheBlueKoala · 06/02/2026 20:55

Come again?

Show quote history

Also sometimes spelt as Boadicea.

Queen of the British Iceni tribe who led a massive, (failed) uprising against Roman occupying forces. Apparently used a chariot with blades attached to the wheels.

GetToHeaven · 06/02/2026 21:37

I prefer Beatrice. As others have said, best not to choose a name when you dislike the most obvious nickname!

scrivette · 06/02/2026 21:36

Isadora is a great name - there are children’s books ‘Isadora Moon’ which we love in our household.

i always think Astrid is a really strong girls name.

QuietLifeNoDrama · 06/02/2026 21:34

Isadora is most definitely not a strong name. When I think of strong names I think if things like Athena. 😂 Beatrice isn’t an overly strong name either but it is one of my favourites. So that gets my vote

ThunderFog · 06/02/2026 21:32

MinPinSins · 06/02/2026 21:30

One of the most sensible 'rules' of naming is not to pick names if you don't like the most obvious nickname.

If course you can nickname her what you want, but there's every chance her friends will call her Issy.

This. And Isabelle etc is not going anywhere so there will be three Issies in every class.

ComeOnRef · 06/02/2026 21:31

I don’t like Beatrice or think it’s a strong name. If anything it’s rather frilly.

MinPinSins · 06/02/2026 21:30

One of the most sensible 'rules' of naming is not to pick names if you don't like the most obvious nickname.

If course you can nickname her what you want, but there's every chance her friends will call her Issy.