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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help me with a name for a girl!

63 replies

Helpwithnames · 12/03/2026 15:18

Due baby number two in a couple of months (a girl) and like the following names but also have the following thoughts:

  • Olive - favourite girls' name but the rising popularity has put me off.
  • Audrey - not actually sure if I really like this name or just like it because it's not popular.
  • Alma - like this name but concerned it will blend in with Ava / Ada / Eva etc.
  • Clementine - like this but don't really like Clemmy which is what I'm sure she'd get called.
  • Also like Nelly / Nell but don't feel like they're complete names, and the only longer version I like is Penelope but that's too popular. Also love Florence, but again way too popular.

Any thoughts to help me make up my mind? Or any other names that I might like? Son has an old man name, outside of the top 100.

I thought girls would be easier than boys but I am finding it much harder! 😩

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Hazelmaybe · 14/03/2026 19:33

Emmeline?

ChocolateCinderToffee · 13/03/2026 22:29

I like Audrey, it makes me think of Penelope Keith as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, an excellent role model! Also Cecily, Mirella and Phoebe.

Halfbloodmummy · 13/03/2026 20:55

A friend has a daughter named Olive and another daughter named Cora which i think is really beautiful.
Florence I like but Flo just reminds me of your period!
Nell is beautiful, as is Effie i think.

Sheepsmellnice · 13/03/2026 19:56

My mothers name is Olive she's 88 .People tell her they like it but she has hated it her entire life.

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 13/03/2026 19:39

Don't like any of them.
How about Rosa
🌹
Xxx

Iwantanapnow · 13/03/2026 19:16

I worked with a Nellie and it was short for Neilina

BewilderedPiskie · 13/03/2026 17:58

Jennifry, Keziah (Kizzy for short which is delightful), Melwyn or Dorcas.

NamingNoNames · 13/03/2026 11:03

You could choose a top ten name but have none in your circle of friends and co-workers, or something much rarer and, as luck has it, you tend to end up with 3 of the only other 50 in the country in dc's Reception class!
This.

The most popular girl's name where I live isn't in the top 100.

agirlandherdog1234 · 13/03/2026 10:48

Calliopespa · 13/03/2026 08:30

The other thing that I would note with popularity is that it is quite dependent on demographic patterns.

You could choose a top ten name but have none in your circle of friends and co-workers, or something much rarer and, as luck has it, you tend to end up with 3 of the only other 50 in the country in dc's Reception class!

I do think Olivia got done to death over the last few decades, as did Nick, Ben and Sam for boys when I was growing up.

Harry has been quite (over)popular with my dc's friends but is easing off now.

Show quote history

I agree with this.
I totally understand the sentiment behind not wanting a popular name but it's important not to sacrifice a name you love for that reason imo.

agirlandherdog1234 · 13/03/2026 10:41

I love Olive.
I get that popularity bothers you, totally understand but equally I don't think popular = several of the same name in one class anymore.

sooo4455 · 13/03/2026 09:39

Velma
Adelaide
Emmeline
Georgiana
Honora
verity

SE13Mummy · 13/03/2026 08:42

I like all of the names on your list although I think you may be disappointed by how popular they are - I know a number of girls aged 12 and under with all of those names.

Other names I think are a similar style:

Edith
Hannah
Mary
Sally

Calliopespa · 13/03/2026 08:30

Philandbill · 13/03/2026 05:59

I think that you just have to pick a name you love and not worry about popularity because you just can't predict this. DD1 has a name which was four hundred and something when she was born. When she was about ten years old it shot up the rankings to fifty something. No idea why. I still love her name though and I'm glad we used it. 😊

The other thing that I would note with popularity is that it is quite dependent on demographic patterns.

You could choose a top ten name but have none in your circle of friends and co-workers, or something much rarer and, as luck has it, you tend to end up with 3 of the only other 50 in the country in dc's Reception class!

I do think Olivia got done to death over the last few decades, as did Nick, Ben and Sam for boys when I was growing up.

Harry has been quite (over)popular with my dc's friends but is easing off now.

MissyB1 · 13/03/2026 08:23

I absolutely love Audrey and makes a refreshing change from the names ending in A. I do love Penelope but I would shorten it to Penny.

Mumofgirls2017 · 13/03/2026 08:18

Love Clementine, how about Minnie as a nn?

nellie is getting popular as a name on its own.

outside top 100

pearl
winnie
daphne
stella
enid
esther
dorothy
beatrix
tabitha
marigold
etta
vivienne
ida

treetop122 · 13/03/2026 07:21

Really loving Selma at the momet!

Philandbill · 13/03/2026 05:59

I think that you just have to pick a name you love and not worry about popularity because you just can't predict this. DD1 has a name which was four hundred and something when she was born. When she was about ten years old it shot up the rankings to fifty something. No idea why. I still love her name though and I'm glad we used it. 😊

falalalalalalalallama · 13/03/2026 05:44

Alma's lovely, and Nell too.

For Nell, how about a different longer name if you don't like Penelope?

Helena
Fenella
Petronella
Cornelia
Nephale

Original poster
Helpwithnames · 13/03/2026 05:38

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I like some of the ones suggested but for various reasons can't use them (such as Claudia and Beatrice).

So, I think this thread has confirmed to me that the name will be out of the four contenders - hopefully once baby is here it will be obvious what her name should be!

OP posts:
Original poster
Helpwithnames · 13/03/2026 05:33

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

They're not all universally awful though, are they? Or they wouldn't be used by anyone ever.

You mean that in your personal opinion, you think they are all awful. Which is great, because I don't want a particularly popular name so the less people that would consider using them the better.

Also, I am sure that any names you would / have chosen are ones I would never pick. Isn't it great we all have our own tastes?

OP posts:
Original poster
Helpwithnames · 13/03/2026 05:30

xOlive · 12/03/2026 15:48

I love the name Olive, this is also on our list if we’re having a girl (find out next week!).

I prefer Aubrey to Audrey.
Or Aurelia?
Adelaide.

I love Alma.

I don’t like Clementine or Clemmie.

We’ve also got Robin, Sidney, Enid, Faye, Susie, Annie, Hazel, Rosalie, Beatrice (Bea) and Eveline on our list.
We have two girls already so trying to pick a third name is so hard 😂

Edited

Ahh I think we have quite similar taste - I love Sidney but knew a girl with this name who wasn't very nice haha. Also can't use Beatrice but love it.

I hope you get your Olive (assuming this is what you want!) 🩷

OP posts:
Original poster
Helpwithnames · 13/03/2026 05:29

goldtrap · 12/03/2026 15:38

Audrey is super cute but getting popular.
Astrid? (A cute 'A' name)
Dulcie? (A cute 'old fashioned' name)
Ottilie? (for a nicer 'O' name. But also popular).

Interesting you say that, as Audrey was the 355th most popular name in 2024 but I do think it will have gone up in the last year or so. As long as it's not in the top 100 I think I can deal with it (assuming I can come round to loving it!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Helpwithnames · 13/03/2026 05:27

NamingNoNames · 12/03/2026 15:25

Olive - it's not that popular but Olivia and Oliver have been popular for decades
Audrey - I can't imagine a baby called it.
Alma - it's ok
Clementine - She'd be Clemmie. too citrussy.
Nell - fine on it's own. I don't like Nelly.
Florence - ok, popular
Penelope - will be Penny.

Baby name explorer shows the popularity.

That's the site I have been using to check popularity.

My mum said the same thing re Audrey - I can see what you mean, but I am not sure that part bothers me that much as they're a baby for the shortest time so would rather it's suitable when they're a toddler / child / adult.

OP posts:
Calliopespa · 13/03/2026 01:02

RegalDiamondMonster · 12/03/2026 22:38

I think Helena/Eleanor/Ellen could have Nelly or Nell as a shortening.

Other ideas:

Sybil (heard this at a playgroup recently, really like it)
Sylvie/Sylvia
Genevieve
Cordelia
Philippa
Ursula
Julia
Enid
Constance

I also quite like Sibylla

1969angel · 13/03/2026 00:57

Mabel is nice as is Clara and maude

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