Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Help with girls names - not long left

78 replies

Scabadadabadooo · 22/04/2026 17:47

I've decided to start a new thread with my new top names (I started the blossom one).

Id really appreciate some help with choosing a girls name, I have three weeks left and have gone round and round in circles.
The list is currently
Daphne
Luna
Marigold
Maeve
Elowen
Polly
Flora
Frankie (Francesca)
Lilianna

Daphne is a long term favourite, only hesitation is Daff doesn't appeal.
Luna I think is so pretty but is it substantial enough? Or just a bit trendy?
Marigold - fab nickname options. Fits my nature/flower preference.
Maeve fits our boys names best but we have a short surname starting in F and it kind of blends together.
Elowen - love this but not keen on Ellie
Polly - love, but bit nicknamey next to our other names?
Flora - butter an issue?
Frankie - DH fave but I'm not totally sold. Worried about Fran
Lilianna - bit frilly, I like Lily but find Lily too popular. Like the option of Annie too.

Any views welcome!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Scabadadabadooo · 22/04/2026 20:56

Delici · 22/04/2026 19:50

I love Marigold!

Why is blossom off the list?

I've had so many bad reactions to Blossom. I still love it, but I worry about burdening her.
I feel like Marigold sounds more like an established name and also has a few good nickname options that are low key if she wants.

I'm glad quite a few people have said they like Marigold as I think it's my favourite!

OP posts:
LilyLemonade · 22/04/2026 20:41

I think Daphne and Flora are both lovely, classic, elegant names which suit both a child and an adult.
In general I think you have a lovely list. I'm not keen on Marigold personally but it seems to be trendy.
As alternatives, what about Callista or Bryony.

Statsinyoureyes · 22/04/2026 20:36

If Maeve doesn't go with your surname, how about Maeva?

pambeesleyhalpert · 22/04/2026 20:34

Love Polly and flora

StrawberryWasp · 22/04/2026 20:31

Luna will be absorbed with all the Lyras, Laylas, Lilas, Lelas that can't be differentiated.

Flora is lovely.

17caterpillars1mouse · 22/04/2026 20:25

Daphne - its not my cup of tea, but there is nothing wrong with it. I grew up in the 90s so think scooby do. Its maybe a bit retro cool atm

Luna - its very trendy and will date, maybe already is. Also know a lot of cats and dogs called Luna

Marigold - love it, my favourite from your list

Maeve - ok, having a bit of a moment atm

Elowen - love it, but i guess it was the potential to become just another Ellie
Polly - its ok, not sure i'd want it as my name, a bit twee

Flora - pretty but feels strong. I like it. I dont think the margarine is an issue personally, Flora is a well established name

Frankie (Francesca) - meh, my least favourite of your names

Lilianna - its ok, i know a few, all are shortened to Lilli

NamingNoNames · 22/04/2026 20:21

If you use Frankie it won’t get shortened to Fran. It might.

RS1987 · 22/04/2026 19:54

If you use Frankie it won’t get shortened to Fran. My DD has a 3 syllable name that’s never been shortened. I personally love Goldie as a nn for Marigold but my favourite is Lillianna and I also love Lily.
Luna is a hard no

Delici · 22/04/2026 19:50

I love Marigold!

Why is blossom off the list?

DemonsandMosquitoes · 22/04/2026 19:48

I know so many dogs called Luna, so not that.
I only like Francesca.

SemmaLina · 22/04/2026 19:33

Daphne .. I like this ( best choice I think )
Luna …… no , looks like lunar spelt incorrectly
Marigold ….. I like this too
Maeve ….. no
Elowen…. Absolutely, no
Polly ….. like this , but meh
Flora …. No , I like Florence though
Frankie (Francesca) like this , prefer Fran though
Lilianna … a bit frilly , though I dislike it

Suggesting Delphine

JJ2026 · 22/04/2026 19:26

Daphne reminds me of a tv character, Luna was the name of a dog we wanted from a rescue centre - no offence intended, marigold reminds of household gloves and a guy who directed traffic in our city wearing them.Maeve is good, Elowen will be socially awkward when people say hello? In the same way as Hi Heidi. Polly is good, Flora - margerine and spreadable open to bullying. Frankie is my fave and Liliana is good - people will shorten to Lily. Make sure the initials are ok like Katherine Anna Kelly spells K.A.K. Which means poop. Hope that helps . Best of live with the birth and congratulations! x

Unnecessaryletter · 22/04/2026 19:21

I love Daphne. I've taught a young Daphne in the recent past and she was elegant, thoughtful and intelligent, so this may be influencing my view!

Contrary to others, I like the hard 'D' sound; it's assertive and strong.

I love the classical references too. Turning herself into a tree before Apollo could get his mitts on her.

Awesome name!

Clarinet1 · 22/04/2026 19:19

Sorry but even though there’s one in my favourite TV series (Frasier) I think Daphne is old-fashioned, sort of over-fussy aunt with a hen-pecked husband.
Of the others, I like Marigold or Francesca - I think Frankie is cute for a little girl.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 22/04/2026 19:14

If you like floral names, some other suggestions:
Poppy
Rose/Rosie/Rosalie
Viola
Zinnia
Calla
Camellia
Willow
Hazel
Jasmine

RegalDiamondMonster · 22/04/2026 19:14

Daphne - classical myth feel but i want to like it more than i actually do. Maybe I just don't like a hard 'd' sound? Not sure
Luna - think it's peaked and now used more for pets etc but I do like it. Lots of short 'l' names at the moment, Lila, Lyra, Lula, Layla, Lena etc.
Marigold - Rollo's sister in the weather in the streets if you've read that, feels posh and literary.
Maeve - not a fan
Elowen - I think the emphasis is on the second syllable so Ellie not an inevitability. Pretty enough.
Polly - fine.
Flora - I love Flora. I know a baby Flora, margarine not a problem.
Frankie (Francesca) - really like Frankie and Francesca but dislike Fran, not sure you can guarantee avoiding it. I'd use it as a middle.
Lilianna - really pretty.

FraterculaArctica · 22/04/2026 18:51

I like Marigold, Flora, and Elowen of these. Not sure if you have a middle name, but don't use the combination Flora Marigold as that does start looking like "margarine".

NamingNoNames · 22/04/2026 18:49

Liliella sounds like a nasty bacterium.

NamingNoNames · 22/04/2026 18:46

Daphne - ok, might get shortened
Luna - lunatic
Marigold - rubber gloves
Maeve - don't like it
Elowen - people will mispronounce and misspell it. Will probably be shortened to Ellie.
Polly - love it
Flora - like it a lot
Frankie (Francesca) - it's OK
Lilianna - overly frilly Lily. People will mispronounce and misspell it.

dailyconniptions · 22/04/2026 18:30

Marigold and Polly are definitely the best. Lovely names. Luna is too similar to loony. Maeve sounds geriatric. Elowen just makes me think L.O.N. Not keen at all on the others. Best of luck!

Mullaghanish · 22/04/2026 18:26

I have it!! Leonie !!

Calliopespa · 22/04/2026 18:24

Scabadadabadooo · 22/04/2026 18:18

'hippo in a ballet tutu' 😂 that tickled me.

Sort of heavy but trying hard to be delicate!

Scabadadabadooo · 22/04/2026 18:18

Calliopespa · 22/04/2026 18:10

Really don't like Daphne, sorry. I think it's an ugly, heavy sort of name. D is always a heavy sound and overall it reminds me of a hippo in a ballet tutu! also makes me think of naff.

Flora, Polly and Marigold are lovely!

ETA and Francesca is my favourite!

Edited

'hippo in a ballet tutu' 😂 that tickled me.

OP posts:
Calliopespa · 22/04/2026 18:10

Really don't like Daphne, sorry. I think it's an ugly, heavy sort of name. D is always a heavy sound and overall it reminds me of a hippo in a ballet tutu! also makes me think of naff.

Flora, Polly and Marigold are lovely!

ETA and Francesca is my favourite!

timoteigirl · 22/04/2026 18:10

Not seen your previous thread but here we go

Daphne - like how it sounds but it's poisonous
Luna - like but a very common dog name nowadays
Marigold - Downton Abbey, gloves
Maeve - like
Elowen - don't like. There are nicer names with -wen ending.
Polly - nah
Flora - nah
Frankie (Francesca) - yes this is the one I like best
Lilianna - I prefer Liliana or Liliella