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Baby names

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

Please vote my girls names

32 replies

OneMoreCoffee3 · 29/04/2026 14:56

Hi, I posted the other day about Alessia and got positive feedback but I’m still not sure. I’m 33 weeks with number 4, the sex of the baby is a surprise.

The name for a boy is set in stone, Ivo (eye-vo). I’ve loved it since watching Child of our Time growing up, does anyone else remember that longitudinal docuseries?

I prefer “real” names that are not as common. My thoughts are Elva (old name and rare), Iva (as it is similar to Ivo so may scratch that itch?), Alessia (but we have no Italian roots) or Anna (classic and less commonly used at the moment). Sadly I don’t feel as strongly about any of them as I do Ivo.

Must be out of the top 100 or at least out of the top 80, I was one of four children with my name in a primary school class of 24 and felt I had no identity.

Other ideas welcome. Baby is Chinese/ Irish heritage and being raised in England. Despite the appearance of my list, I would prefer something recognisable but not commonly occurring.

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mathanxiety · 05/05/2026 02:41

If the baby has some Irish heritage, how about Alvy, an anglicisation of Ailbhe (pronounced Alveh). I knew several in the 70s in Ireland. Or Alva.

Alternatively:
Alba
Alma
Ailsa
Elke (pr 'Elkie')
Emer (pr 'Eemer' - Irish name)
Eithne (pr 'Enya', like the singer)

Villanousvillans · 05/05/2026 02:34

I like Anna ❤️.

Eden
Isla
Alma
Dora
Rosa
Juno
Lara

bridgetreilly · 05/05/2026 02:13

Ina?

17caterpillars1mouse · 03/05/2026 20:08

I love Taliesin after hearing it on Child of our time.

Love Ivo too

From your girl list, i like Anna but not sure its that unusual. Youngest Anna i know is 7 but i know a few little Annie and Annabel's.

I like Alessia but know 3 Alyssia's which has a similsr sound so not sure if Alyssia is having a bit of a moment (1 is 7, 1 is 2 and 1 is nearly 1)

Dee51121 · 01/05/2026 19:01

Just re-skimmed the thread and see you mentioned Orla. That would be my favourite.

Dee51121 · 01/05/2026 18:53

I had to respond because I also have liked the name Ivo since watching Child of Our Time years ago! The only thing that has put me off it is Ivo Graham. I've now moved onto Ivor, which would be my top choice if I had a boy but struggling to convince my husband.

Girls wise we like Sylvie, which I see has been mentioned. Out of your list, I can see why people like Anna (especially on Mumsnet which skews towards classic names) everyone would know it and spell it correctly. I agree that Iva is too similar to Ivor. Elva is cool if you want to go a bit different.

MississippiCroc · 29/04/2026 20:47

There are soooooo many Ava’s and Ivys and Eva’s and Evie’s that Iva or Elva just seems like a mix of all of those.

I like the other two.

Cocktailsandcheese · 29/04/2026 17:44

Just wanted to say I love Ivo and also remember hearing it first on child of our time - what an amazing series!

MermaidofRye · 29/04/2026 17:44

What about Enya.

Onefortheroad25 · 29/04/2026 17:41

What about Avery?

Xmasallergies · 29/04/2026 17:10

Lois is a great name.

Melsy88 · 29/04/2026 16:47

Lois is a fantastic name!

BrickProblems · 29/04/2026 16:45

Not a fan of Lois - it’s a bit of a preppy name for me. Reminds me of Lois Lane and also the much abused mum in Family Guy. But it sounds much nicer in an Irish accent than an English one so it might work!

Verity has a similar sort of vibe to me, but I quite like that.

AnticsNShenanigans · 29/04/2026 16:22

Love Lois.

Irish names that might appeal…

Ita / Ide
Aine
Ailbhe
Etain

OneMoreCoffee3 · 29/04/2026 16:18

BrickProblems · 29/04/2026 16:03

What about Sylvia or Sylvie? Beautiful name and not overused. You get the v sound you like from Elva but you don’t sound like you’re trying to photocopy your sister 😁

I don’t dislike Sylvia, I’ve put it on my thinker list 🙂

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OneMoreCoffee3 · 29/04/2026 16:18

wishingonastar101 · 29/04/2026 16:12

Elva is horrid. Baby eel.
Anna is very common.

I like Margot!

Margot is in the top 100 at the moment (and we have a 3 year old Margot in our social circle) but I agree it is nice 🙂. I don’t know any little ones called Anna and it is out of the top 100, maybe it’s regional!

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wishingonastar101 · 29/04/2026 16:12

Elva is horrid. Baby eel.
Anna is very common.

I like Margot!

BrickProblems · 29/04/2026 16:03

What about Sylvia or Sylvie? Beautiful name and not overused. You get the v sound you like from Elva but you don’t sound like you’re trying to photocopy your sister 😁

OneMoreCoffee3 · 29/04/2026 15:50

Thoughts on Lois?

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OneMoreCoffee3 · 29/04/2026 15:45

Xmasallergies · 29/04/2026 15:36

I like Alessia. Elva sounds like those Ella Ava names. Iva is nice and Orla I love. Do you like Juno? Sadie?

I think I quite like Juno. A local friend had a Juniper 2 weeks ago. All these babies with similar names!

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OneMoreCoffee3 · 29/04/2026 15:44

Mumofgirls2017 · 29/04/2026 15:35

Love Elva!

Alana
Alba
Cora
Willa
Romy
Cleo
Clover
Nova
Nuala
Maeva
Nina
Thalia
Clara

Thank you so much. None immediately jumped out at me but I’ll read them a few times. Sometimes it takes a minute for one to sink in and like it

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OneMoreCoffee3 · 29/04/2026 15:43

BrickProblems · 29/04/2026 15:32

What about Alicia? Or Alice? Isn’t there an Irish spelling - Alys? (Is that “ay liss”?

Are you thinking of Ailis/Ailish? A good friend of mine had an Alice a few months ago. I was worried that Alessia could be too close but we’d potentially shorten to Ally/ Sisi (see-see), at least to her 😅

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OneMoreCoffee3 · 29/04/2026 15:41

BrickProblems · 29/04/2026 15:30

Fair enough about the eels! To me Aoife and Elva sound a bit samey samey. Like Lorna and Lara or Milly and Marley.

I also have a sister called Elsa so perhaps it’s a no go…

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Xmasallergies · 29/04/2026 15:36

I like Alessia. Elva sounds like those Ella Ava names. Iva is nice and Orla I love. Do you like Juno? Sadie?

Mumofgirls2017 · 29/04/2026 15:35

Love Elva!

Alana
Alba
Cora
Willa
Romy
Cleo
Clover
Nova
Nuala
Maeva
Nina
Thalia
Clara