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Baby names

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

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Could I ask for opinions on these girls names please 🙂

107 replies

Rosetyler1 · 11/05/2026 17:53

Could anyone offer any thoughts on any of these names please? Rosanna, Amy, Bethany, Cara, Christina, Abigail, Faith, Hope, Joanna, Holly, Rhiannon, Tessa, Leona, Alice, Leah, Mariah. Really struggling to narrow it down! Thanks!

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bonkers75 · 12/05/2026 04:12

Rosanna- reminds me of the tv comedy Rosanne so that's a no
Amy- okay prefer Aimee spelling
Bethany- like
Cara- find this harsh
Christina- 80's baby
Abigail- okay
Faith- like
Hope- not so keen
Joanna- 80's baby
Holly- Christmas baby
Rhiannon- nice Welsh name
Tessa- feels like it's short for something
Leona- like but there is a lot of Leo's about now
Alice- pretty
Leah- a friend just had a baby Leah, and it doesn't seem right somehow
Mariah- don't like

LivingTheDreamish · 12/05/2026 04:01

These are my favourites because they are elegant, classic and pretty:
Rosanna
Abigail
Tessa (especially if nn for Theresa)

I could also get on board with Hope.

Less keen on the others - could live with Alice but it always feels a bit prim to me.

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Rosetyler1 · 12/05/2026 00:02

Calliopespa · 11/05/2026 23:44

I agree, Alice, Tessa and Holly are the nicest and lots of the others all sound a bit American or like singers who go by their first name.

Personally I prefer Alice and Tessa over Holly so would go for one of those two,

It is interesting to note by and large the responses are falling into the "only Alice, Tessa, Holly" are nice or "all nice bar Alice, Tessa, Holly." I think that is because your list is kind of scooping up two different vibes. Not sure if that is helpful in thinking what you are wanting.

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Thanks that's interesting, what vibes would you say Alice/Holly/Tessa have? 🙂

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Calliopespa · 11/05/2026 23:44

Brownbear8 · 11/05/2026 19:25

They’re a little 90’s for my own taste, but there’s nothing wrong with that!

I think Tessa, and Holly are the nicest. Alice is OK too but I think Alicia sounds nicer personally.

I agree, Alice, Tessa and Holly are the nicest and lots of the others all sound a bit American or like singers who go by their first name.

Personally I prefer Alice and Tessa over Holly so would go for one of those two,

It is interesting to note by and large the responses are falling into the "only Alice, Tessa, Holly" are nice or "all nice bar Alice, Tessa, Holly." I think that is because your list is kind of scooping up two different vibes. Not sure if that is helpful in thinking what you are wanting.

Giraffehaver · 11/05/2026 22:51

I love Rosanna in fact a variant of it is my daughter's mn. Also very fond of Alice

AbundantFlowers · 11/05/2026 22:49

Go with Leah. It’s gorgeous. None of the others. There. Easy!

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Rosetyler1 · 11/05/2026 22:44

Mumofgirls2017 · 11/05/2026 22:24

Most of them are a bit dated to 80s/90s sorry! I like Alice though

That's ok! I'm happy to hear all opinions positive or negative, as if I don't manage to narrow it down soon I'm going to end up having to pick one from a hat! 😅

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Mumofgirls2017 · 11/05/2026 22:24

Most of them are a bit dated to 80s/90s sorry! I like Alice though

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Rosetyler1 · 11/05/2026 20:42

Gorja · 11/05/2026 20:38

I’m a 50 year old Bethany so before it was popular. I only ever answer to Beth. Throughout secondary school I was bullied by some others who altered it to Bare-Fanny.
i refuse to use Bethany now as I always hear it the way it was used at school.

I'm sorry you were bullied, kids cam be so pointlessly cruel 💐

OP posts:
Gorja · 11/05/2026 20:38

I’m a 50 year old Bethany so before it was popular. I only ever answer to Beth. Throughout secondary school I was bullied by some others who altered it to Bare-Fanny.
i refuse to use Bethany now as I always hear it the way it was used at school.

mathanxiety · 11/05/2026 20:30

I only like Rosanna, Hope, Holly, Tessa, and Alice.

Amy, Bethany, Joanna, Christina, Abigail, and Leona all seem very dowdy and dated to me.

Cara, Leah, Mariah, Faith, and Rhiannon are all too wispy and insipid for my taste

BeckyBloom · 11/05/2026 20:26

Love Cara and Christy for Christina. My favourite aunt was Christina known as Christie.

NamingNoNames · 11/05/2026 20:20

I prefer Joanna too but not Joanne. I know too many of them. I only know 2 Joannas.

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Rosetyler1 · 11/05/2026 20:18

NamingNoNames · 11/05/2026 20:08

@Rosetyler1 , Do you like Joanne? (see pp's comment)
If you like Little Women, do you like Josephine?

I don't mind Joanne though I much prefer Joanna. I'm not quite sure about Josephine, though I do like Josie. 🙂

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NamingNoNames · 11/05/2026 20:08

@Rosetyler1 , Do you like Joanne? (see pp's comment)
If you like Little Women, do you like Josephine?

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Rosetyler1 · 11/05/2026 19:51

Odellio · 11/05/2026 19:48

To give you some perspective as a Joanna, I love my name. But EVERYONE shortens it to Jo. I’ve only ever met one Joanna who everyone called Joanna and she was very hot on correcting people every time without fail. And as much as I prefer people calling me Joanna, I just cba with that. I do speak up if people call me Joanne though, which happens a lot.

Thanks! 😊 I like Jo as well so that wouldn't bother me.

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momtoboys · 11/05/2026 19:50

I wouldn't use any of those. Thank goodness I didn't have girls. We could have never agreed on a name.

Hoork · 11/05/2026 19:50

All are very nice! My favourites are Christina, Leona, Joanna, Holly and Tessa! xx

Odellio · 11/05/2026 19:48

To give you some perspective as a Joanna, I love my name. But EVERYONE shortens it to Jo. I’ve only ever met one Joanna who everyone called Joanna and she was very hot on correcting people every time without fail. And as much as I prefer people calling me Joanna, I just cba with that. I do speak up if people call me Joanne though, which happens a lot.

LilyLemonade · 11/05/2026 19:43

I really like Joanna, Hope, Bethany.
It's a nice list altogether.

NamingNoNames · 11/05/2026 19:41

PropertyD · 11/05/2026 19:30

Christina is nice. Sounds rather glamorous .You don’t need to shorten- just correct anyone who tries. I have a name that could be shorten but quite honestly it never is.

That's fine but generally people don't like being corrected and you can't stop a child if she prefers the shortened version.

I know a Christina who some people try to call Chris and two Tinas.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 11/05/2026 19:40

I like Leah and Cristina (no H) x

TomatoSandwiches · 11/05/2026 19:38

I like Tessa and Alice.

ButterYellowFlowers · 11/05/2026 19:35

I like Cara

PropertyD · 11/05/2026 19:30

Christina is nice. Sounds rather glamorous .You don’t need to shorten- just correct anyone who tries. I have a name that could be shorten but quite honestly it never is.