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Baby names

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

Original poster

Flora = margarine?

78 replies

soundbites · 13/10/2008 13:51

We already have an Isla and hoping that this bump is a little Gregor, but if it is another girl we are finding it hard to think of another name with Scottish leanings (to go with our surname). I like Flora and DH quite likes it but struggles to get away from the margarine connection. What do you think?

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frazzledoldbag · 03/05/2009 21:41

Congrats on your little Flora. How lovely. I have a (beautiful) Flora too and everyone says how pretty and unusual her name is. And BTW who are the people who buy margerine????? I don't know any.

pottycock · 02/05/2009 22:03

I love the name Flora as in the hazy moments after DD was born I imagined that was her name . DP would have none of it, sadly, but I think it's gorgeous.

LadyAga · 02/05/2009 21:59

oh god I'm so sorry for being rude I didn't read all the thread and I see your daughter has been born and you have use the name.

Congratulations and shame on me

LadyAga · 02/05/2009 21:57

sod the margarine.... makes me think if the micro-organisns that help you digest food.

Fleur is a far prettier alternative.

pointydog · 02/05/2009 21:20

congrats on your baby!

BonsoirAnna · 02/05/2009 21:16

I have a Flora. I am completely oblivious to the Flora margarine thing - there is no Flora margarine where we live (France) and no-one I know ever eats margarine...

fizzpops · 02/05/2009 21:12

KnickKnack - it did, and I totally agree!

Sort of what I was trying to say but not involving hypothetical eight year olds!

KnickKnack · 02/05/2009 21:10

The thing with names is, almost all are open to teasing of some sort, if not now, then in the future.
Flora may be associated with marg now, but it may not be in 20 or 30 years time.

Likewise you could pick a totally ordinary name with no weird connections to anything, then 20 years down the line her name is associated with something piss-takable thats become well-known along the way.
(does that make sense, it does in my head )

fizzpops · 02/05/2009 21:02

OK so people might think some of these things but surely they would never say that to an adult, let alone a child unless they were incredibly crass and rude.

Children in the playground will take the p* about anything they can think of but they will also make something up if they are determined so don't name your child based on trying to second guess an eight year old you haven't met yet!

I think it is a lovely name and every time this discussion comes up I think 'Oh yes there is a margarine called that as well!'.

Shila82 · 02/05/2009 07:16

Flora was the name of a roman princess, Nowadays also popular in Turkish / Azeri culture

thumbwitch · 02/05/2009 00:06

oh, just caught up - congratulations and well done on calling her Flora anyway! Hurrah for you.

thumbwitch · 02/05/2009 00:04

I have a friend with Scottish family who has named her 3rd DD Flora - doesn't seem to cause her any probs.

Pretty name - shame it was ruined by Unilever.

Rialentless · 02/05/2009 00:00

congratulations

DS1 would have been Flora or Clodagh (though DH preferred Fleur)

CoteDAzur · 01/05/2009 23:40

Apologies. I didn't realize you already named her.

CoteDAzur · 01/05/2009 23:39

I don't know about the margarine, but flora means the total lot of micro-organisms (bacteria etc) - vaginal flora, bowel flora, etc.

mrswoolf · 01/05/2009 23:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

verylapsedrunner · 01/05/2009 21:45

Flora is nice, DS was going to be Isobel Flora if he had been a DD IYSWIM .

jellybeans · 01/05/2009 21:43

Yes ruined by the margerine.

Nighbynight · 01/05/2009 21:37

congratulations, those really are lovely names

tummytickler · 01/05/2009 20:35

Congratulations!! Isla and Flora are lovely together!

Original poster
soundbites · 01/05/2009 15:08

Just to update you all ±6 months on ? Flora Niamh was born (at home) on 14 April and the name Flora is perfect for her! Loads of people have said what a lovely name it is and how well it 'goes' with Isla. Two have said 'like the margarine' and I've just cooly said that if that is what they need to help remember her name, then so be it! We are so enjoying our two gorgeous little girls, Isla and Flora ...

Soundbites

OP posts:
Tarantella · 15/10/2008 06:11

Soundbites glad to hear you are not discouraged. I've also thought of Flora Fraser Lady Antonia's daughter and the writer Margaret Forster who wrote a book about Bonnie Prince Charlie just before having her third child named her daughter Flora. Rise above the margarine and just ignore it!Still very glad we chose it twelve years on.

TheSmallClanger · 14/10/2008 22:02

Flora is a lovely name, not twee and won't date easily.

TheMoistWorldOfSeptimusQuench · 14/10/2008 21:31

Another DD called Flora here.

We never even considered the margerine connection, and only perhaps 2 people have ever cracked a lame gag about it to our faces. And they were both wankers

DD is aware that you can buy Flora margerine and thinks it's quite funny.

Woollymummy · 14/10/2008 21:24

ha, i wanted to call dd clover until i remembered it is what dp has on his toast