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Baby names

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

Original poster

Are we completely up ourselves?

37 replies

tartetatin · 26/10/2008 19:57

The shortlist for girls names at the mo' is:
Esme
Matilda
Harriet
Florence
Susannah

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cyteen · 27/10/2008 09:47

lol @ 'hairy toilet' (sorry OP)

Go for Susannah, it's a great name to wear in the world

LuLuBai · 27/10/2008 09:36

I think it's probably supposed to be pronounced that way, but in practice I hear it pronounced Es-mee all the time (it seems quite popular in SW London at the moment, but I would think less popular than Florence and Mathilda)

hunkermunker · 27/10/2008 09:33

I thought Esme was pronounced Esmay?

hunkermunker · 27/10/2008 09:33

Susannah - love this
Florence - love this too

Not so keen on
Matilda
Esme
Harriet

LuLuBai · 27/10/2008 09:30

I think they are all fairly classic. Not up yourself at all. I might avoid Esme if you have a Stanley as they both end in an 'e' sound and might be a bit too rhymy when you are calling for them in the supermarket or the playground. But if he is known as Stan then any of them work.

ForeverOptimistic · 26/10/2008 21:00

You have fantastic taste in girls names. I love all of them.

Order of preference:

Harriet
Susannah
Matilda
Florence
Esme.

Dragonbutter · 26/10/2008 20:54

They're just not my taste.
But Stanley is fab. But doesn't need to go with a traditional name. Don't limit your choices with trying to stay traditional if you don't want to.

BlueCowWonders · 26/10/2008 20:51

sounds like the register in dc's school...

Like all, but plenty around already, which may or may not be what you want.

unknownrebelbang · 26/10/2008 20:50

They're all fine, personal preference would be for Susannah or Esme.

thehairybabysmum · 26/10/2008 20:48

Dont go for Florence!! Its my middle name and 20 yrs after attending tech college there are people who only know mw as 'Flo'!

You might not shorten it or use Flo but others will.

I guess i youlike Flo though then go for it!!

I like Esme and Matilda.

thehairybabysmum · 26/10/2008 20:48

Dont go for Florence!! Its my middle name and 20 yrs after attending tech college there are people who only know mw as 'Flo'!

You might not shorten it or use Flo but others will.

I guess i youlike Flo though then go for it!!

I like Esme and Matilda.

Liffey · 26/10/2008 20:37

Esme - ok but it's becoming very mainstream now imo. If you are picking it because you think it's pretty, good, but if part of what you like about it is that it's unusual, pick something else because it's not unusual any more. What about Nancy or Dulcie?

Matilda - Alright, quite like, but don't love.
Harriet - Horrible. Hairy toilet.
Florence - lovely. Flora is even nicer imo.
Susannah - lovely. Susie is lovely.

Nancy66 · 26/10/2008 20:31

I'm not wild about susannah which seems a bit 'ordinary' next to your other choices but the rest of the names are lovely.

I love Esme - have you considered Elspeth too?

suwoo · 26/10/2008 20:24

Ha, this is funny because I LOVE all those names, and after narrowing it down from ALL on your shortlist (apart from Susannah as I am Suzanne ;)) to Florence as our 2nd baby's name, he was a boy and we went for Noah which apparently is chavtastic, so no I don't think you are being pretentious.

Ceolas · 26/10/2008 20:23

Depends on where you live, and if you care really. Around these parts, names like those might be seen as pretentious. Personally I like Esme and Florence.

harpomarx · 26/10/2008 20:20

I only like Susannah. The rest are 'fine' but just make me think 'oh, another Esme/Florence' iykwim.

Susannah sounds like a new person, and is in no way pretentious to my ears. Reminds me of my best friend at primary school

Tigerschick · 26/10/2008 20:18

I like them all - not at all pretentious!

Order of preference for me is:

Esme, Susannah, Harriet, Florence and Matilda is my favourite.
I love Tilly as a nn.

Lubyloo · 26/10/2008 20:17

Arthur and Stanley were on our list when I was pregnant but we settled on Frederick (Freddie)

Heated · 26/10/2008 20:14

They are all beautiful. Personal favourites are Matilda, Florence & Susannah.

spicemonster · 26/10/2008 20:14

I know children with three of those names and they are lovely children (as are their parents)

I'd go for Florence personally (says she in a vicarious way having only DS!)

Original poster
tartetatin · 26/10/2008 20:09

Plonker - pretentious - moi? Yes that is what I was asking. Glad you don't think they are..

OP posts:
CharCharBaGOOOOOOORE · 26/10/2008 20:09

I love all of those, especially Esme.

ShowOfHands · 26/10/2008 20:07

They're lovely names. I have a Mathilda and love the name Esme.

Original poster
tartetatin · 26/10/2008 20:07

Dragonbutter I suppose that is what I was asking - is it too early to sign the bump up for Kumon maths and after school French classes?
Lubyloo - haven't really got a shortlist for boys yet. Arthur and Albert are up there though. We already have a Stanley and so it has to be pretty traditional really.

OP posts:
Plonker · 26/10/2008 20:05

Not sure what you mean by "are we completely up ourselves" - do you mean you think they're pretentious?

I am a good old fashioned northern girl and they don't seem pretentious to me. They're lovely names

Sorry if i've got the wrong end of the stick ...