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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Portia?

31 replies

frazzledoldbag34 · 29/10/2008 14:21

I am considering this, although Annabel is at the top of the list as well. I think it's unusual and pretty. What do the wise ladies of mumsnet-land think?
(my husband also likes Mabel and Fiona. I like Topaz. We are considering these as middle names).

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ilovejonty · 07/11/2008 18:48

Portia is lovely, I have just started a thread about girls' names!

sweetie66 · 07/11/2008 13:07

I love Mabel. Heard someone once say it was an acroynm(sp?) for Mothers Always Bring Eternal Love!
Thought that was really nice.

Foxyone · 07/11/2008 11:45

Portia was on our list then rejected for being too pretentious and also DH threatened divorce if I went ahead. We went with India which we love and so does almost everyone who has heard it. You can't please everyone though. Try running the '17 and in a nightclub wanting to impress a cute boy' and then 'running for Prime Minister' tests and you can't go too far wrong surely?!

Original poster

frazzledoldbag34 · 31/10/2008 21:02

Hmmm nickeldime thanks for that.
Wonder why it peaked SO sharply in 1988 and declined sharply since......does that mean it's set for a come back I wonder???

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elsiepiddock · 31/10/2008 19:48

NOT posh, but poncey and trying too hard

RachieB · 31/10/2008 19:41

euw no ,dont like the name Portia !

nickeldime · 31/10/2008 14:57

Hmm, the meaning is not fantastic though, but it does sound like a nice name: Portia

Original poster

frazzledoldbag34 · 30/10/2008 14:21

Annabel Topaz Portia might just be it!

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Original poster

frazzledoldbag34 · 30/10/2008 14:20

Just back from my scan - it definitely looks more like an Annabel than a Portia.
DH thought he saw a willy - turned out to be the cord!

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brimfull · 29/10/2008 18:44

Mercedes?

aj13 · 29/10/2008 18:36

I met somebody once on a course i did with this name and she HATED it. she used her middle name instead and hated her parents for naming her portia cz sshe still had to use it on her IDs.

Cauldronfrau · 29/10/2008 18:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

noonki · 29/10/2008 18:15

in this day and age, (outside of MN of course) it is worse to be Posh than Chavy!

MrsMattie · 29/10/2008 17:39

Whatever floats your boat. I'm personally not keen on Portia / Arabella / Camilla type names. Bit Sloaney for me.

Original poster

frazzledoldbag34 · 29/10/2008 17:38

Posh = good though surely?
Better than Chav? (whatever THAT means?) !!

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MrsMattie · 29/10/2008 17:31

Posh.

Original poster

frazzledoldbag34 · 29/10/2008 17:30

oh dear.

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LuLuBai · 29/10/2008 17:10

Err - I can actually see what she means. Portia does have something a little Tarquinesque about it.

Original poster

frazzledoldbag34 · 29/10/2008 17:10

LOL at Tarquin noonki (apologies to any Tarquins reading this but it just makes me giggle)
Reminds me of a story I heard about two men my MIL knows called Harvey Sunshine and Fabian Hercules. Fabulously camp names IMO! Tarquin would fit quite well. Am not sure Portia is quite the female equivalent though?

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LuLuBai · 29/10/2008 16:27

I agree with Liffey Annabel Portia Topaz is the best one so far. I do like Portia but I think people will forever think of the car and not the Shakespeare character.

I absolutely love Mabel, but I don't think it works at all with Annabel - both ending in 'bel' it sounds odd. You could do Araminta Topaz Mabel....

Lucky you being allowed 3 names for your DCs. I had to battle with DH to be allowed 2. I went for slightly unusual / possibly zany to some ears combined with classic Shakespearian so I am keen on that type of combination. Think I will go down the same route this time.

noonki · 29/10/2008 16:09

Sorry it has conotations of tarquin with it

I much prefer Annabel

BlueChampagne · 29/10/2008 15:57

I like Portia for its Shakespearean role model, but sadly the car will come to many minds on first hearing it. Also quite like Mercedes but same applies in spades!

I like Topaz and Fiona, but am with Liffey. One unusual and one more familiar, in case they don't want to stand out. I have an unusual first name, and my second is Fiona. Never gone by it though!

Liffey · 29/10/2008 15:17

ps Annabel Portia Topaz works well too. After Annabel, it seems more obvious somehow that the name would be definitely Portia and no way Porsche.

If it were Topaz Portia, my ear might hear Topaz Porsche.

Liffey · 29/10/2008 15:14

hmm, nI agree Topaz Skye is too Zany. Not in the same league as Zuma Nesta but still.

I like a tiny bit of Zany. But not that much.

Less is more. According to that formula, imo Annabel Topaz is fabulous.

Original poster

frazzledoldbag34 · 29/10/2008 14:45

Although I do like Skye Liffey - I know a few Skye's around here. And would really like Topaz as one of the middle names and Topaz Skye sounds a bit silly IMO?

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