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Baby names

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

Original poster

long fancy girls name to match other DC...

163 replies

hedgiemum · 11/03/2009 14:56

I have daughters named Genevieve (Gigi) and Celestine (Celeste), and a son named William (Billy).
I'm now pregnant with DC4, another girl.
We're seriously considering;

Violet / Violette - only problem is what to shorten either to (Vivi would be confusing alongside Gigi.) Don't like Letty.

Ottilie - nn Lottie/Lotta since Tilly wouldn't work well with Billy! Any other ideas what it could be shortened to?

Marianna - nn Mimi (DH's favourite as named after his late mother). Tennysons depressing poem puts me off a bit. Also concerned that wouldn't match well with our surname, a Mc name of 3 syllables.

Evangeline - but Evie would be confusing with Gigi. Know of any other nn's?

Emmanuelle - nn Esme or Emmy. (My favourite because a family name on my side) but yes we do know the 70's soft porn connotations. Does it really matter??!

If you have a minute, which do you think "goes" best with my other children, or can you think of anything better? (Francesca has bad associations for me; DH doesn't like Josephine; DH is Irish but we don't want a traditional Irish name; DH doesn't want anything that sounds Scottish; meanings are important to us, as is being unusual (for girls).

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Mintyy · 12/03/2009 17:31

Philomena

Sheherazade

Araminta (Minty for short lol)

Horton · 12/03/2009 17:30

Ooops, sorry.

Horton · 12/03/2009 17:30

I know someone with a Genevieve who also has an Eloise and an Ygraine. Any good?

Vivienne/Vivi is lovely.

Horton · 12/03/2009 17:30

I know someone with a Genevieve who also has an Eloise and an Ygraine. Any good?

Vivienne/Vivi is lovely.

Bakersman · 12/03/2009 17:21

althoug she may get called Pillar of even worse Pillock for short so scrap that last suggestion

Bakersman · 12/03/2009 17:19

I still like Emmanuelle. Stuff the 70s films!

Going back to other ideas, how about Hermione? Although not too sure what you could shorten it with.

I like Severine too and Arianne (going with your Marianna but to fit better with the surname.

Amelie? Ammie for short.

Collette? Lettie for short

Vivienne? Not so unusual though - could be Vivi for short.

Pilarine (I think its spelt that way, Spanish name)

katz · 12/03/2009 15:36

i have an Annalise (DD2) which we shorten to either leasey or anna.

I think others have already mentioned the names that were on our short lists and you have a Genevieve which is a name i really wanted but have a surname beginning with a 'hard' G which really didn't work. DD would have been Hermione if there hadn't been a Harry Potter book out the month she was born.

dizzydixies · 12/03/2009 15:23

Euphemia nn Effie
Tabitha

Bubbaluv · 12/03/2009 15:09

Thomasina or Tamsin?
Sabrina?

Bubbaluv · 12/03/2009 15:08

What about Francesca shortened to Frankie?
I also like Imelda - Immi?
Angelica I adore! Angie is surely due a revival and it really is a sweet nick name. I know a little Angelica who calls herself Jelly!

randomname · 12/03/2009 14:45

or raffi?!

randomname · 12/03/2009 14:44

Seraphine/a could be Seffi or Saffy maybe?

solowitch · 12/03/2009 14:10

I just wish I hadn't forgotten Ariadne when searching for a name for Dd...she was nameless for 20 whole days! bless her.

I don't know that it is becoming popular at all, I just loved it and knew it from my Greek Mythology lessons at age 11/12 at school

Just checked and last year Ariadne was in popular position number 6694...not so popular then.

Original poster
hedgiemum · 12/03/2009 10:32

I Like Lette, but not Laetitia.
Have a good friend called Athena which is a fab name but too closely associated with her for me to want to use it (not that she'd mind). Hera too short for me.
Agree about Antigone.
ANOTHER vote for Delphine? hmmm.

Someone else came up with Abithea too, I've never hear it before, and its pretty, but know quite a few Abi's and have nephew called Theo (=bad).

OP posts:
Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 12/03/2009 10:24

Laetitia? It is latin for happiness. Lette is a sweet shortening.

Or what about other goddesses - Hera? Athene (wisdom)?

Delphine also lovely.

Not Antigone, poor lass came to a sticky end and will be endlessly reminded of it by the dwindling number of classics scholars who delight in flashing their knowledge (speaks the bitter voice of experience...)

Original poster
hedgiemum · 12/03/2009 10:22

hi claireykitten - because Violette is the French form, I've assumed it is pronounced Vee-o-lett rather than vie-oh-lut. I've kind of made that up in my head though - and my French is only the schoolgirl variety so I could be wrong. Either is really pretty, imo.

2helen - yes, I agree with you about Sera. I'm playing around with a Raphie-type nn. Is Adelheid pronounced as it looks, or a bit more like Adelaide? Verity is my sisters new baby's name - I love it! (I have 4 siblings, DH has 3, so a lot of names are already taken!)

arctic - not keen on Y names, not sure why.

marthasmummy - not keen on ophelia as I find her annoying in Hamlet. Never really heard Appollonia before - does it sound a bit apple-ey. Mind you, Polly cute nn.

boco - Delphine seems to be a lot of people's favourite of the things that have come up on this thread. hmmm. Not keen on Hephsibah - lol at Hezbollah!!! Did the mother hear?!

OP posts:
Umlellala · 12/03/2009 10:11

That was Arrietty

I like Abitheah (Abbey-thay-a?)

Ariadne was the woman who gave Theseus the ball of wool so he could escape the Minotaur in Greek mythology. It was also ds's girl name - no idea it was becoming so popular!

belgo · 12/03/2009 10:05

Minerva another godess name. Minnie for short.

Marthasmama · 12/03/2009 10:03

I don't know Helen, but I believe she was possibly a goddess.

Boco · 12/03/2009 09:57

I like Delphine.

What about Hephsibah? Hepsi for short. Although there's a girl who helps at a toddler group with that name and I once called her Hezbollah by accident

2Helenback · 12/03/2009 09:51

Was Ariadne the girl in The Borrowers?

belgo · 12/03/2009 09:50

yes you're right Helen. I hadn't realised that before.

I like the name Heidi as well. Dh veteod both Heidi and Adelheid.

Marthasmama · 12/03/2009 09:48

Solowitch - I love Ariadne!

Claireykitten · 12/03/2009 09:47

Sorry to hijack but could I just ask how Violette is pronounced as DC2 is due in 5 weeks and our name of choice is Violet but somehow Violette seems to look prettier and possibly fit me shortening it to Lettie better.

Again sorry for the hijack hope you dont mind!

From your last shortlist I like Seraphina or Ottilie.

Claire xXx

Marthasmama · 12/03/2009 09:47

Ophelia?
Ariadne?
Apollonia?