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Baby names

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

Original poster

Exotic/ unusual name for a baby girl

62 replies

summermumtobe · 27/03/2009 20:20

We are looking for an 'exotic' sounding/ unusual name (although not made up!) for our baby girl, expected in a few months. Baby is mixed race and likely to be dark skinned with dark eyes, etc.
Names that we are considering are:

Ariadne/ Arianna
Ianthe/ Xanthe
Dahlia
Paloma
Isadora
Elena
Dulcie
Maya/ Maia

Would appreciate your feedback on these or any other suggestions too!

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dcoppack · 01/04/2009 21:54

Love Ariadne

Babbity · 01/04/2009 21:40

I know a Samira. (fab nickname of Mira if you want it a la The Women's Room or Mira Sorvino)

Gaia?

popsycal · 01/04/2009 21:33

Tahlia?

gibbberish · 01/04/2009 21:30

What a fantastic names thread! I love every single one of your names and the others suggested!

Original poster
summermumtobe · 01/04/2009 21:23

Wow- thx for all those ideas. I especially like Ariella and Alessia.

OP posts:
womblingfree · 01/04/2009 21:07

My friends daughter is half Algerian and named Laila

Pinner35 · 01/04/2009 20:48

A friend of a friend named her dd Raven....love it.

SIANYWARNY · 01/04/2009 20:28

Xanthe (said zanthy), or Indie.
I love these names (mine are Kelsey, Tia & Lily), but I'm not allowed any more babies

screamingabdab · 01/04/2009 17:14

Juanita - one of the most beautiful women I've ever met (she was white/afro-caribbean) had this name

ScottishThistle · 01/04/2009 13:42

Always loved Arianna, since working in Italy.

Also love: Ariella, Astrid and Alessia

BlueChampagne · 01/04/2009 13:11

I knew a Samara and an Ayesha at university - also a Vashti.

MrsMattie · 31/03/2009 20:56

Zahara is pretty. I know a Sahara.

Yasmin is lovely@pinkmagic1 - we considered it for our DD.

pinkmagic1 · 31/03/2009 20:47

My mixed race DD's name is Yasmin which we love as exotic but not silly unusual. Came across a 'Samara' once which is a Arabic word for someone with dark skin and thought this was lovely. Also love Ayesha, Zahara and shariffa.

lockets · 31/03/2009 20:36

This reply has been deleted

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MrsMattie · 31/03/2009 20:33

Dahlia, Arianna and Maya/Maia are my favourite from your list, although variations of Maia/Maya/Mya etc aren't unusual at all in my opinion (pretty, but very popular).

Ayana (pronounced eye-arna) - heard this the other day, pretty, not sure of origins though.

Aviva
Zia/Xia
Mariella
Thea (Taya)
Naima (Nay-eema)

???

crabby · 31/03/2009 20:28

My DD is Lilah (but many spelling variations) which is a name in many cultures, from east to west. In arabic it means darkness of the night! V romantic and pretty name I think.

Not biased at all...

Original poster
summermumtobe · 31/03/2009 20:14

Thx for that. SK- I googled it and I think it can be used for both sexes. Definitely wouldn't use it for a boy myself as it does sound more feminine- v pretty actually.

OP posts:
MrsHappy · 31/03/2009 18:20

Merle is definitely a girl's name.
Think of the gorgeous Merle Oberon.

sweetkitty · 31/03/2009 16:25

Only Merle I knew was a girl

NorkyButNice · 31/03/2009 16:03

Congratulations! From your list I love Paloma, Isadora and Dulcie.

By the way, my mixed-race, likely to be dark skinned with dark hair and eyes baby boy, came out white with blonde hair and blue eyes! Aren't genetics a strange thing

Original poster
summermumtobe · 31/03/2009 15:59

I thought that was a boy's name sweet kitty although I have to admit it does sound quite feminine!

OP posts:
sweetkitty · 30/03/2009 22:15

Merle - means black very pretty and unusual

Beesmummy · 30/03/2009 22:14

Xanthe, Paloma or Maia

Original poster
summermumtobe · 30/03/2009 12:07

Yes, I see what you mean about fair coloured doves!!
I've personally always associated it with dark hair/ eyes as the only person I knew of this name had this type of colouring and also because it is Spanish and they tend to be of darker colouring.

OP posts:
mamas12 · 30/03/2009 11:11

oops Paloma! Of couse I'm now going to put everyone off that name by singing 'Una Paloma blanca'