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Baby names

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

Original poster

Really struggling to find a decent girl's name that meets my strict criteria - please help me out

88 replies

electra · 04/04/2009 22:46

I have a decent baby name book but I'm becoming increasingly frustrated every time I look in it.

I would like a name that is classic, pretty, stylish not in the top 100 names list and doesn't end in a 'ee' sound (because it won't go with our surname) I tend to like names with Latin origin.

The name I was going to choose is frustratingly also the name of a bloody car but I wanted that particular spelling because of the historical origin. However, I quickly reconciled myself to the fact that the world isn't going to change over night, nor are Renault going to stop making this car. So I thought I would choose a different spelling until I realised this is also the name of Pinocchio's cat! So that just about puts the lid on it

All the other names I like seem to be the name of a child at dd's school (does this matter?), or someone who has died in tragic circumstances.

Any ideas? I have considered

Jemima
Beatrice
Anna (but in top 100)

Also like Isabella but waaaaaay too popular. TIA

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FairLadyOfMuslinCloth · 06/04/2009 00:56

if you like Alexandra, how about Cassandra...I think that is quite a cool name

hunkermunker · 06/04/2009 00:42

Isolde.

StayFrosty · 06/04/2009 00:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thumbbunny · 06/04/2009 00:32

I have just finished reading a Georgette Heyer book that has a Cléone as a heroine - quite like that, and Léonie too. Also Juliana (since you like Juliet)

Original poster
electra · 05/04/2009 23:16

Thanks - MadBad I still may use Clio but obviously concerned as the cars have been around for at least 15 years iirc.....but it is a proper name - after the greek muse.

OP posts:
MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 05/04/2009 23:13

Well, Marina would keep the car theme going!

But seriously, that's a great list.

Original poster
electra · 05/04/2009 23:01

Thanks! You are all so perceptive wrt what names I like. I'm considering these suggestions;

Florence
Constance
Amelia (too popular?)
Cordelia
Anastasia
Julia / Juliet
Annabel
Miranda
Nina
Isadora (but concerned about the tragic connotations associated with Isadora Duncan...)
Marina
Alexandra (too popular?)

OP posts:
duchesse · 05/04/2009 21:38

re Jemima- I went to book in at my GP's in January, and saw a new doctor, who turned out to be a trainee GP, Dr Miller. So far, so good. When the senior partner turned up to advise her about something, and told me that "Jemima" would write the letters to the clinic, I must confess that I screamed inwardly and wondered whether she'd been named after the Playschool character. It just didn't the right name for a doctor somehow...

fulltimeworkingmum · 05/04/2009 21:31

Agree with icletickle - my daughter and stepdaughter are Verity and Imogen - both gorgeous names although Imogen is getting very popular.

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 05/04/2009 21:30

Hermia
Titania (possibly not as the abbreviations are unfortunate)
Miranda
Beatrice
Cordelia
Primrose
Penelope

JackBauerKilledTheEasterBunny · 05/04/2009 21:28

Lana
Vanessa

bronze · 05/04/2009 21:25

I'm glad someone pointed out that you were talking about the fish as I was sat here thinking but Figaros not a girls name

Some lovely names on this thread

ickletickle · 05/04/2009 21:19

verity constance honor imogen

SoMuchToBits · 05/04/2009 20:55

Miranda
Juliet
Rosamond
Alexandra
Isabel

TabithaTwitchet · 05/04/2009 20:52

What about Clea instead of Clio?

thirtysomething · 05/04/2009 14:53

i'd go for Italian or French:
Elena
Chiara
Antonella
Lara
Emilia
Maddalena
Fabrizia
Marina
Lucia

or:
Camille
Solenne
Morgane
Morwenne/morwenna
gaelle
Laure
Pascale
Marine
Nicole
Lucie/Lucille
Romaine
Chloe
Amelie
Emmanuelle (tho porn connotations!!)
Elise
Ottile
Eleonore

ilovemydogandMrObama · 05/04/2009 14:53

Had a great aunt named Mercedes, which isn't that weird as I think that the car was named after a girl...(sounds better in Spanish...)

BonsoirAnna · 05/04/2009 14:49

Call her Clio if you like it and don't bother about the car. It won't exist in another ten years, and your DD will be the only one and will just love her name!

LilyBolero · 05/04/2009 14:44

If you love Clio, why not give her the longer version Cliona, which is NOT the name of a car! Then it can always be shortened to Clio, but any 'you're called after a car' is easily batted back with 'my name is Cliona'.

And it's pretty and classic, and I didn't even know the Pinocchio reference. Tbh, you could call your child anything, and it become a car name or Celebrity name or Disney character.

LisaLouby27 · 05/04/2009 14:36

Love Jemima

conniedescending · 05/04/2009 14:36

What about

Francesca
Cordelia
Hermione
Tabitha
Miranda
Isadora
Estelle
Xanthe
Matilda
Perdita
Saskia
Araminta
Anastasica
Annabel
Emmeline
Clementine
Iris
Pearl
Violet
Evelyn
Evangeli ne

toddlerama · 05/04/2009 10:22

Jemima is beautiful. I know a little girl called Jemima and her mummy calls her mee-ma (they pronounce it ya-mee-mah as they're swedish). It is so cute.

Quattrocento · 05/04/2009 10:19

Calypso

treacletart · 05/04/2009 10:14

Allegra ?

Original poster
electra · 05/04/2009 10:12

I like a lot of the names you have posted. I didn't realise Cleo was the fish - perhaps people would not make that association then! I guess it is rather obscure.

I won't choose until she is born, anyway - so I can see what suits best I suppose.

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