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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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drlove8 · 05/04/2009 10:07

donna - italian for lady! maria - , donatella, cianna?

ruzmarin · 05/04/2009 10:01

How about
Lavinia
Xenia
Claudia
Petra
Vesna
Sylvia
Silvana?

EachPeachPearMum · 05/04/2009 09:41

Nina
Viola

nooka · 05/04/2009 05:42

I really wouldn't worry that you might name your child the same name as someone at your elder child's school. why would that matter? Trying to avoid the most popular names in the new baby's generation is sensible IMO, but difficult! The tragedy side I think is only an issue if there is either a personal association, or such a strong association that that is what everyone will immediately think of (Diana might still be an issue for example).

seeker · 05/04/2009 05:32

Adelaide
Edith
Constance
Catherine
Rosalind
Frances

ninedragons · 05/04/2009 05:07

Miranda
Juliet

FairLadyOfMuslinCloth · 05/04/2009 00:28

Beatrice is lovely and so is Anna!

How about
Orla
Darcy
Olivia
Anoushka
Abigail
Shana

QuackQuackQuackQuack · 05/04/2009 00:25

You should definitely use Cleo if you love it. The association to his goldfish is too minisucle to matter.

thumbbunny · 05/04/2009 00:24

Figaro would surely be a boy's name...

controlfreakythecontrolfreak · 05/04/2009 00:16

like vita!

verity
persephone
serena
seraphina
miranda
hebe
phoebe

Cazzaben · 05/04/2009 00:16

Ophelia?

BikeRunSki · 05/04/2009 00:15

I rather like Cleo. ALthough we used to have one of those small Renaults, this is not really my first thought when I hear the name. And I didn't know about Pinnochio's goldfish. I am names after a well know children's literary character, and yes, people remark on it, and no, it doesn't bother me. More that my married name gives me the same name as an infamous goth rock singer!

Cazzaben · 05/04/2009 00:15

Marbelle or Marbella

Love those names...
Jemmima is good to or Gemmima

Figaro is good

What about Fabiola??

x

oysterpots · 05/04/2009 00:13

Vita?

Sylvie?

Poppity · 05/04/2009 00:11

Sophia always sounds so latin to me.
Love Cleo too though.

lottiebunny · 04/04/2009 23:55

They definitely won't think of the cat then

gonaenodaethat · 04/04/2009 23:44

I hate it when that happens.

gonaenodaethat · 04/04/2009 23:44

Cleo is the fish.

The cat is called Figaro.

Does that make a difference?

It's a lovely name btw.

thumbbunny · 04/04/2009 23:42

PS - the cat was called Figaro, it was the goldfish who was Cleo.

thumbbunny · 04/04/2009 23:41

Laetitia
Constance
Valeria
Agrippina
Messalina
Antonia
Olivia

Obviously Octavia you have discounted - damn those Skodas!

hester · 04/04/2009 23:34

Lydia
Rosa
Laura
Stella
Josephine
Julia

Original poster
electra · 04/04/2009 23:27

Thanks! This is very helpful - I do like Shakespearean names too

OP posts:
EachPeachPearMum · 04/04/2009 23:27

Beatrix
Margot
Astrid
Greta
Aurelia

FaintlyMacabre · 04/04/2009 23:22

Ooh, Portia is lovely. There's definitely a Shakespearean theme on this thread

controlfreakythecontrolfreak · 04/04/2009 23:20

cleo is lovely......

dido
portia
leander
titania
hermia
leonie
christa