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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ada or Sara?

61 replies

Ondine · 10/07/2009 17:44

Am almost sure I will go for Ada..... just a few questions?

I'm starting to worry Ada might be a bit mousey and may fall on the wrong side of retro chic e.g. Hilda and not the right side like Ava & Pearl?

Do you have an image of what you would imagine an Ada to be like? I?m hoping not mousey or matronly and more elegant and intelligent!

Sara (pronounced Sah-ra) would be the second choice. I have no concerns over it. Just a bit safe maybe.

Which do you prefer?

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pranma · 11/07/2009 22:28

I like Edith too

MrsSeanBean · 11/07/2009 21:44

No: all these 'old lady' names are due for a revival IMHO.

Anyone who bursts out laughing at an unusual or individual name is not only immature (as demonstrated by the 9yo girls) but probably lacks imagination and finesse. That said, Ada is better than Muriel.

mrswoolf · 11/07/2009 18:37

This reply has been deleted

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pranma · 11/07/2009 18:23

Sorry I think Ada is really awful.I once asked an acquaintance what her baby's name was and she replied,'Ada,Ada Muriel' I just said ,'Oh how unusual but there were some girls nearby[9-10]who burst out giggling.
Sara is nice and Ava isnt bad either.

Original poster
Ondine · 11/07/2009 17:17

Thanks for your imagination MrsSeanBean ? it?s always an insightful way to critique a name . I also have the tall with long hair image with Ada?!

Tinker - No! I was at peace there for a few minutes. Alistair Darling is not a good connotation for A. Darling.....

OP posts:
MrsSeanBean · 11/07/2009 17:05

I had a lovely Auntie whose name was Ada

I imagine a modern day Ada to be individual, happy, wear fab co-ordinated earrings with everything, and be on the tall side. Oh and have long hair. Sorry, a bit random I know, but that's my imagination for you.

I don't think it's got matronly connotations at all.

Tinker · 11/07/2009 17:01

No, Ada doesn't sound very nice. What about Clara? Actually, no, that doesn't work with Darling. Alistair Darling is A Darling.

hullygully · 11/07/2009 16:57

Ada Ada Ada Ada Ada

Original poster
Ondine · 11/07/2009 16:55

Your Gran sounds inspirational Scorpette .

I know just what you mean about Ada sounding crisp and clean, that?s why I liked it to start with. It?s v. popular in Norway and it?s seems to have got that crisp Nordic sound to it.

Thanks everyone for you feedback, I think most seem to think it's on the right side of retro. The link to Ada Lovelace and Ada Clare is also nice so i?m feeling over my wobble on if it?s the name or not.

OP posts:
Scorpette · 11/07/2009 10:30

Ada is my Gran's name. She might be nearly 90, but she is still a feisty redhead (still got beautiful hair), full of character, spirit and style, with a brilliant sense of humour, sharp-as-a-pin mind and a massive heart. Okay, so I'm biased, but I've always loved her name - will be using it as a MN for a future DD.

Regardless of it being her name, I think it is a 'clean', crisp, classy name and 'different' without being too 'grannyish' - names like Ada are a mile away from naff old-time names like Edna and Mildred! It means 'noble heart'.

On an even cooler front, Ada (Lovelace) was the name of Lord Byron's daughter, who was a genius and without whom we wouldn't have the computer!

Okay, I think I've put my case forward enough now!

coppola · 10/07/2009 23:30

You'll be forever correcting the spelling/pronunciation of Sara.

Ada.

mrswoolf · 10/07/2009 23:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

random · 10/07/2009 23:17

Ada is awful..whats with all the old lady names?

LaDiDaDi · 10/07/2009 23:15

What about Sadie?

jellybeans · 10/07/2009 23:10

Much prefer Sara or Edie/Ava/Eva.

salbysea · 10/07/2009 22:26

equally with the spelling, people assume its with a H, its the default, so the annoyance of being misspelt and mispronounced only really applies to the Sara version

salbysea · 10/07/2009 22:25

I disagree, although Sara is pronounced Sarah by some, Sarah is never pronounced Sara

sazzerbear · 10/07/2009 19:10

Sarah will be pronounced as Sara and vice versa and both will be spelt incorrectly, Ada has my vote!

piscesmoon · 10/07/2009 19:08

Ada is an old lady. Sarah with an h is lovely-I don't care for it without.

HumphreyCobbler · 10/07/2009 18:57

Dd was going to be Ada.
I loved it, but dh had a wobble.

It is a beautiful, elegant, palindromic name.

Go for it.

ZippysMum · 10/07/2009 18:51

Ada is great.
I had an Auntie Ada who made the most delicious coconut ice.
Sara is nice, but I know a couple of Sara's and they constantly battle with the Sara / Sarah thing.
A Darling is also gorgeous.

Original poster
Ondine · 10/07/2009 18:27

I hadn?t thought of A Darling . Quite sweet.

Also just realised Sar and Dar rhyme . Not sure if that is a problem though?

I think Zara is nice, but the chain of shops puts me off. Asda lol, hope you are the only one who speed reads Ada like that!

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 10/07/2009 18:11

Much prefer Sara. Ada very drab, imo.

LaDiDaDi · 10/07/2009 18:10

Ada, I really like it and have suggested both Ada and Ida to dp if this bump is a girl.

gorionine · 10/07/2009 18:10

I like both names, altough when reading your Op title too fast I thought you wanted to call you Dd Asda{smile]!

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