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Baby names

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

Original poster

British opinions needed!

38 replies

MrsVik · 26/08/2009 09:26

Or in fact, opinions from anywhere else in the world too.

I moved out of the UK to Germany a while ago, and I'm fairly out of touch with naming fashions. We just found out yesterday that we're having a little girl, and I couldn't resist drawing up a name list last night!

The thing is - I don't know anymore which names are considered chavvy, poncey, in, out, over-used, old-fashioned, or have any negative connotations attached to them. So, instead of setting my heart on a terrible name, I thought I'd ask for advice!

We're planning on spending quite a lot of time in the UK once the baby is born so she gets to know the British culture etc, so it is important to me that she has a name which is not going to be weird in some way to other British kids etc.

So, here's my list - please slate as much as you like, that's why I'm posting

Alice
Isabelle
Lucia (we'd pronounce it loo SEE ah)
Tessa
Yasmin

Thanks for the time!

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Original poster
MrsVik · 28/08/2009 18:48

TiggyR sorry, reading my post back and it seems like I forgot that I asked specifically for British opinions, which is exactly what you gave!!! I got carried away with my own thoughts, lol. Thanks for your feedback and for taking the time to reply!

OP posts:
diddl · 28/08/2009 18:38

Alicia Isabelle?

Original poster
MrsVik · 28/08/2009 18:33

That's a nice idea, diddl! I'll bring it up with my DH

OP posts:
diddl · 28/08/2009 18:30

Tasmin?
Alicia-a combination of Alice and Lucia?

Original poster
MrsVik · 28/08/2009 18:24

Hmm, not sure a 'proper' way of pronouncing Lucia can be prescribed. It's different in different countries. We don't live in the UK, so I think we can go with a different pronunciation.

I know what you mean about Alice - it's quite a girly girl name...

The popularity of Isabelle is starting to put me off somewhat, although I do still love it.

Yasmin - again, where we live it's the accepted pronunciation. It could be spelt Jasmin here too, although it would still be said with a 'y' sound at the start.

Tamsin - I do like it, but it's too way out over here!

mumblecrumble thanks for the congrats!

OP posts:
TiggyR · 28/08/2009 16:40

Lu-chee-a, please!!! It's the proper way...

All are fine, and not common in the wrong way! Alice is a touch twee for my tastes but it is fairly timeless and not too overused. Isabella very popular right now. Yasmin is a bit too arabic for a European child I think, Tamsin is much prettier, suits a baby and an adult, and is a timeless name.

janeite · 28/08/2009 16:34

I love Alice and Isabelle. I like Tess a lot though less fond of Tessa. Don't like Lucia.

KAEKAE · 28/08/2009 16:31

Alice is the fave for me...Isabelle is far too popular IMO.

DitaVonCheese · 28/08/2009 11:22

I think they're all lovely. Just wanted to put in a bit of support for Loo-see-ah - much prettier than Loo-chee-ah imo and the way I think most people would pronounce it too

malung · 26/08/2009 21:46

Loo sia - Lucia. Gorgeous.

Original poster
MrsVik · 26/08/2009 21:33

Thanks everyone for the replies!! Have talked it over with DH and we've narrowed it down somewhat to Isabelle, Alice and Lucia.

Oooh, it's such fun

OP posts:
mumblecrumble · 26/08/2009 20:28

If you like Isobella don;t be put off by it being popular. We called our dd Emily and she is definitely and Emily and certainly unique!!!!!

I know 4 Yasmins and 2 Jasmines... All but 1 are 'British'.

Mega mega SUper doopa congratulations!!!!

diddl · 26/08/2009 20:15

I like Yasmin, & would have it where I am.
But have a feeling it´s not so good in UK.
But I like all your other names as well.

Original poster
MrsVik · 26/08/2009 19:10

mathanxiety - I just don't like 'em!

Well, from the names on my list, most are also found in the top 100 names in Germany from 2008 (apart from Alice) so they would be fine here.

Right now the most popular German names simply don't do it for me. Leonie, Hannah, Lena, Lara, Anna, Emma... nothing wrong with those names at all, but they don't scream out 'pick me! pick me!' like the names on my list

diddl lol @ 'loo chee a' I'm still not sold I'm afraid!!

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 26/08/2009 18:47

None of your names would be weird.

mathanxiety · 26/08/2009 18:29

What's wrong with German names that might also go down well in the UK? Other than that, I like Tessa, (prefer Tess) and Alice.

diddl · 26/08/2009 16:38

"Loo see a" makes me think of Lucy-a.
That said, I like Alicia.
I do like Yasmin, but wouldn´t have t in the UK.
Tasmin?
I like all of your names though-especially "Loo chee a!"

skyward · 26/08/2009 16:32

There are loads of Isabelle's (and various variations) around at the moment. Not very keen on Tessa, but really like Alice. Have been thinking about that name myself - think it's really pretty and classic and not very common at the moment.

MaggieLeo · 26/08/2009 16:23

here she is in all her glory

my dd would LOVE one if I'd allow it.

Also, just google to be sure and the contraceptive pill is called yasmin. there's also one called cileste! can't believe nobody else mentioned that.

When I named my duaghter we ewre living in a tree lined victorian hallsadjoining kind of avenue ina fashionable part of london. all the children were called dulcie and arthur ykwim? that really influenced my naming style. anyway, we end up in rural ireland and I feel my children's names although not at all unusual really stand out a bit for having a more crusty feel.

Original poster
MrsVik · 26/08/2009 16:14

Ooh, thanks for the head's up on the Bratz thing! Those are those dolls with the massive heads, right? See, it's exactly that kind of thing I need to know!!

OP posts:
MaggieLeo · 26/08/2009 16:11

Well, I'm in Ireland but I'll give you my thoughts! Yasmin well known to be a bratz doll name, and also a contraceptive pill so this is the one I'd advise you to avoid.

Isabelle is nice, but there are loads
Alice is classic, not to my taste, but it's a safe name and I only know of two here. so I think of it as being fairly unusual.
Tessa a bit too religious to be popular for a long time (st theresa fresh in people's minds here?).

lucia is my favourite from you list. I'd pronounce it like you do. How a south american would say it!

MmeLindt · 26/08/2009 12:23

Your DD is going to be different anyway, assuming you will be speaking to her in English. Giving her a British name will not make her any more or less different.

My DD recently said that she was glad that she had an unusual name "as there are so many Sophies, Annas and Ellas in my class".

Do you know the German thread on MN? If you fancy a chat pop on over. It is in the Living Overseas topic.

Original poster
MrsVik · 26/08/2009 11:26

Oooh, controversy on the Lucia front! :P Thanks for your opinions on that - good to know the kind of reactions we might get

MmeLindt - thanks for that. You make a good point about heritage. I'm a bit nervous about exposing my daughter to being 'different' although being half-British isn't different in a bad way. I'll have to give that some thought.

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 26/08/2009 11:09

As to the pronounciation, we moved to French speaking Switzerland and they pronounce DS's name completely differently. It does not bother him, he refers to himself as Conaar when speaking to French friends and Connor with Brits.

DD is the same.

We gave our DC very Scottish names and it has been good for them to have a part of their heritage in their name, iyswim. It does mean that they get asked about their names so they have the chance to say that they are half British.

I don't think Isabelle being popular would put me off. It is such a lovely name.

sausagesupper · 26/08/2009 11:08

Tessa is my favourite