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Baby names

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

Original poster

shortlist of girl's names- please could I have your comments?

59 replies

penelopestrawberry · 07/09/2009 16:59

We are trying to put together a shortlist for a baby girl. I had been v keen on Penelope but have had a couple of negative comments from family/ friends. It's still on the list but I have quite a few others on there too! We prefer something fairly unusual.

Penelope
Allegra
Vivian
Isadora
Genevieve
Francesca

Which do you all like/dislike?

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frazzledoldbag · 10/09/2009 23:14

Penelope (Penny) is sweet and I love Allegra.
Have you considered Cecile at all? and Hermione?
(both lovely and quite unusual too)
Oh and I quite like Francesca.
Vivien was always a favorite of mine but I wonder if it'll soar in popularity now that Angelina Jolie named one of her twins Vivienne?
Anyway you have great taste in names.

pasturesnew · 10/09/2009 22:13

Penelope - like best
Allegra - like
Vivian - traditionally a boy's name so that puts me off although I know many people would not think this mattered at all
Isadora - not madly keen but it's OK
Genevieve - like
Francesca - like a lot but I don't think it's as unusual as the others if that's what you're after

stepaway · 10/09/2009 22:12

Penelope - no
Allegra - yes!
Vivian - no
Isadora- no
Genevieve - yes!
Francesca - muted yes

MrsWuh · 10/09/2009 22:10

I always think Odette sounds like a feminine smell. Good name for a deodorant or Odour Eaters though.

I like Isadora, but then I have two boys named Isaac and Theodore so maybe that's inevitable!

I also like Genevieve (esp. nickname Genie) and Francesca.

Ohhhh...I want a girl so I can use some of these lovely names!!!

kalo12 · 10/09/2009 21:04

i thought ismay was boys name

isadora is too doomed

Original poster
penelopestrawberry · 10/09/2009 21:02

Does anyone have an opinion on Odette? It has been growing on me recently.

OP posts:
sleepyhead3 · 08/09/2009 20:33

I like all of those. Favourites would be Francesca and Isadora.

Original poster
penelopestrawberry · 08/09/2009 09:25

I like Frances too dogonp but prefer Francesca. I do like some more simple names too

OP posts:
dogonpoints · 07/09/2009 21:58

oh vivian's for a man? Not so keen on Vivienne

dogonpoints · 07/09/2009 21:55

Penelope - quite like it but might grow tired of it if I had to use it all the time and not keen on Penny

Allegra - no, car

Vivian - nice sound, quit elike this

Isadora - no, too much

Genevieve - no, too much

Francesca - it's ok, much prefer Frances but then I'm a simple sort of gal.

Vivian... it's nice

dizzydixies · 07/09/2009 21:42

janeite - Ismay is DD3's middle name

Tommy · 07/09/2009 21:30

Francesca was on our short list for DS1 - so I like that one.
I like Genevieve
I don't like the others

Cadelaide · 07/09/2009 21:27

Like them all except Penelope.

Would choose isadora.

janeite · 07/09/2009 21:24

Ooh I like Ismay a lot.

bethdivine · 07/09/2009 21:18

love francesca, also like isadora - but guessing it would probably be shortened to dora (the explorer) by other children (she would be very cool tho' my DS would love her!) so depends what you think about that.

ooh, francesca, now let's see if I can persuade DH about DC3 after all...

LynetteScavo · 07/09/2009 21:10

I love Genevieve.

Not keen on the others.

Original poster
penelopestrawberry · 07/09/2009 21:01

Thx dizzy- I like some of those a lot.
Thx MadameL too

OP posts:
Original poster
penelopestrawberry · 07/09/2009 19:38

Would probably use Vivienne. You are all right- it is more feminine.

OP posts:
HerHonesty · 07/09/2009 19:26

i think they are all lovely but not personally keen on vivian

catinthehat2 · 07/09/2009 19:03

Interesting entry showing that while Vivian is limited to boys, Vivian is used for girls

and a few lady Vivians here

So, not exactly cut and dried and not a name to use if you follow the herd.

BalloonSlayer · 07/09/2009 18:54

Vivian is the boys spelling. Vivien Leigh was christened Vivian and had to change it.

(Clive James' real name is Vivian. And if that doesn't put you off, nowt will )

There are a LOT of Francescas where we live, mainly aged 14-15 IIRC.

dizzydixies · 07/09/2009 18:32

love Vivienne too
Allegra - nissan car
Penelope - love as either Penny or Nell
Isadora - like
Genevieve - nice
Francesca - not to my taste

have you considered

Ismay
Cordelia
Cecelia
Celeste
Araminta
Eugenie
Beatrice

they all seem in line with your preferences?

catinthehat2 · 07/09/2009 18:32

(Austin Allegro)

mathanxiety · 07/09/2009 18:31

Penelope and Isadora. Allegra is the OTC name of a medicine in the US, also sounds like a car (maybe it already is a car?)

catinthehat2 · 07/09/2009 18:30

Well the Vivian I knew was a girl, and I do like that spelling. Vivienne would be pronounced differently. Also, Vivian is a bit girly for a boy IMHO.