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Baby names

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

Original poster

What do you think of Hilda?

128 replies

giltrose · 10/03/2010 14:10

What do you think of Hilda? The longer forms I've been looking at (Brunhilde) I now think are too much with no German connections.

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AchillesTortoise · 12/03/2010 09:45

And Doris

AchillesTortoise · 12/03/2010 09:44

No.

It's one of those that is still too old ladyish. Like Gladys. My grandmother was called Gladys and I wish I could've used it. But it's just not right.

snugglejunkie · 12/03/2010 09:39

If you are using the name because you genuinely like it and not because you are looking specifically for something unique, then deffo go for it!
Bollocks to the nay-sayers!!

There is a baby in my wider family called Dennis, which in my head is in a similar category. When I heard I was very much When I finally met him he was such a wonderful smiley happy little chappie who completely suited his name:

Baby Dennis! Of course!
Why would you be called anything else! .

BarbaMamma · 12/03/2010 09:31

Hilde is a very common name in Norway, although more so 30-ish years ago. I prefer it to Hilda, which for me has real Brunhilde connotations, i.e. massive iron-plated chest, blonde plaits, viking helmet, one fist raised in battle and the other hand clutching a tankard of foaming mead.

fridascruffs · 12/03/2010 09:24

I object to it on political grounds. She'd be handbagging everyone.

zazen · 12/03/2010 09:10

I like Hildegard

also Mathilde (Tilda)

Much better than the 'weed names' daisy poppy and the like!

belgo · 12/03/2010 08:13

What about
Hedwig
Lutgard

still common in Belgium amongst women of a certain age

strictlyfabulous · 12/03/2010 07:16

I disagree - I actually quite like it. You've got to go with what you like and not be swayed by others - you can never please everyone! I've encountered lots of children with 'unusual' names - to begin with you think, what were the parents thinking, but then as you get used to it and get to know the child, I often find myself quite liking the names in the end. Makes a nice change from all the twee names which are so popular now.

IMoveTheStars · 11/03/2010 23:51

why not call her Mavis instead? Much more 'with it'

hmc · 11/03/2010 23:48

Dreadful

NumptyMum · 11/03/2010 23:48

How about Hilla instead - as in sculptural photographer Hilla Becher?

Or Tilda (as in Swinton)?

Hilda just a bit too foosty, IMO.

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 11/03/2010 22:41

HerHonesty: I love Winifred, I'm currently maintaining a one-woman campaign for Hypothetical #2 to be called that.

I don't like Hilda, though. My daughter is Edith, so I don't shy away from the old-lady names, but Hilda is harsh.

Cyclops · 11/03/2010 21:53

I like it but probably wouldn't use it!

For me, the name strongly connotes flying ducks, headscarves, Our Stan and butt ends covered in red lippy

NonnoMum · 11/03/2010 21:31

Margaret Thatcher's middle name.

Nuff said?

MmeLindt · 11/03/2010 21:14

Brunhilde/Adelheid/Heidi are dreadful, sorry. I lived in Germany and they all sound very very old fashioned and from the deep south of Bavaria so countrified old lady.

What about

Amelia
Greta
Hannah
Johanna

Lovecat · 11/03/2010 21:04

Hideous. Just hideous. Sorry...

BessieBoots · 11/03/2010 20:12

You're all mental. Hilda is an excellent name- really sassy and strong.

mathanxiety · 11/03/2010 19:06

I like it, also Agatha, Agnes, Sybil. Brunhilde though, no way. It's too much, even if you had German connections. But this is pretty cute

Hassled · 11/03/2010 19:05

lol at inherited odd-shaped thumbs.

My Great Aunt Hilda was a formidable battleaxe who ate broken glass for breakfast. My mother was evacuated to her during the war, and was always slightly afraid of her. She lived till she was 96, making clotted cream to the bitter end.

It's a name that should just die a dignified death.

hollyhobbie · 11/03/2010 19:02

it's not for me.
DD has a Betty in her class which I think is very sweet. We also know an Ida.

MarineIguana · 11/03/2010 18:42

I like it and I think you're probably right on the leading edge with it - it will sound normal and chic in a few years as more old lady names roll around. Myrtle, Doris etc.

A bit like Thora which I also love.

FifiOK · 11/03/2010 18:08

Hilda was my grandmothers name and was given to me as first name although I was always known by my middle name. A lot of people in our family are given a family name as a first name and then known by a middle name. Anyway it caused loads of confusion & embarassment over the years. My brothers teased me, bank details came through addressed to Hilda instead of my used name. New teachers would call it out in the register not realising I used by middle name. Have now changed by name by deed poll to remove it, and there is no trace on any bank details, passport, driving licence etc. Good Riddance to Hilda And I am sure my Grandmother, who died long before I was even born, would have understood. And I inherited her odd shaped thumbs so the family link remains.

GinSlinger · 11/03/2010 18:05

I quite like it and of course it's not a baby or a little girl's name but it's a woman's name and that is what baby girls become.

belgo · 11/03/2010 17:57

Hilda/Brunhilde are both dreadful.

Adelheid/Heidi is far prettier.

InmyheadIminParis · 11/03/2010 17:50

Kerala1 - My (much, much missed) granny's name too. I would love to have named DD after her as she was such a huge and wonderful part of my childhood, but I just couldn't bring myself to inflict Hilda on a baby . Now, of course, I realise that I could have called DD Mathilda and that would have done the trick.