Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

I know it's weird but....

55 replies

milly987 · 16/03/2010 12:57

I'm not pg, or planning to be anytime soon, but I would love these names for a daughter - I wish that it would ever be possible!!

I know they are herbs/spices, but if Cicily, Saffron, Jasmine, Poppy, Rosemary etc are ok shouldn't these be?!

Tarragon
Cinnamon
Anise
Sage
Sorrel

Are they completely unnacceptable?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Umleila · 19/03/2010 14:25

Nothing wrong with making names up if you ask me. I know a Fenne (made up by her mum) and my hairdresser's daughter was called Athenasia - her mum made that up too, and I think it's lovely. But then I nearly called mine Zeinab.

Cortina · 19/03/2010 14:11

There's an award winning children's book about a girl, Coriander. 'I, Coriander'.

cupcakebabymc · 19/03/2010 13:12

I think Cumin is a lovely sounding word. Just how you feel about Tarragon and Cinnamon OP.

Go for it x

flybynight · 19/03/2010 13:05

I've met an adult Coriander. I think she was named by hippy parents in the late 60s when no-one had heard of the herb in this country.

Original poster
milly987 · 19/03/2010 12:58

Thank you for all your feedback

I do still like Tarragon and Cinnamon though, I think Tarragon could be easily shortened to Tarra or Tarrie and hey, when she's 18 she can change it if she hates it.

Good to see not everyone is closed to the idea! Thanks!

OP posts:
schroedingersdodo · 19/03/2010 12:21

Anise is acceptable IMO.

HelenDoula · 17/03/2010 19:17

Bay is lovely as is Sorrel & Sage, Herb is also v cool for a boy (or Herbie). Where we live anything goes !

sausagepastie · 17/03/2010 18:52

What I mean is some words are not names for a good reason. Anise looks very pretty but when you see it in the birth announcements, 'congratulations on the birth of Anise, a neice for shirley and william'

it just sounds funny

sausagepastie · 17/03/2010 18:50

Oh and also when I was pregnant I once decided, during one very sleepless night, that I would be having twin girls and calling them Celery and Violet.

Luckily I had a boy.

sausagepastie · 17/03/2010 18:49

Hi OP,
I haven't read the whole thing but based on your opening post my thoughts are these.

Sorrel is beautiful. I knew one at school, she was a bit spoilt but good name. Would also suit a boy imo.

Don't like tarragon, sage, or cinnamon. Mainly because of how they sound.

A good plan with any name, especially an unusual one, is to say it out loud.

It's surprising how different a name can seem when it is said - and you might not find it easy to say, I mean phonetically they might not be that cool either.

For instance I had Clem on my list for a long long time (prob about 25 years!) but when I was pg, I practised saying it and it was very difficult to say, for me, without it sounding rather too confusable with phlegm. So I scrapped it.

ellesabe · 17/03/2010 18:39

I once taught a girl called Sorrel. And Lettice!

LetThereBeRock · 17/03/2010 18:09

Sorrel is ok but you can't call a child Cinnamon. It's too cruel.

LetThereBeRock · 17/03/2010 17:59

I think you should hide your spice rack until this madness leaves you.

seeker · 17/03/2010 17:19

Anise and Sorrel are names - I know two of each.

Not the others - please!

mathanxiety · 17/03/2010 17:07

Lettice? Stretching it a bit...
Cayenne?
Fennell-a

SardineJam · 17/03/2010 13:14

I used to work with a Ginger, she was a lovely woman

Marne · 17/03/2010 12:31

I have a Saffron.

What about nutmeg? (meg for short). I like Basil but for a boy not a girl.

Pasiphae · 17/03/2010 12:26

I love Sage and Sorrel, although Sage is usually a boy's name.

Some more girly herb:
Juniper, Gentiane, Angelica, Camomille, Calendula, Lavender, Marjoram, Marjolaine, Myrtle, Veronica, Valerian.

MaMight · 17/03/2010 08:59

I think they are great names.

Sage and Sorel are often used as names anyway aren't they?

Tarragon is good - but yes, maybe a boy's name. What would it be for short? Tarry? Means dawdle, not so good. It's a good sound.

Anise not so keen on. A bit anussy.

Cinnamon is great.

I think you can name your child anything you like. I named my daughter something that is a fantastic name because it is pretty and a great sound. Some people have been arses about it but mostly people think it is great, and I love it, dd loves it. I find that people who are cats-bum-mouth about not using proper names are generally people whose opinions I don't much value, and whose approval I don't seek .

telsa · 17/03/2010 08:50

A main character in Beckett's Waiting for Godot is Estragon - French for Tarragon. It means little dragon. Could be quite cute, especially for a Beckett fan's offspring!

CelticStarlight · 17/03/2010 01:58

I know a Coriander, she really suits it.

How about Paprika and Allspice.

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 16/03/2010 22:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GoldenSnitch · 16/03/2010 16:58

What about Betony? Although I guess everyone will just assume you couldn't spell Bethany

Bryony?

Cassia? - means cinnamon Can also be Keisha or Cassie or Kizzy. I used to know a Kizzy, always loved her name.

Ginger?

Tamara? - means spice in sanskrit.

Original poster
milly987 · 16/03/2010 16:46

Hmm....Basil for a girl.

Nah, not sure why tho

OP posts:
DorotheaPlenticlew · 16/03/2010 16:39

Actually, there is a little Sorrel at DS's nursery, come to think of it.