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Baby names

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

Original poster

Nigella - would you?

35 replies

Naetha · 30/04/2010 19:46

Would anyone actually call their baby girl Nigella? Surely no other name says "oops we wanted a boy" more than Nigella.

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GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 05/05/2010 00:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotanOtter · 04/05/2010 23:52

Richenda?

seashore · 04/05/2010 14:13

It's a bit jelly-like but I do tend to think of the flower which is lovely, it's definitely not the worst name out there.

Magaly · 04/05/2010 09:58

it's horrible

spiderlight · 03/05/2010 23:56

I knew twins called Thomas and Thomasine (although she eventually changed it to Tamsin). I also know a female Laurence, but she's Belgian. I hate the name Nigella, though.

Ozziegirly · 03/05/2010 23:48

Yes, the French do use Laurence as both.

When I was at Uni we were told that we were having a new flatmate for a term; "Laurence, from France" and were excited about our Gaellic, sexy, galuoise smoking french exchange fellow....

And were sorely disappointed when a rather plain girl showed up.

seashore · 03/05/2010 16:45

So many names have male/female version, I think this is just too narrowing if you are meant to allow for the most common one only.

Nigella is a great name, it's not blokish at all.

Our dd is named after dh and I love her name. It wasn't a case of ego, we just wished to pass it on as her grandparent shared the name too.

mathanxiety · 03/05/2010 16:34

Ooooh thank you for that information and link, Ozziegirly!

I think there are some lovely French girl names that started as boys' names -- Noelle for instance, but there are others. And do the French use Laurence as a girls' name?

Ozziegirly · 03/05/2010 05:32

Nigella is a lovely flower - Love in a Mist is the common name for it.

But yes, it is awful as a name.

Nigella

MmeLindt · 02/05/2010 23:08

lol Smallishsheep

I toyed with the idea of calling DD Briana. I think it is a pretty name. And my Dad would have been really chuffed.

GladioliBuckets · 02/05/2010 23:04

Adding -ina to the father's name is an old Scottish tradition, although usually pronounced eye-na.

I prefer Delia or Darina (Allen) namewise if we're tlaking tv cooks.

smallishsheep · 02/05/2010 21:56

I came here ready to shout, cor I would.
Then saw it was a baby names topic.
In which case, no I would most certainly not.

sparkleshine · 02/05/2010 21:53

Agree Simone is pretty.
There are nice male/female names. Danielle is a pretty version of Daniel,
Olivia,
but the rest.....
another is Pauline..... My mum hates it and uses her middle name instead

DastardlyandSmugly · 02/05/2010 21:28

Nigella's brother's little girl is called Domenica so it seems to be a family trend.

NonnoMum · 02/05/2010 21:18

And actually, isn't Nigella the supreme example of transcending one's name? One of the most beautiful and self-confident women in the media, with the most blokish and ugly-sounding name (IMHO)?
Perhaps her gorgeousness was built on the character needed to survive the playground-sneers?

BettyButterknife · 02/05/2010 19:58

Ooh, it's terrible. Sounds so made up.

Delia, on the other hand, is rather lovely I think

mathanxiety · 02/05/2010 18:02

Majella is popular in Ireland -- so is Gerarda (same saint, Gerard Majella, apparently helps in difficult pregnancies).

Michelle is nice.

kailie · 02/05/2010 11:27

knew a brother & sister called Gerald & Geraldine when I was young

Funnily enough I didn't see/hear them get teased anyone - I think even as kids we were shocked! it was just TOO cruel of their parents to do that to them......

NonnoMum · 01/05/2010 10:44

Magella is a popular name in Ireland (?)

How about that instead?

tummytickler · 01/05/2010 10:38

I love Thomasina and Roberta though!
Gavindra - brilliant!

theagedparent · 01/05/2010 08:15

I know a 3 year old Nigella, dad Nigel has buggered off so she gets called Ella

Clary · 30/04/2010 22:59

Thomasina and Horatia actually. Sorry but ugggghhh

Clary · 30/04/2010 22:58

Nigella's sisters are called Thomasina and Davidina or some such as well.

Phew when they had Dominic, eh!

muminthemiddle · 30/04/2010 22:48

Very ugly sounding name-awful.

Lovethesea · 30/04/2010 21:23

Makes me think of others I know like Peteressa and Donaldina - just can't get past that 'disappointed not to have a son' impression they give!