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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which of these girls names should I pick?!

57 replies

NotStressedAtAll · 18/05/2010 00:55

Just interested to hear your impressions of these names! I am sure I?ll get flamed for saying so, but really, really want to avoid names that are too popular (I have a very unusual name and I love that everyone remembers it!)

So here goes:

Maeve (with Mae as nn? would be keen on Irish name as have Irish heritage. How common is it in Ireland?)
Nora ? on its own or as a nn for below
Eleanor ? shortened to Nora (not a fan of Ellie, Ella etc)
Georgia
Audrey

We also considered Aoife but is it becoming too popular?

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Original poster
NotStressedAtAll · 24/05/2010 19:13

madly - I'm not against Leonora in itself but it wouldn't go with our surname (too similar). Actually even Eleanor is quite close to our last name written down but sounds different enough to run smoothly IFSWIM.

Clary - where abouts are you if you don't mind saying? I know Ellie is popular where I am/was (South West) but haven't heard of many Georgias down there...

THanks for all the opinions everyone!!

Also, yes, we have probably dismissed Aoife - partly cause of the tricky spelling and its similarity to the Evie boom but also because it seems to come up a lot (on baby naming forums anyway!) so I was worried that even in itself it was booming!

OP posts:
Rubena · 24/05/2010 10:05

GEORGIA!

Clary · 23/05/2010 23:10

Georgia and Eleanor (often Ellie but sometimes Eleanor) are both very popular here. I know about 6 Georgias and about 10 Ellies.

Maeve, Nora and Audrey all less popular. I am not mad about Nora but the other 2 are lovely.

I know a small Audrey but she doesn't really have a nickname. When she was tiny I used to call her Audrette but that was just a baby name.

Not every name has to have a NN tho. I prefer names that stand alone.

Just13moreyearstogo · 23/05/2010 22:57

I like Eleanor and Georgia

muminthemiddle · 23/05/2010 22:52

I like Eleanor the best and would say it is averagely popular where I am if this helps!
Don't really like any of the others, but it sounds like Audrey might be making a comeback and so might become popular in time.

madly · 23/05/2010 20:21

If you love Nora and Eleanor yet don't want apopular name then how about Leonora.

Beautiful, very underused, easy to spell and pronounce, travels well and is an all round gorgeous name in any language.

GuntherMcKilocodie · 21/05/2010 09:59

Eleanor shortened to Nell is absolutely lovely.

Ineedsomesleep · 20/05/2010 22:14

dulciejones there is a Neve in the same class as my DS!

FlymetoDunoon think Notstressedatall had already discounted Aoife as Evie is soooo popular, but I may be wrong.

DuelingFanjo · 20/05/2010 16:27

Audrey or Nora.

Hedwig3 · 20/05/2010 16:25

I LOVE Nora too!

Cadelaide · 20/05/2010 11:51

I have a Maeve, and Eleanor is my favourite name.

George2010 · 20/05/2010 11:50

LOVE Love Love Audrey! I want to use that name but my husband hates it!!

I have loved it since Twin Peaks many years ago now!

Aoife ? I have never heard of that name

Eleanor-can't go wrong with that name really it's a classic and timeless, and I love your idea of Nora rather than the usual ellies etc

Rubena · 20/05/2010 11:50

GEORGIA! Its very high on my list for my dd's arrival!

VicCc · 20/05/2010 11:30

Eleanor is my favourite.

Cortina · 20/05/2010 11:29

I like Nora as a dim - (Leonora).

sapell3 · 20/05/2010 00:17

I like Georgia best from your list. How about Nina or Georgina?

Original poster
NotStressedAtAll · 19/05/2010 20:44

Thanks for all the input. I didn't realise Maeve had those middle-ages connotations in Ireland so that's good to know, but I don't suppose that matters too much in England where people aren't as aware of it. I do think it's a lovely name.

Happened to come across a little girl called Audrey yesterday (I'm in the US at the moment)- she was about 2 and very sweet. It suited her perfectly!

OP posts:
zapostrophe · 18/05/2010 21:19

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dizzymac · 18/05/2010 20:27

OOO!! I have a 5 year old Maeve. I love her name but I also know another 5 year old Maeve ( they are best friends!) and a couple of older Maeves too.
I live in Manchester by the way... not Ireland ( though do have strong Irish links).

I'm expecting Number 3 soon and if its a girl it will be Eleanor .
I love your choices

LetThereBeRock · 18/05/2010 20:23

I love Eleanor and Georgia.

dulciejones · 18/05/2010 20:23

That should have been a ! It wasn't that funny.

dulciejones · 18/05/2010 20:21

Audrey is lovely.
Maggie is fab! Could you call her Margarete instead? I have known about 5 or 6 Maggies. All have been lovely, funky, clever girls/ladies.

FlyMeToDunoon · 18/05/2010 17:13

Oh Audrey and Maeve were two of my favourites for babies and both discounted by DP
How about Aoife I loved that too.

strandedatsea · 18/05/2010 16:56

My friend Audrey is called Audes as a nn. Not very sophisticated I know! personally I don't think you should "think up" nick names in advance, you should just see what comes naturally. As a baby she would probably get called Audie or something. But that might change when she is older.

cece · 18/05/2010 16:45

Maeve - nice but makes me want to say Mavis instead!

Nora - bloody nora

Eleanor - nice but popular

Georgia - nice

Audrey - my favourite off of your list by far.