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

Alexandra

30 replies

emmyloo2 · 18/06/2010 18:47

My current list of girl's names are soft feminine, girly names: Eve, Rose and Elizabeth. I am then considering more masculine names like Alexandra, Georgina, Harriet. I love girl's names which have a masculine type nn, such as Alex, Hattie, George etc. I also like Louisa, shortened to Lou.

I just can't figure out which I prefer....sometimes I wonder whether the girly names which are sweet for a baby girl are a bit naff when they are older. Like walking into a business meeting and introducing yourself as "Daisy" for example.

Thoughts? Any other suggestions for strong girl's names?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
emmyloo2 · 23/06/2010 14:40

Catherine was also a consideration - fabulous name in my opinion but it's my dh's borther's girlfriend whom I don't particularly like....but great name. Also the name of my dear aunt who died. Maybe it should go back onto the list!!!

Elizabeth is second on our list I think - fabulous, timeless classic name. Just love it.

God, it's so hard....

OP posts:
mamaloco · 23/06/2010 12:52

Like alexandra. Love Lou , but couldn't conviced DH.
strong names? Caroline, Catherine, Martine/a, Roxanne/a, Elizabeth would be strong and not girly IMO, (I don't necessaraly like them though!)

lizziemun · 23/06/2010 12:36

Go for it.

But then i'm biased as i have both an Elizabeth and an Alexandra .

Teapot13 · 23/06/2010 12:06

You can't go wrong with Alexandra.

I don't like the other names you mentioned (Georgina and Harriet) nearly as much.

Aldred · 23/06/2010 11:50

My dd is Alexandra shortened to Alex and she loves it.

rachel234 · 23/06/2010 11:43

Too close/similar to Alexander/Alex imo.

liliputlady · 23/06/2010 11:18

I love Rose and Elizabeth; they're not over girly/cute but are lovely and feminine.

Hedwig3 · 23/06/2010 11:09

This is one that sounds far too much like the male name for me.

proudfoot · 21/06/2010 00:08

Very pretty, classic name. I like the nickname Sasha but she would probably get Alex.

ThatVikRinA22 · 20/06/2010 23:46

its my middle name and id much rather have it as my first name. i love it. if i had the guts id just change it to my first and use it, but it feels too alien now. i do love it though.

PosyPetrovaPauline · 20/06/2010 23:28

My dd is Alexandra nn Sacha

QueenofWhatever · 20/06/2010 21:42

I am a RL Alex - no-one calls me Alexandra. It works well, people can spell it and it's got personality. It was a bit of a pain when I lived in Scotland, as people always assumed I would be a man.

Actually in a business context, people often assume I'm male until I speak to them. They then fall over themselves apologising and I already have the upper hand. Ta da!

irisblue · 20/06/2010 19:17

Love Alexandra - elegant, classic and think it's very feminine actually. Obviously Alex isn't as feminine, but think it's a fab, very cool name for a girl. Also, probably quite unique these days!

Chynah · 19/06/2010 16:27

Beautiful name. I have an Alessandra though so possibly a bit biased

skihorse · 19/06/2010 03:06

I too am an Alexandra and only my friends call me Alex - everyone else uses Alexandra. The terminally thick use Alexander.

Never seen it as masculine myself.

mopsyflopsy · 18/06/2010 22:00

Alexandra is so long that it will inevitably get shortened, and most of the nicknames (Alex, Lexie etc) are quite harsh/masculine sounding imo.

baskingseals · 18/06/2010 21:49

thanks giraffe - i hope she appreciates it when she's older. she is very proud it's a queen's name, hardly daunted by the fact it is a deceased queen

op - good luck - i honestly like all your names

2old4thislark · 18/06/2010 20:54

Girafeyoga snap! I'm one to but hated it when I was a child as I was the only one at my school. And in those days people couldn't seem to grasp the difference between 'Alexandra' and 'Alexander'.

I do like it now though - and I like being an 'Alex'.

It is very popular now though. If you look at any teenagers FB friends they all know about 10 'Alexs'!

NomDePlume · 18/06/2010 19:52

Love it, much nicer than most of the dross you see on these threads usually

dizzydixies · 18/06/2010 19:51

we have one, she is known for now as Lexie. She suits her name, she is the defender of ALL, a fiesty wonderful character who takes no messing about

at the ripe old age of 3 I called on her as Lexie to which she replied 'just call me Alexandra!!' with the face

a name not to be entered into lightly

GiraffeYoga · 18/06/2010 19:48

Agree Baskingseals but its a fantastic adult name

I get complimented on it all the time.

baskingseals · 18/06/2010 19:47

it's quite long
it gets shortened
it's quite masculine sounding

GiraffeYoga · 18/06/2010 19:45

Go for it Im an Alexandra so maybe biased

Lovely name now I'm older because I've grown into it. I struggled as a child as I wished my parents/family had had more imagination than calling me Alex and then giving me short hair....

NN of Alexa is nice as is Ally or Lexi.

LilMagill · 18/06/2010 19:38

I see what you mean about really little-girly names, not even Daisy so much but things like Daisy-May, Evie-Bea etc. Same as the equivalent boys' names sound (imho) unprofessional, e.g. Junior, Sonny, Alfie-Jay. I don't, however, see what is wrong with gorgeous, traditional names like Rose, Eve and Elizabeth - think of Elizabeth I, talk about 'kick-arse'! I mean if you happen to like boyish nicknames that's absolutely fine, but it's a shame that positively regal female names like Elizabeth are seen as somehow 'weaker' iyswim.

Alexandra is lovely btw, and the good thing is it's flexible too so if she doesn't like Alex she can be Allie, Lexie and so on. Funnily enough I find it a very feminine name (when not shortened to Alex) and very regal too, sounds like an empress! Georgina gorgeous too (and likewise, she has the option of Gina or Genie as well as George/Georgie). If I was your dd I'd thank you for giving me the option because I personally would not want to use a boyish nickname. So, thumbs up you can't go wrong really.

Original poster
emmyloo2 · 18/06/2010 19:20

Baskingseals - why do you wish you had chosen something more feminine?

It is a gorgeous name - it will serve her well when she is older.

OP posts: