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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

about really plain names for girls?

452 replies

MrsBadger · 07/02/2007 09:20

Now I swore I would never start a baby-name thread but I can't hold off any longer.

DH wants to give the impending BadgerCub a name that's been used in our families before. I'm fine with this - we have about 20 generations and 500 names to choose from.

The boy's names are generally fine by me (classics like Edward, John, James, Benjamin etc), but he always leans towards girls' names that I just find a bit... dull.

We have a short surname - think Stone or Rowe - and I can't help feeling that (eg) Mary, Susan and Jane don't sound especially nice with it.

Am I being overly picky or should I hold out for something longer and (oh the shame, never thought I'd say this) 'prettier', eg Eleanor or Susanna?

Come on, beat me with sticks now, I know I deserve it!

OP posts:
QueenEagle · 07/02/2007 22:16

Too many 'k' sounds in Rebecca Cole.

Suzannah Cole is perfect!!

Original poster
MrsBadger · 07/02/2007 22:16

[bangs head on wall]

I should have told you my real surname at the beginning - I love all those three-syllable names (excpet Lydia who's an evil aunt) but DH does not

hence quest for short-yet-pretty names...

OP posts:
pointydog · 07/02/2007 22:20

One syllable is where it's at.

Although Mary Cole is cool.

RustyBear · 07/02/2007 22:21

I have a similar surname & really wanted to call DD Isabella, but DH didn't like it. We thought about Victoria, but finally decided on a 2-syllable name.

There can be problems with naming after family - my mum wanted to call my older sister Elizabeth after her mum, but luckily realised that if she had another daughter, she'd have to call her after my dad's mum - Gladys Eugenie.....

CocoLoco · 07/02/2007 22:22

OK, now you've insulted my DD's name I'm off

Why does DH get his way over names? Especially if you have his surname? I say when my DH gives birth to our baby he gets to choose the name (although he did choose DS1's middle name)

Original poster
MrsBadger · 07/02/2007 22:24

he's not getting his way (else I wouldn't be posting for ideas) - we are, as so often, trying to find a compromise we both like.

Eleanor, Rachel and Zoe all doing well atm.

OP posts:
macneil · 07/02/2007 22:27

I know one has to consider one's husband's feelings, but the name your child has should really be decided on what you think is the prettiest/most suitable for the kind of person you want her to be, and if he fancied one particular name, that would be completely reasonable, but just wanting one type of name and asking for that - I mean, used before in the family - seems less of a good argument, whereas you can say you really love whichever name you really love.

Having said that, there is something very cool and flat about two one syllable names, eg Kate Moss, it's a bit attitudey. Joan Chen. I didn't like the way the longer names I liked shortened so went for a one syllable. I wanted to team it with Isabella as the middle name, because one-syllables work nicely with a three syllable middle name, but that was where I let my husband choose. Incidentally, she has my surname, too, because we both thought it was a bit cooler, and his brother is throwing out boys with his name every year. I'm my family's only hope.

cerys · 07/02/2007 22:33

Amy?

Havingatoughtime · 07/02/2007 22:44

Ruth Cole

MamazonAKAfatty · 07/02/2007 22:57

I have an Eleanor Grace XXXX

I wanted Elize but chickened out and i regret it.
It was the name of a very distant aunt from about 1860 so a very old name, and yet it sounded so very modern.

My Eleanor is 2 now and her name was quite unusual at the time....it seems to be everywhere now

BandofMothers · 07/02/2007 23:05

I think Rowena Cole sounds quite nice.
Fiona Cole also, Rachel Cole very nice.

OldieMum · 07/02/2007 23:18

Just seen this. What we think about names is driven by people we know, or know of, with that name. Our Mary, our lovely daughter, is named after her remarkable great grandmother. The wife of a coal miner, she put four of her eleven children through higher education in the 1930s (two were girls) and believed passionately in women's opportunities. We are proud that our Mary carries her name. We hope she displays the same strength of character as she grows up.

AngharadGoldenhand · 07/02/2007 23:44

What about Tamsin?

Aloha · 07/02/2007 23:45

I think Susan is due a HUGE revival, personally. It's not my name btw!

Itcouldhavebeenbeetroot · 07/02/2007 23:46

'ello aloha (she is called Susan though)

Tinker · 07/02/2007 23:49

Love the name Julia, very classy, sounds completely different to Julie (no offence to Julies blah blah blah). Great John Lennon song to go with it.

Aloha · 07/02/2007 23:50

So not! (don't listen to that Beetroot. She is all red and round!)

JanH · 08/02/2007 00:01

Olivia

MrsJohnCusack · 08/02/2007 00:03

Louisa Cole

nappyaddict · 08/02/2007 06:12

ellen julia alice or anna for me. like sophia but not sophie and helena but not helen.

nappyaddict · 08/02/2007 06:20

what about henrietta, daphne, milly/tilly, holly, annie, morgan, summer, may, april, amber, ruby, esme, natalia, joanna, grace, jenna, jessica, abbie, nicole, skye, charley, erin, phoebe, freya, sally, bethany, libby, hannah, jodie, alexa/alexi, rose/rosie/roseanne/rosanna, clara, mia, becca, sinead, megan, miranda, madeline, kirsty, luisa or darly?

nappyaddict · 08/02/2007 06:24

oh like daisy and francesca too, or francis.

nappyaddict · 08/02/2007 06:24

oh and alicia and georgia/georgina.

nappyaddict · 08/02/2007 06:24

sorry - last one. how about naomi?

nappyaddict · 08/02/2007 06:25

coral?