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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:
IdrisTheDragon · 08/02/2007 15:15

haven't read all the thread but keep spotting Alice which is a very nice name. And I'm sure DD would agree as well. I hope she does anyway.

However I'm not so sure at the thought of Katherine being inferior to Catherine (DH's sister called Catherine as is his brother's wife). It's a good thing I'm Katherine or we would all have exactly the same name...

elliejune · 08/02/2007 16:42

Has anyone suggested Daisy which is short for Margaret but is very pretty and short and not too many syllables

calmontheoutside · 08/02/2007 16:52

Is Daisy really short for Margaret? That'll be the Margareta (sorry about the spelling) Daisy... I never knew. My MIL is Margaret and I loved the way her husband always called her 'Maggie' with a lilting accent.

elliejune · 08/02/2007 16:55

Yes it's from Margarite which is spanish for Mornings Eye which is the Daisy! My MIL is Margaret and my dd is Daisy May Elizabeth. Which I think is a beautiful name and goes very well with our short surname.

Bink · 08/02/2007 17:00

vote for Juliet - really nice one

also very fond of Mary - so is dd as "it's the name Mummy and I have got together" (she's Laura Mary btw and it suits her like anything)

Helen ... can I retell one of my favourite anecdotes: big cheese person in the US [relevant only in that he was highly educated & should have known better] about son's new girlfriend:

"But Helen - what kind of name is that for a pretty girl?"

becaroo · 08/02/2007 19:17

I think a short surname needs a longer forename eg: Elizabeth Rowe. Jane Rowe sounds a bit boring IYKWIM. Eleanor is very pretty.

LolaT · 08/02/2007 19:36

I love Alice. Very cool. And Amelia. What about Liza? or Marta. Old but lovely.

Bucketsofdynomite · 08/02/2007 19:45

Carrie Cole (Caroline/Carolyn/Carola)
But I like alliteration, me.

DrDaddy · 08/02/2007 19:47

It's funny, when DW was pregnant both times we just couldn't agree on girl's names. I was VERY trad in my choices, while she was IMO way way out there (won't say names in case it offends ) But we always agreed absolutely on boys' names. Luckily we have two boys

Greensleeves · 08/02/2007 19:55

I like some odd names nobody ever really "gets".

I like Jennet, for example. Old English name, I think it's pretty and reminds me of Jenny Wren.

I like Iolanthe, too. And Skye. In fact

pointydog · 08/02/2007 20:14

jennet

reminds me of rennet

Greensleeves · 08/02/2007 20:17

Yippe, have just discovered dh loves Iolanthe too! So if we ever have a girl, Iolanthe it is!!!

norkmaiden · 08/02/2007 20:20

ooh Jennet is cool.

I quite like Linnet too (victorian name from Children of Green Knowe iirc).

lockets · 08/02/2007 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

norkmaiden · 08/02/2007 20:23

Honor Cole ?

Looks quite nice (o x3), is unusual, pretty but simple?

pollyanna · 08/02/2007 20:24

Elsa is nice.

franca70 · 08/02/2007 20:32

I love elsa

BandofMothers · 08/02/2007 20:35

If Iolanthe is a bit of a mouthful, Ianthe is a shorter version.(Can pronounce it e-anthe or i-anthe) I think it goes quite nicely.
Mrs Badger has this helped at all or just complicated the decision.
When is lo due?

pointydog · 08/02/2007 20:44

Mrs Badger ran off screaming some time around Lolita

Original poster
MrsBadger · 08/02/2007 20:49

it's certainly helped clarify one or two things, not least mine and DH's common liking for Normal English Names

not due till the summer so lots of time to change my mind...

OP posts:
BandofMothers · 08/02/2007 20:56

Well. Lots of time. Couldn't decide on dd2 for ages. Had to talk DH round a bit. Finally decided a couple of days before she came.
And she was 13 days late (8 hrs before I was to be induced- talk about cutting it fine!!)
If she'd been on time she might not have had a name for a few days!

Woollymummy · 08/02/2007 21:45

Hello, I haven't read all of the thread, but I think Anna is a lovely, dignified, old/new pretty name that I would have loved for our baby girl, but there is an Anna only one generation away so it would have seemed odd.... but I really like it.

overthehill · 09/02/2007 00:26

I was at school with a family of four Coles: Jeremy, Gillian, Heather & Miriam - and also knew a Heather Coles.

Kraut · 09/02/2007 07:54

Carlotta Cole sounds great

Shosha · 09/02/2007 07:58

Message withdrawn

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