Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Cappuccino · 07/02/2007 10:11

decaff? Are you out of your mind?

NbgsYellowFeathers · 07/02/2007 10:11

Congratulations MrsB, I didnt realise you were pg either!

We recived the deeds to our house a few weeks ago and they got back to 1880. There were some gorgeous names on there.
Just plain names but they sounded so lovely.
I'd be happy to list them if you fancy some more ideas.

nailpolish · 07/02/2007 10:12

i know a 4 yr old Norma

fireflyfairy2 · 07/02/2007 10:12

Laura? Lara?

What's wrong with Emma?

MrsJohnCusack · 07/02/2007 10:12

my father wanted Jane or Susan for my sister (born in 1964) but she is called Caroline. I love that name

and as for the dead pets - DD's middle name is after my dead dog, and this baby is probably going to be called after one of my dead cats. nowt wrong with a dead pets theme when naming your children

nailpolish · 07/02/2007 10:12

i also know a 90 yr old Louise, which i think is really cool

nailpolish · 07/02/2007 10:13

lol MrsJC

funkimummy · 07/02/2007 10:14

Blimey, I have a 4 syllable first name, a once syllable middle name, another middle name with 2 syllables and a 2 syllable surname. It's sooooooooooo hard to say when drunk!

I like old fashioned names, but my mother took the biscuit!

bundle · 07/02/2007 10:14

lol @ dead pets..i sense a theme emerging

cap - sorry, had a stressful week. what i really meant was capafrapaccino

themildmanneredjanitor · 07/02/2007 10:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

funkimummy · 07/02/2007 10:15

I know a Maggie, and a Molly, and a Katie, and Maisie and Tilly. All aged 5 and under.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/02/2007 10:15

Caroline is a fab name...
As is Katherine
Elizabeth
Josephine
Emily
Dorothy
Victoria
Millicent
Jennifer

All 'old' names in my family with many syllables. I think a hard sounding polysyllabic first name is better than a soft sounding polysyllabic first name thinking ahead to their teens and beyond. Personally.

nailpolish · 07/02/2007 10:16

but these arent plain vvvv

funkimummy · 07/02/2007 10:16

VVV - are you a no 7 like me?

themildmanneredjanitor · 07/02/2007 10:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bundle · 07/02/2007 10:17

i love katherine with a k. and kitty.

and dora

nailpolish · 07/02/2007 10:18

i really like Margaret

themildmanneredjanitor · 07/02/2007 10:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/02/2007 10:21

No NP, but I like them and they sound great with a monosyllabic surname.

Yes, funkimummy. With number 1 too.

nailpolish · 07/02/2007 10:23

oh i see what you mean vvvv!

suzycreamcheese · 07/02/2007 10:27

sorry havent read all this

mary i really like mary mary
karen too more modern..
carolyn

susan/ etc..no dont like (girl i worked with reasons..)

eleanor lovely
cerys ditto

i would have loved to name a little girl
good luck to you allx

JackieNo · 07/02/2007 10:31

I have a distant cousin called Lara, and I love that name. Has anybody suggested Joanna? Could be shortened to Jo or Anna? Mind you there is Joanna Trollope, so not sure if that would put you off it.

BandofMothers · 07/02/2007 10:36

I always loved the name Piper, so that's what dd1 is called. loved the originality of it, and thought it went really well with my gran's name, Joyce, which is quite old fashioned. try mixing the old with the new and see what happens.
Piper loves her name and makes us use both, course she's 3, don't know how she'll feel when she's older, but bet there wont be any other Piper's in her class at school!!!

bakedpotato · 07/02/2007 10:41

Could you not come to love Mary? I think it is tops. Coupled with plain surname: very chic imo.

Original poster
MrsBadger · 07/02/2007 10:51

I only went for a coffee and now the thread's heaving with good ideas!

Am quite liking the idea of a 'hard' polysyllabic first name rather than a 'soft' one - I think it's probably the percieved softness of Susanna et al that DH is objecting to rather than the actual length.

Good call on Philippa, Enid - is in the family and high on my list (surname def not showjumpery)

And top marks to whoever said Helen - good balance of pretty and plain.

[makes notes]

also Margaret - in fact that's my grandmother, on whose birthday the Cub is in fact due...

OP posts: