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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Baby name camilla?

107 replies

Shipshapeit · 30/03/2018 22:35

Aibu to think that this is a gorgeous and underused name?
I imagine a beautiful, sophisticated woman, camilla.
Or am I being entirely unreasonable that this would be a good name for a little girl born in 2018, and my hormones have done something to my mind?

OP posts:
Jon66 · 31/03/2018 14:31

Only one face and activity comes to mind with this name.

Rudgie47 · 31/03/2018 14:36

I think its nice enough.
I also know someone who has met CPB and he said she was really nice and a right laugh.
Go fo it OP if you like it enough.

BalloonSlayer · 31/03/2018 14:44

Anyone else roaring at I would go for Camille instead, because although I really like it, the association is just too strong. It now smacks of middle aged horse for me. ? 'Cause the name Camille doesn't put one in mind of any sort of ugly quadruped at all does it? Grin Grin

DaisytheDaftDaffodil · 31/03/2018 14:47

It's different, I love traditional names, so go for what you like. With a name like Camilla or even any name that's short, you'll come up with a nickname.

Original poster
Shipshapeit · 31/03/2018 19:45

Oh my this is making me worse I think it seems split 70:30 like to dislike on here.
I went to school with a girl called Elizabeth, she got lizzy for short. I’ve known a few Elizabeth’s actually, going by Beth’s, liz etc or just Elizabeth. But none of them I’ve ever even thought of Queen Elizabeth. Not once.
I really don’t believe anyone would look at a newborn or small child and think of a middle aged person. I know a few little girls with old names now, think Elsie, Isabelle, Florence etc and I just think of The child, not a much older women.
The only Thing that I will have to think a bit more about is the upper class association, as don’t want to appear ‘try hard’.

OP posts:
Mightymucks · 31/03/2018 23:51

Just read that the name Camilla comes from the name of the attendants who would accompany the sacrifices and slit their throats in Ancient Rome.

Not so keen now.

RapunzelIsHere · 31/03/2018 23:55

Love it.

Original poster
Shipshapeit · 01/04/2018 12:50

Mightymucks where did you read that?
That’s horrible Shock
I’ve read that it means ‘maiden warrior’ and attendant. But not that

OP posts:
Amanduh · 01/04/2018 13:18

It’s perfectly ok, but I think it’s old-fashioned. I and every person I know of a range of ages would think of Camilla Parker Bowles immediately

AndromedaPerseus · 01/04/2018 13:20

Clarissa is a similar name and I’d prefer it as it avoids the Charles& Camilla associations

Wishfulmakeupping · 01/04/2018 13:24

I love the name it was on the shortlist for dd But my family very royalist and adored Princess Diana could only think of ‘that’ Camilla so hated it.
I think it is a marmite name but if you love it go for it.

Stopandlook · 01/04/2018 13:24

I like it. Would have been on my list if it wasn’t for the infamous one but I think the more regular Camillas the better!

Grammarist · 01/04/2018 15:53

Being very honest, I really don't like the name at all. I'm not sure why. I'd go for Camille but I'm not massively keen on that either.

Original poster
Shipshapeit · 01/04/2018 16:25

Fair enough grammarist. Not every name will be to everyone’s taste.
I think it’s elegant and even if you some people aren’t keen on it I don’t
Think for example it would hold her back on a job application, or be on a teachers ‘naughty name list’ which according to my teacher friend, apparently they do have ‘naughty names’.
I’m really not fussed now about the royal association now on the basis that when I meet an Elizabeth I don’t think of the Queen. Or a Kate or a harry or a William I don’t think of the royal family at all.
The only thing still making me doubt it is the upper class association. I’d hate to look try hard.

OP posts:
Agustarella · 01/04/2018 16:49

@BalloonSlayer lol, that reminds me of "Camille Toe", a gruesome fancy dress costume my brother brought home from a stag night and gave to my DS. Hours of fun until my DM made them throw it away. Now the only Camille I know is a bald, paunchy landscape gardener. I wouldn't choose the name for a girl myself, though I believe people do!

Republican here, and I adore the name Camilla. And Diana. The Duchess of Whatserface doesn't own the name. Anything classical should be universally suitable, in principle at least.

Lizzie48 · 01/04/2018 16:58

It's a lovely name, and I don't think you need to worry about the association with Camilla P-B, this genre isn't really aware of 1990s scandals, and actually I really like that Camilla anyway.

MollyHuaCha · 01/04/2018 17:01

It's a lovely name. I like both Camille and Camilla.

Zippea · 01/04/2018 17:06

I have a Camilla Rose (DD2) and she is beautiful

Original poster
Shipshapeit · 01/04/2018 17:34

Zippea I don’t doubt she is beautiful and it’s such an elegant name to me.
What are people’s reacrions like to your dd name? Have you even had a camilla pb or royal family remark?
Or an upper class/wannabe posh remark? I say this not entirely sure of your social background in the first instance.

OP posts:
Littlebelina · 01/04/2018 17:44

I didn't immediately think of CPB and am old enough to remember it all well. Also I think most folks have come round to her now so I wouldn't let it out you off. It's not a name I'd chose but life would be boring if we all liked the same stuff

EachandEveryone · 01/04/2018 17:44

I prefer Camille but Camilla is lovely also.

Zippea · 01/04/2018 17:47

People were snippy at first because it is an old fashioned name and most people associated it with Camilla pb. She has really grown into her name and owned it. I rarely get the royal family association or any kind of class remark. It’s a name that you must be completely sure of if you want to use it as I was expecting a lot of comments about it but haven’t really received any (apart from my Mum renaming her Camelia)
DD2 loves her name, she lives that there isn’t another Camilla in her class and when Camilla hit the charts well, she thinks she is marvellous!
I’d say If you love the name, use it. When you look at your little one as a baby, it feels a very big name to use but they do grow into it

throwcushions · 01/04/2018 17:52

All the Camillas I have known have been very posh horsey types. I'd put it in a similar bracket to Drusilla. I'm not a fan. I also think it's more associated with CPB than say Catherine is associated with Catherine Middleton or Elizabeth is with the Queen because Camilla is much less commonly used.

Original poster
Shipshapeit · 01/04/2018 17:53

Zipper just to clarify do you pronounce it cam ill a or
Ca meal a?
I know the singer is more like the second pronouciation.
And if you pronounce it one way do you tend to get people pronounce it the other?
I really love both pronoinciations actually Smile

OP posts:
Zippea · 01/04/2018 18:00

We pronounce it Cam mill a

I knew when I was having her she could be called Elijah (I was convinced she was a boy) and when I found I was having a girl I just knew she was called Camilla. I introdiced her to the family as Camilla Rose and that helped dispel most misgivings and thoughts of Camilla pb

Are you considering a second name?

(She doesn’t have a horse [thugrin] )