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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Anyone fancy helping me to narrow down please?

38 replies

specialsmasher · 13/10/2010 07:43

So just found out I'm having a girl!

This list is pretty static at the moment...

Eliza (though curse that Sonya off of Eastenders!)
Martha
Elspeth
Beatrice (Bea)
Elizabeth
Esther
Imogen
Katherine (Kate)
Madeleine

What do you think?

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LittlebearH · 13/10/2010 07:54

Congratulations!!

All nice names but I would go for least common popular

Think Martha and Esther are lovely.

Original poster
specialsmasher · 13/10/2010 07:56

Thanks - I have always loved Martha though it's creeping up - hear it a bit at the playground!

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LittlebearH · 13/10/2010 08:01

Know what you mean. My 8 month old is called Isla. As DP didnt like Eliza! Went to a baby group and there were two more!! Grr!

But hey, In the grand scheme of things just go with what you like.

beccagrace2 · 13/10/2010 08:08

katherine, underused and stunning, she will love you for it.

from your list, the only ones i'm not keep on are madeleine and esther

congrats!

Original poster
specialsmasher · 13/10/2010 08:13

Isla is lovely (don't worry, won't nick it!) and I haven't heard it anywhere! Must be regional or something...

I do like Katherine, but really dislike Kathy. Wouldn't be likely to end up that though with some gentle forcing, I guess!

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LittlebearH · 13/10/2010 08:39

I agree Katherine is lovely and underused but people always take it upon themselves shorten it.

Pet hate with me, names getting shortened. :)

PfftTheMagicDragon · 13/10/2010 09:43

I like all of them except for Esther and Madeleine. In fact I actively dislike Madeleine.

I love Eliza - you also have Elizabeth on your list, what about Betsy? We almost went for Elizabeth - such a lovely name and so many good ways to shorten it. Katherine is also nice.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 13/10/2010 09:53

Katherine or Madeleine. DD told me the other day she wished I'd called her Katherine so she could be called Kate.

thisisyesterday · 13/10/2010 09:57

my faves are:

Eliza
Elspeth
Beatrice

Madeleine is too popular for my liking, Martha getting v popular too

JennySuperB · 13/10/2010 10:22

I like Imogen. Sounds a bit like Imagine though.

Madeleine is a cake and I knew one who was shortened to 'Mad'

I like Isla - the only famous Isla I can think of is Isla Fisher, Borat's missus, and she's lovely.

Rockbird · 13/10/2010 10:24

Don't like Elspeth and Katherine should definitely be spelled with a C, Catherine looks so much classier. Otherwise they are all lovely names.

I guess Eliza, Elizabeth and Madeleine are my favourites

LaTristesse · 13/10/2010 10:26

From your list I prefer Imogen and Madeleine. The others either sound a bit ordinary or a bit dated, but at the end of the day it's nothing to do with me!

Original poster
specialsmasher · 13/10/2010 10:36

Thanks for input, all! Smile

Betsy is a great shortening for Elizabeth, I agree!

Trouble with Catherine (with 'C') is Cate looks weird to me, and Kate seems peculiar then too..

OP posts:
Rockbird · 13/10/2010 10:47

Naah, Catherine --> Kate is fine. If you can make Nell out of Helena (random example!), then anything is acceptable! :o

deliakate · 13/10/2010 11:12

All lovely names, but don't like Madeline.

chickentwizzler · 13/10/2010 11:17

I like Katherine (Kate)best of all.

Thissideofchannel · 13/10/2010 11:18

All lovely classic names. I'd think of what sounds best with your surname.

IntheFrightGarden · 13/10/2010 11:21

I'm a Catherine and I can assure you my name has NEVER been shortened. Wink

minipie · 13/10/2010 11:31

Lovely list, the only 2 I really don't like are Elspeth and Esther.

I absolutely love Madeleine. Beatrice, Eliza, Imogen, Katherine and Elizabeth all great too.

LifeOfKate · 13/10/2010 11:35

Yes, Kreecher, you should have just called her Kate and be done with it, Kate is a fab name :o

OP - like most of your list, although not particularly Madeleine or Esther. Think my favourites on there are Martha and Elspeth. FWIW though, Kate is a lovely name, I've always loved being called it, so my overall vote would be for you to call her Catherine with a nn Kate :)

PfftTheMagicDragon · 13/10/2010 12:03

I don't really have any preference to Catherine over Katherine - but I think it is fine to name Catherine and nickname Kate - I don't think that the different letters matter.

I have a sister Catherine and she was always Kate/Katie with a K.

It is a lovely name. If I didn't dislike my sister so much I would have used it Grin

bubbles12 · 13/10/2010 12:14

Love your whole list. Favourites are Martha (wanted it for my DD but DH was none too keen!) and Elizabeth.
If there is one I am not so keen on, its Elspeth - not sure why though!

let us know your decision!

GrumpyFish · 13/10/2010 12:14

Your list is spookily similar to mine Smile, although we don't yet know what we're having. I am leaning towards Katherine / Kate I think, nice and classic and a name that I know I won't go off down the line. The other front runner for me, not on your list, is Alice - just in case you're looking for more suggestions!

Pernickety · 13/10/2010 12:18

Eliza
Elspeth
Imogen
Elizabeth
Katherine (Kate)

I like the names above, in that order. Hopefully 'Sonia' isn't popular enough to influence Eliza becoming mainstream. I really, really wish I had pushed to call my first DD Eliza.

Original poster
specialsmasher · 13/10/2010 12:22

I will keep you posted! Thanks for so much positive feedback. Alice lovely too, GF!

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