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Baby names

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

Original poster

Willoughby

41 replies

snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:24

... for a girl. It's traditionally a boy's name (not just a surname!) but has been used in the USA for girls too. What are your thoughts please? Does anyone know a Willoughby anywhere? And are they happy with their name?

I like the name, think it's really pretty, but am worried this would condemn the child to a lifetime of having to repeat her name, spell her name on the phone etc. Please be honest with your views!

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TheGoddessBlossom · 20/12/2010 15:25

boys name IMHO

MyCatJeremy · 20/12/2010 15:29

I really don't like this name for what it is, a boy/man's name. It does sound slightly better for a girl.

DontLetTinselDragOnTheFloor · 20/12/2010 15:31

No. you are condemning her to a lifetime of spelling it out, explaining that yes, she knows it is a boys name but her mother liked it and used it anyway etc etc etc

EvilTwinsAteRudolph · 20/12/2010 15:32

Makes me think of that book "The Wolves of Willoughby Chase" and the nasty cad who dumps Marianne in "Sense and Sensibility"

AllieW · 20/12/2010 15:42

Not at all keen, sorry.

BelligerentYhoULE · 20/12/2010 15:42

Noooooooooooooooo - I'm sorry but it is really, truly awful. If I knew you in real life and you told me that you had named your daughter this, I would think that you were bonkers.

It is a SURNAME, not even a boys' name traditionally (whatever American websites etc may tell you).

Sorry but you did say be honest.

Littlefish · 20/12/2010 15:43

No.

No.

No.

LoopyLoopsOfSparklyFairyLights · 20/12/2010 15:44

A village between Nottingham and Melton Mowbray.

Original poster
snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:44

Ok. I think I agree with all of you - thanks. It's not going to be Willoughby.

I still think it's very pretty, but I will be a responsible parent and accept that we can't give a girl a boy's name, and a relatively uncommon one at that, without opening her up to all sorts of ridicule and difficulty. (I suppose I could argue that this might toughen her up, the better able to overcome other difficulties in life, but on the other hand that's not a very good reason behind a name either!)

Hmm. Back to the bookshelf for me!

Or can anyone think of anything a bit like Willoughby, for a girl? The female equivalent is Willow, which I don't really like (I think because of the 80s film!)

OP posts:
Nightstar · 20/12/2010 15:45

Wouldnt the nickname always be Willy? That's a bit cruel!

Makes me think of Holly Willoughby and i dont like her, sorry!

Littlefish · 20/12/2010 15:48

Good decision snowmum.

Nightstar · 20/12/2010 15:48

Willma? Wilhelmina (from Bram Stokers Dracula, her nickname was Mina, which is quite pretty)

Original poster
snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:49

But, in my defence, I found it in a British book of names - it's an old English name apparently - and initially assumed it was a girl's name because it sounds feminine to me. Was obviously a bit put off when I saw it was for a boy, but ...

Anyway, I am now convinced of the error of my ways - I'd suspected that my RL friends would think I was bonkers, and if the collective wisdom here is also united against, then there's no question about it. Goodbye Willoughby!

OP posts:
Original poster
snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:50

I like Wilhelmina as a name, but somehow it reminds me of a horse! Not sure why...

But Mina is very pretty - much better than Willy!

OP posts:
traceybath · 20/12/2010 15:52

Oh I liked this too when pregnant with dc3 but had the resounding noooooo you got too Grin

Anyway dc3 was born and is Beatrice.

BelligerentYhoULE · 20/12/2010 15:55

Beatrice is lovely!

Names abit like Willoughby? Erm.....

Verity?
Wendy? I HATE this name though!
Felicity?

Original poster
snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:55

Ooh Tracey - glad I'm not the only one at least! I really like Beatrice one of my good friends called her daughter Beatrice last year and I'm loathe to copy (or to be seen as copying, rather, as I'd liked it for aaages!)

OP posts:
Original poster
snowmumtobeinchaos · 20/12/2010 15:59

I do like Verity and Felicity.

Although I slightly worry that they might be seen as a bit posh/aspirational. (Whereas Willoughby would have been too random to be classifiable - or at least, that was my logic...)

Still, Verity and Felicity are now on the list, thank you!

OP posts:
Nightstar · 20/12/2010 16:07

I would think about meanings as good reasons. If a name has a nice meaning i think it's more justified.

You can go with Verity as it means Truthfull and Felicity as it means Happyness.

ShoppingDays · 20/12/2010 16:10

It sounds like a place name or surname.

Willow for a girl, or William for a boy are nice names.

Desiderata · 20/12/2010 16:12

Might suit a Texan oil baron.

Are you?

mathanxiety · 20/12/2010 18:13

I've heard Carrington used as a girls' name in the US -- very much a southern thing. I assume the appeal is that it's 'fancier' than Carrie and has that surnamey vibe, and English-sounding surnames are considered very posh there (you don't get many little Kowalskis running around).

Janoschi · 20/12/2010 18:25

Can I pipe up and confess I really love Willoughby for a girl...? (Ducks back down for cover)

FlightoftheCrimbleTree · 20/12/2010 18:29

I really wouldn't. We have a wilberforce and even on a boy it is derided and ridiculed.

I agree you have a nice name there but really, I just wouldn't! Smile

traceybath · 20/12/2010 18:45

Oh I adore Wilberforce but have an Arthur Montgomery too Smile