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Baby names

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

Original poster

Pearl- yay or nay?

29 replies

saffy85 · 27/01/2011 18:42

I'm 5 months pregnant with DC2 who we don't know the sex of.

I want to include my gran in some way with regards to the name, she's been so supportive of me and my littl family since having DD 3 years ago and is one of the few people in my family who has never judged me.

DP and I have more or less agreed Cameron is on the shortlist for a boy (my gran's middle name) but DP doesn't like her first name which is Margaret. Fair enough imo (I do, but I'll get over this) and I have suggested Pearl instead. Margaret means Pearl apparently which is lovely. DP seems to like it. Also Pearl Jam is one of his favourite bands. Smile which is how I sold it to him in the end. Grin

Also DP is picking the first name for this DC as I chose DD's and he likes Alexa/Alexia. We both agree on this (although I also like Faith for a girl) Does Alexa/Alexia Pearl sound ok? Do the initials APW stand for anything bad? (Baby's surname begins with W).

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AllieW · 27/01/2011 18:45

Yay! LOVE this name. Can't use it myself since with our surname it would sound like a brand of toothpaste, though :(

Alexia Pearl sounds good.

CrawlingInMySkin · 27/01/2011 18:57

My middle name is Margaret after my nan Grin I got a bit of teasing but I was happy to have my nans name Smile I think Alexia Pearl sounds lovely.

JojoMags · 27/01/2011 18:58

Alexia Pearl is lovely. I wouldn't use Pearl as a first name but it is great as a middle name

Threelittleducks · 27/01/2011 19:03

"Pearl's a singer. She sings songs when she plays the piaaaaanooooo!!" (rather funky song)

Really do like Pearl if it is said with a classy tone.
Very sweet name :)

My mate has a stepmum called Pearl who says it "Pearul" like Peril.
Which is apt for her. She is a raging alky with a hoarse smoking voice.

Margaret is lovely though - my granny was called Margaret too - had it shortened to Maggie or Mags, which suited her as a really sweet lady throughout her life.

(Faith is gorgeous!)

tummytickler · 27/01/2011 19:32

My 5 year old dd is Pearl - so I obviously love it!
I also love Margaret - shame your dh wont go for it.
I think Alexia Pearl is lovely. I prefer Faith as a first name, but I do not think Pearl goes as a mn with Faith. I think Faith would need a longer middle name.

CDMforever · 27/01/2011 19:37

LOVE the name Pearl.
Sorry, but not keen on Alexa or Alexia. When I was pg with DD DH loved the name Alexa. He thought it was a very strong girl's name, which I suppose it is. Already having 2 DSs I was dying to bestow a very very girly/flowery name on my DD (which I did!).
Also I think the nn Lexi is a bit dodgy as it rhymes with Sexy.

MistleToad · 27/01/2011 19:45

Love Pearl!
You could use Margot instead of Margaret?

latrucha · 27/01/2011 19:46

Pearl is great. Plus I'd love to be 'mother of Pearl'. Smile

Rhubarbgarden · 27/01/2011 19:49

Prefer Pearl to Alexa/Alexia.

TallulahdoesthehulainHawaii · 27/01/2011 20:09

Pearl is very pretty.

rubyslippers · 27/01/2011 20:09

Love the name Pearl

undercovamutha · 27/01/2011 20:11

Love Pearl - it was on our short list for DC2, who turned out to be a DS!

Think Alexia is a bit OTT, but Alexa is nice.

prettymaryk · 27/01/2011 20:15

pearl is lovely, i reckon it might do a ruby though and become very popular. it's a too (youtube link)

tummytickler · 27/01/2011 21:12

Noooooo! I don't want it to do a Ruby!

SameOldJollster · 27/01/2011 21:17

I think it's important to use names that matter to you and your family history.

FWIW I really dislike Pearl, but can see I'm in the absolute minority!! I also don't thin it goes with your first name choice at all.

Much prefer Alexa to Alexia (dunno why). Alexa's lovely. What about Alexa Margot. (Oo just spotted that's been suggested!)

Cameron's nice btw.

PlanetLizard · 27/01/2011 22:26

Pearl is a lovely name.

Not so sure on Alexa/Alexia, they sound more modern than Pearl somehow (even if they're not?) Love Alexandra and Alexandria though.

mathanxiety · 27/01/2011 22:30

Gorgeous name. How about Pearl Alexandra? I know the initials would be PAW but that's not that bad...

missmakesstuff · 27/01/2011 22:37

My dd is Margaret, after both her grandmother and great grandmother - we call her Maggie. I liked it because of the family link, and that she can nickname herself anything when she is older, which I think is important for girls - Mags, Maggie, Greta, Peggy and pearl, if she wants, think there are lots of nicknames for Margaret, can't remember the rest now! Have to say, she doesn't seem like a Margaret at all, but the moment she was born, she was Maggie!

threefeethighandrising · 27/01/2011 23:07

I think the meaning of a name is very important, and you should go with Pearl as the middle name.

Or, here are some other possibilities based on Margaret:

Daisy
Margarite
Margo
Mari
Marietta
Marjorie
Meghan
Peggi
Maisie

mathanxiety · 28/01/2011 03:04

And also the Scottish Marsaili.

Original poster
saffy85 · 29/01/2011 09:34

Hi thanks everyone! Smile The more I think about the name Pearl the more I like it. Nothing is set in stone until we meet the baby- it may not look like Alexa/Alexia Pearl. If it's a girl obviously.

Also can I ask if it's a bit Hmm to name it Alexa/Alexia when my middle name is Alexandra? DP really set his heart on that name and says he forgot what my middle name is- says he could have sworn it was something else. No one outside my family know my middle name btw- it's hardly the type you double barrell.

I did point out it mght seem a bit big headed on my part to nme baby (if it's a girl) a name so close to my own but he sad that if I could include the name of someone special to me so could he. Dunno if I can argue with that...

OP posts:
onimolap · 29/01/2011 09:39

I think using a variant of your middle name is fine as a first name. (Especially as I think Pearl is better in the middle).

asdx2 · 29/01/2011 09:40

Love the name Pearl. My dd is named Lucy but we call her Pearl because it suits her.

Original poster
saffy85 · 29/01/2011 09:44

I think Pearl sounds better in the middle. Can't think of a middle name that we both like to go with it otherwise.

OP posts:
spongefingerssavedmylife · 29/01/2011 09:44

I don't like Pearl - bet it'll do a Ruby! I disagree that it sounds 'classy', kind of makes me think of someone in a bingo hall (sorry OP).