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

Original poster

Dilemma - Scarlett...

43 replies

4sophia · 29/03/2011 15:28

OK ladies, I really need some honest opinions here please.

Hubby and I were really liking the name Scarlett. We thought it a more unusual variation of Charlotte which is a lovely, classic, traditional type name.

So to the problem! I start looking at different baby name websites and happen to come across another well known, but obviously less superior, site. Well, I am then horrified to find an underage, 15 year old, teenage mum declaring her love for the name Scarlett, and stating that any future daughter of hers will be called this!!!

Is Scarlett REALLY the next Courtney, Lacey, Chelsea, Ella/Ellie-Mae type name? Are there any teachers out there with an opinion on the name Scarlett? What sort of person do you imagine to have this name?

Also, could you get away with using the nicknames Ettie, Etta or Lottie? I couldn't bare the thought of a Scar, Scarly, Carly, Scarla type nn.!

Thank you in advance!

4sophia

ps. I know that some mumsnetters have previously said about the Scarlett the harlot association. However, I really don't believe that harlot is a word in most youngsters vocabulary these days, so this doesn't really worry me too much.

OP posts:
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GeneHuntLovesHoops · 31/03/2011 10:09

Gasp! An underage teenage mum like the same name as you?! Best not use it then.....Hmm

CornflowerB · 31/03/2011 10:10

I think if your daughter has a quiet personality she may not like being called Scarlett. If she's more outgoing then it would probably be fine. Think of her as an adult in the future, not what you like now. I have reservations about my daughter's name because, although it is a lovely name and suits her now, I slightly worry that it's not a great name for an adult woman.
I don't think you can go wrong with Charlotte really.

greenzebra · 31/03/2011 10:13

I read a thread on here once that said they had some rules when naming their kids.

First think of the child as a late teen introducing themselves to a potential boyfriend/girlfriend in a pub.

Second think of your child as a twentysomething going for an interview and introducing themselves.

If in both cases the name still sounds great then go for it.

I thought they were really good rules to have.

flopsy1974 · 31/03/2011 11:51

I think Scarlett is a lovely name - reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara. Really pretty and not chavvy at all. Much nicer than Charlotte in my opinion.
So sorry to hear of your loss Cheese Sad

Original poster
4sophia · 31/03/2011 14:35

GeneHuntLovesHoops - I know what sort of names I liked when I was a teenager and I would never in a million years use them now. So it made me question whether or not this was the new 'in' name with chavs. As I've said, I didn't want the name to be in the league of Laceys, Ella-Maes etc. I'm really sorry if that sounds snobby, I suppose to some degree it is. More than anything we don't want her to get to school and find that she's held back by her name. I do believe that teachers stereotype names, then employers and so on.

So sorry for your loss Cheese.

OP posts:
Original poster
4sophia · 31/03/2011 14:48

Well, both my mother and dh now think I'm overthinking things on the name front, so it may be a case of wait and see what she looks like! Not long to go now. I still think it's a lovely name. Thanks again for all the opinions.

OP posts:
suburbanslob · 31/03/2011 20:24

I love Scarlett and if a friend hadn't used it for her daughter, I would have for mine. We're going for Harriet now (if the baby is a girl!).

spidookly · 31/03/2011 20:32

PMSL @ calling your baby Scarlett because she was red :o

DD2 should be called Cheeks :o :o

NessyBay · 02/04/2011 22:34

it's ok for little girl, but weird for adult imo.

Emelene · 02/04/2011 22:40

I do think of it as chavvy/ celebrity-inspired, sorry.

Charlotte is much nicer and more classic. Also nicknames. With Charlotte there's Charlie, Lottie, etc.
But Scarlett : Scar? Letty? It really doesn't float my boat.

Emelene · 02/04/2011 22:42

I do think of it as chavvy/ celebrity-inspired, sorry.

Charlotte is much nicer and more classic. Also nicknames. With Charlotte there's Charlie, Lottie, etc.
But Scarlett : Scar? Letty? It really doesn't float my boat.

notanumber · 03/04/2011 23:47

I went to school at least fifteen a few years ago with a Scarlett. She was a very nice girl. Her nickname was Scar Face. She hated it.

Mind you, her brother was called Silver, so it definitely could have been worse.

OrangeBernard · 04/04/2011 00:03

It's quite a " look at me" name.

Baffledandbewildered · 04/04/2011 00:42

Love it I wanted for our second daughter dh said no....but I still love and would have loved a spirited girl with this name. I think they need to be outgoing toreally carry it off..so it would have been perfect for dd2 silly husband !

NessyBay · 04/04/2011 14:26

It's one of those names that you can completely carry off if you very confident, a bit posh and at private school with a boyfriend called Hugo Grin...but equally if a chav has it, it seems quite fitting too.

Whelk · 04/04/2011 20:46

I love the name Scarlett. But then I also have a dd with one of your so-called chav names.

Whelk · 04/04/2011 20:47

I've just read the thread back.

Oh Cheese I am so very sorry for your loss. What a beautiful name for who I am sure was a beautiful girl.

deliakate · 05/04/2011 15:27

Isn't it that Coronation Street actress's daughter's name - Tina O'Brien?

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