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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Ava V Charlotte? Heart V Head?

68 replies

mimimomma · 02/03/2012 06:19

We're struggling to decide on a name for dd2 and caught between 2 names, but both are very different.

Ava- We LOVE. It's been a name I've loved for a few years, the link to old Hollywood glamour is right up my street. We nearly had this name first time around but backed out at the last minute because of the influx of Ava's, Eva's, Evie's etc. However, 3 years on we still love the name. The only negative for us is the popularity of it over recent years, it's quite likely to be the Claire/Nicola etc of her generation- but is that such a terrible thing?

Charlotte- Our sensible choice. It's a great name, solid, traditional, it's my mn and we like Lottie and Charlie as nn. We don't LOVE it, and we've had a fairly lukewarm reception when mentioning it to a few friends. Still a popular name, but more timeless than Ava.

What to do? Head V Heart?

OP posts:

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allnewtaketwo · 02/03/2012 19:17

I like both. More so Ava. But I would probably be put off for the reasons you are - also Myleene Klass.

I've always like the name Charlotte.

EMS23 · 02/03/2012 19:18

My 15 month old DD is called Ava Charlotte and I think it's beautiful!
There is another Ava in her room at nursery but I don't really care.

scottishmummy · 02/03/2012 19:42

pick a top 10 name expect to have others in class
goes with the territory

SlinkingOutsideInFrocks · 02/03/2012 19:51

It's not even about having others in the class with the same name, for me - I mean, you could still pick a very popular name and strike lucky and be the only one in the class (though chances of that happening in every class right through school, university and work are slim!).

It's more as time passes, and the name falls from favour.

It just starts to sound so dull and dated and blah. I mean, no-one can imagine their little Ruby or Olivia or Ava sounding dull or dated, because the names are fashionable now.

But this is exactly what all the parents of Claire and Joannes and Karens thought 35 years ago, as well...

scottishmummy · 02/03/2012 19:57

names do become cliched and overdone esp all top ten names.and the fact of being poplar means they are oft heard,eventually becoming too grating.and so people drop in favour of next unique/retro/funky name

Original poster

mimimomma · 02/03/2012 20:00

I don't think we mind if she is one of many Ava's or Charlotte's (otherwise I agree scottishmummy we wouldn't pick names in the top 20). It's more of an issue that Ava is so recently popular and may date compared with Charlotte.

I don't mind popular names, after all, names are popular for a reason.

OP posts:

scottishmummy · 02/03/2012 20:03

in that case use name you like best

BeckyBrandonNeeBloomwood · 02/03/2012 20:41

I say go for Ava with Charlotte as a middle name. Love the idea of DD having the same middle name as you. Cute!
I know what u mean about Ava- it's my all time favourite name for a girl, but it does annoy me that it has been so popular in recent years. However my heart says it's still my fave name so if we are lucky enough to have a DD I will probably still call her that.

Italiangreyhound · 03/03/2012 22:26

Go with your heart. Congratulations.

sashh · 04/03/2012 03:01

If you want bragging rights of "she's only 3 and she can write her name already" go for Ava.

Charlotte - I used to love this name, then the Mack Lads released a record and ............... well if you don't know it, don't google it.

belgo · 04/03/2012 07:20

'If you want bragging rights of "she's only 3 and she can write her name already" go for Ava.'

also far quicker to text Ava then Charlotte!

birdofthenorth · 04/03/2012 08:37

Met another baby Ava yesterday. Almost said "another one!" outloud, thankfully stopped myself! I know 6 under two, and I don't know that many kids! 2 in DD's nursery class of 14 toddlers (2 Eva's, as well). Hard to get excited about it anymore, even though it is a lovely name. I loved Ruby before the giant rise to ubiquitousness, and it sounds great with our surname, but I'm so glad we named DD something more personal to her now.

PrincessTamTam · 04/03/2012 10:55

I feel sorry for Myleene Klass... she's not that naff is she? Poor girl.
Ruby is nice, not so ubiquitous now.

SayBoo · 04/03/2012 11:10

Charlotte

fedupofnamechanging · 04/03/2012 18:22

Mylene Klass won't be famous for ever - I don't think you can avoid a name based on the fact that someone semi famous chose it for their child.

I think Ava is beautiful and I still think of Ava Gardner when I hear it.

More to the point you love it and I think that's the most important quality when choosing a name for your baby. If you decide not to use it because of its popularity, then think of another name you also love. I think you will regret going for a safe choice that you are a bit 'meh' about.

mrudagawa · 04/03/2012 19:22

It's not Myleene as an individual; just what she represents. She is one of the many people who've chosen what's now a very popular name.

manicinsomniac · 04/03/2012 19:24

I think Ava and Charlotte are both beautiful names. I don't know which I prefer but Ava Charlotte is a lovely combination.

There's not much between them for popularity though (Ava ranked 11 in 2010 and Charlotte ranked 20). It's not something that would bother me in the slightest but, if you're looing for a less popular alternative to Ava I wouldn't choose Charlotte.

MilkNoSugarAndAShotofWhisky · 04/03/2012 23:26

Ava is absolutely beautiful :)

welovesausagedogs · 04/03/2012 23:33

Ava - go with what you love, you will love your daughter after all, so go with a name that you love just as much as your baby girl.

scummymummy · 04/03/2012 23:40

I too think you should go for the name you love. That, in essence, is what naming a child is all about and, while it is important to take some consideration of what is culturally acceptable so she doesn't end up being called Hitler or Vagina, it is very possible to over think these things and reject names that are meaningful and lovely to you. Don't do it! Have an Ava.

anychocswilldo · 04/03/2012 23:55

My dd2 is Ava, I love her name. I did have second thoughts when I was pregnant coz its so popular,but so what. It's a beautiful name and it completely belongs to her, she couldn't be called anything else. Go with the name u love, surely a popular name is better than a stupid,try hard name where people r trying to be different.

anychocswilldo · 04/03/2012 23:57

Charlotte is very pretty btw, Ava Charlotte is a beautiful name.

FizzyLaces · 05/03/2012 00:07

I have a teen Charlotte and all her friends call her Charlieeee and it suits her to a tee.

Devora · 05/03/2012 00:08

I have an Ava. I was pg during the year it suddenly shot up the top 100 list. I spent my first 3 years with her having conversations with other mums that went: "Oh, you've got an Ava too? Oh, you thought it was a nice unusual name too? We were wrong, weren't we?"

If I'm honest, it does bother me that it has become so popular, and that people will always be able to date her birth. Amazingly, there are no other Avas in her class, but there are three just in our street. But who knows whether it will bother her or not?

Part of my ambivalence is probably also due to the fact that though I think it's a lovely name, it wasn't my first, second or even third choice for her. It was a compromise between me and my dp - it was really hard to find something we both liked. So I do think it's really important to go with a name you love, rather than a 'sensible' choice. And Ava Charlotte is a very lovely name.

FizzyLaces · 05/03/2012 00:10

There are two Avas at my 3 yr old's nursery.

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