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Baby names

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

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59 replies

GemmaPomPom · 16/07/2012 09:34

Belle
Dulcie
Elise (to rhyme with 'geese')
Idalia (i-DAR-lee-a)
Mia (MY-a)
Valentina.

Half are my favourites, half are my husband's. We are having a difficult time deciding. Would love to know what you think of our list. You can be as honest as you like, we can take it Grin.

Thanks.

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Stellan · 16/07/2012 09:41

I like Dulcie.

I don't mind Elise, Mia or Valentina.

I don't care for Idalia.

Belle sounds pretty but it's very Disney and a little insubstantial for a grown woman. I'd be inclined to use it as a nickname for Isabel, Annabel, Christabel, etc.

I suspect that most people will pronounce Mia as Mee-uh, rhyming with Leah, Nia and Pia. Maya/Maia/Maya is more commonly pronounced My-uh.

greenandcabbagelooking · 16/07/2012 10:17

Belle - Too Disney. Would be fine as a middle name though.

Dulcie - Not keen, sorry.

Elise (to rhyme with 'geese') - Love it.

Idalia (i-DAR-lee-a) - Not too sure, could involve explaining the spelling/pronunciation a LOT

Mia (MY-a) - Will be pronounced Me-a by everyone.

Valentina - Too much potential for name-related bullying I think. Again, a good middle name.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 16/07/2012 10:20

Valentina - know a nasty one, so wouldn't. Also - 'Val'? Really?
Mia - she'll just be called Me-ah, unless you go for Maya
Idalia - sounds a bit made up
Elise - alright
Dulcie - don't like, sorry
Belle - a) too disney b) too much to live up to, beauty-wise!

MaryAnnSingleton · 16/07/2012 10:29

Maya is nice and Bella is better than Belle

PepperOnMyPaprikash · 16/07/2012 11:12

Belle - don't like this at all
Dulcie - pretty
Elise (to rhyme with 'geese') - ok
Idalia (i-DAR-lee-a) - don't like it
Mia (MY-a) - ten a penny and I think people would pronounce it Mee-a
Valentina - very pretty

diddl · 16/07/2012 13:33

I like Elise.

MyMelody · 16/07/2012 14:32

I like Elise best.

Valentina is nice but will be shortened to Val.

posey · 16/07/2012 14:48

Elise - like this way more than any of the others.
I like Mya and Valentina ( though prefer Valentia)
Don't like Belle, Dulcie or Idalia.

YoulllaughAboutItOneDay · 16/07/2012 14:51

I like Elise and Idalia.

Mia would be pronounced Mee-a until you spell it Maya. I also know of at least three amongst my DD1's friends (aged 3), so I think it is very popular now.

I am not a fan of Belle. I think it is twee and rather Disney (sorry, you said you could take blunt!), but I don't mind it as a nickname for longer names.

Valentina I quite like, but i think it depends on the surname.

Dulcie - not keen, but can't quite put my finger on why.

picnicbasketcase · 16/07/2012 14:55

My favourite is Mia, but only pronounced Mee-a. Think you'd need to spell it Mya/Maya etc if you want it pronounced differently. Elise and Valentina are both lovely too.

Don't like Idalia, Dulcie or Belle, they all sound rather old ladyish to me.

Emphaticmaybe · 16/07/2012 15:01

I actually think Belle is quite a grown-up name - more 'Belle and Sebastian' than Disney.

I think Valentina is lovely - especially if you have any Italian heritage - my friend's DD gets called Vallie which I think is quite sweet.

hectorthestandbyhawk · 16/07/2012 15:05

I like Valentina - can take or leave the others.

Lovemy3kids · 16/07/2012 15:08

I like Mya, Dulcie and Elise the best (in that order), but would Dulcie be shortened to 'Dul'?? Not that fussed on the others....sorry!

CandiceMariePratt · 16/07/2012 15:25

I have a Dulcie and think it is a beautiful name. She has never been called Dull.

Declutterbug · 16/07/2012 15:30

Elise

Sorry, the others are not good at all, especially with some unexpected pronunciations.

UnnamedFemaleProtagonist · 16/07/2012 15:36

I think Elise is ahem, lower class. Mia is pronounced Mee-a. You would have to use Maia for your intended pronunciation. I think I only like Dulcie.

VolAuVent · 16/07/2012 15:42

I like Elise and Mia. Idalia quite pretty too (would Natalia or Talia be any good?)

dillnameddog · 16/07/2012 16:20

Belle - agree this is too Disney
Dulcie - I don't like this
Elise (to rhyme with 'geese') - I like it
Idalia (i-DAR-lee-a) - quite pretty, but nobody will be able to spell it. If your surname is Smith, that is fine - if your surname is anything that needs spelling out, I would avoid.
Mia (MY-a) - okay
Valentina - I really like this, but does slightly depend on your surname.

EightiesChick · 16/07/2012 16:23

Belle or Bella - both are, as people have said, too Disney. Plus very popular right now and people will assume you are a big Twilight fan.
Mia - again, as has been said, everyone will say it 'Mee-a'. You need a different spelling for the pronunciation you want.

Dulcie and Elise would be my choices from your list.

OhWhatAPalaver · 16/07/2012 16:24

Elise is definitely the best one! :)

Puremince · 16/07/2012 16:55

Belle - ok as a shortened form of something else.
Dulcie - I like this very much.
Elise - Classic, and not common. Perfect.
Idalia (i-DAR-lee-a) She'll have to spell it out for people. I think if I was introduced to an Idalia, I'd assume they were called Dahlia.
Mia (MY-a) . If I saw it written I'd assume it was Mee-a.
Valentina. Depends on your surname.

BigHairyFlowers · 16/07/2012 16:59

Absolutely love Dulcie. Not especially keen on the others

Primafacie · 16/07/2012 17:26

I like Valentina. I love Mia (pronounced Mee-a)

Not that keen on any of the other ones tbh.

BikeRunSki · 16/07/2012 17:32

I only like Elise.

manicinsomniac · 16/07/2012 22:19

Belle - Quite like it but prefer Bella. And would probably christen Annabelle or Christabel.
Dulcie - Very sweet! Wink No, I really like this
Elise - Pretty
Idalia (i-DAR-lee-a) - I like it but have never heard it. Where does it come from?Mia (MY-a) - That is Mee-a. You need Mya or Maia
Valentina. - Not keen. A bit fancy for everyday and really dislike Val

I think I'd choose Dulcie.