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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Margot or Iris

61 replies

PepperOnMyPaprikash · 21/07/2012 11:38

Could I have opinions please?

I love both of these - Iris has been my favourite for a long time and Margot is a fairly recent addition to our very short shortlist. Not due for a few months and don't know if we are having a boy or a girl but we are pretty convinced if a girl then the choice will be one of these two.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:

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worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 15:25

I think the pronounciation of the name in different languages is a given , as it would be with names such as Benjamin, Gabriel, or Sebastian. Or even Adam.
And yet, these names have all the same or very similar spelling in various countries and languages.
They are timeless and can be found in many, many different social and economic groups.
And I feel the same about Iris. And to me personally, this is very beautiful and bridge-building. Something I like a lot :-)

noddyholder · 21/07/2012 15:26

Margot fonteyn amazing

evamummy · 21/07/2012 15:28

Iris is lovely.

Margot sounds harsh (especially the English way, Mar-got) and unfeminine, sorry. Really don't like it.

evamummy · 21/07/2012 15:29

Margot Fonteyn was born as Margaret, I think. Margaret is much nicer and a proper English name too.

worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 15:31

Servalan as much as Tracy or similar can or have negative connotations.

With Margot, it is not a classy name or timeless name, which found its way back into nurseries and elementary schools or would be found here and there in each and every generation.

it is also a name, used very often in comedies and other similar shows, to mock a certain type of woman. Not nice, I know...but that's how it is.

noddyholder · 21/07/2012 15:32

Well I have never heard it mocked and I do know one Margot she is 5 and gorgeous and doubt she is mocked

worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 15:34

Sounds like Maggot, I think it was mentioned already.

Also, why give a name when even in the countries where it comes from, it is mostly despised by so many people there, that it is even reason for ridicule.
I think, that is what would make it difficult on the child and later person given carrying that name.

worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 15:35

noddyholder, so you live in germany and this 5-year old as well?

noddyholder · 21/07/2012 15:36

Where is it despised.Wasn't it the name of anne franks sister?

noddyholder · 21/07/2012 15:37

I didn't know the op lived in a country where it was despised. The girl I know is here and everyone loves it.

worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 15:39

I can also say, that I know the one boy here, who is called Kevin. I have never heard him being mocked, well there ARE connotations about Kevins out there in Britain. aren't they?

Oh and Tracey sounds nice to me In German. Lovely actually. Who would gladly give this name to a little girl, NOW???

How many here on mumsnet, would give it an honest go and thumbs-up????

So, I would be very happy before contemplating any English names to hear some honest feedbacks. What the OP does is of course up to her .

bigkidsdidit · 21/07/2012 15:40

I love Margot, j know three of varying ages, all English and all pronounced Margo

What does it matter if it's an unpopular name on Germany of the OP lives here?

noddyholder · 21/07/2012 15:40

You sound bound by ridiculous snobbery

worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 15:42

noddyholder

Also, why give a name when even in the countries where it comes from, it is mostly despised by so many people there, that it is even reason for ridicule???

I would ask myself that. Other than that, different folks diferent strokes.

Everyone asks themselves different questions when considering something such as a name for their loved-ones .

worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 15:45

You sound bound by ridiculous snobbery

So, easy here in MN to move from the topic itself to attacking others...sorry I am not interested in that level.

noddyholder · 21/07/2012 15:46

But no one else is saying it is despised apart from you! Hides thread enjoy!

Rainshine · 21/07/2012 15:47

It is not pronounced Margott in the UK unless you're ignorant, it has the French pronunciation where it is most definitely not despised. Germany didn't give us the name, France did.

Iris is also not pronounced as it would be in Germany so a bit of a weird angle to take on the name even if the poster is German.

Margot will be Margo in the UK and I now know of five age 10 and under ( all pronounced Margo funnily enough).

And Iris, Edith etc were laughed at as names of women of a certain generation until a few years ago and indeed still are by people who only think 'standard' names are acceptable.

OP Margot will be a love it/ hate it name but is definitely getting more popular. Iris has already arrived and will get a less strong reaction either way.

worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 15:58

rainshine in case you are referring to me as ignorant, I mentioned in a previous post already, that names could have same spellings and yet, of course, will be pronounced differently.
Same is true for Iris, as I've said before.
I never said, that Margot isn't great in the UK or wouldn't sound nice, or would be ridiculed etc.
And yes, I think 'standard' names are acceptable. So, what's the point.

Op has asked a question and each and every one can post their response, also their-gut response and also explain or give some background on reasoning behind it.

No good enough reason for others to get flustered over my responses, right?!

whatinthewhatnow · 21/07/2012 16:05

I love the name margot! I'm a bit surprised that anyone would think it was pronounced margott. I know a couple of margots and I think it's quite a beautiful woman's name.

evamummy · 21/07/2012 16:09

Margot is like Louis. The French don't pronounce the t or s.

However, most other languages (e.g. German, Swedish, Norweigan, Dutch, Spanish etc) pronounce these names according to their own phonetics, so Margot is pronounced Margott and Louis is Lou-is. Even the Americans say st Louis with the s.

But, for some reason, a lot of (upper class?) English seem to prefer to use the French pronunciation of such names. I doubt many French people would pronounce English names the English way, however .

evamummy · 21/07/2012 16:10

And noddy, whilst despising is a strong word, I have to agree with worldcitizen that Margot sounds very harsh and not very nice. But thankfully we all have different tastes .

evamummy · 21/07/2012 16:11

"I'm a bit surprised that anyone would think it was pronounced margott."

As I said, other than the English, most people pronounce the name as it is written. There are a lot of Margots in Germany, Sweden, Holland etc who are known as Mar-gott.

worldcitizen · 21/07/2012 16:22

evamummy, yes I agree, despise is a strong word, I'd take that back.

I reckon we are all speaking for ourselves and somehow for groups and subcultures we all belong to (knowingly and not).
Why not embrace what different folks have to bring to the table, even if it is not liked by others, and the OP gets out of it, whatever is helpful and informative to her. What that would be, I wouldn't know and others also couldn't possibly know.

As my family and I have been living in various countries, to me(us), it was important to chose names, which are first and foremost to our liking of course, but then we did look into our global lifestyle and asked ourselves, how this would matter to the children and for them in later life on a personal and professional level with name such and such...but like I said, each to their own and what OP needs and wants to know, is important .

Rainshine · 21/07/2012 16:43

It would odd for me to say a German person couldn't call their son Leon because the sound in English is ugly (for example, it's not) and it's really old-fashioned, too try-hard, common, whatever in England.

It's pronounced differently in Germany and how it's pronounced in English is completely irrelevant.

Fwiw I knew a Dutch Margot pronounced Margo.

tummytickler · 21/07/2012 16:50

I have an 11 year old Iris. I just love it. Stylish, elegant, simple, classic. No regrets at all, we have only ever met one other, in the park a couple of years ago.

I also love Margot, but know 2 age 9 years and a couple of months. None have pronunciation issues, and I have only ever heard people say nice things about the names.

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