Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Ottilie or Dolcie

63 replies

Thisistheway · 21/10/2012 09:40

What do you think? Are they too weird?

DH doesn't like either but he never likes any of the ones I suggest first, then he gets used to them....but he says he doesn't want us to call DD a name where people's first reaction is 'eh?'. Are these 'eh' names?

Have 10 weeks left to choose and worried am not gonna find one I love!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
aufaniae · 21/10/2012 14:37

Love Ottilie, great name :)

MoonHare · 21/10/2012 14:59

TBH I think they're both potentially 'eh?' names.

Ottilie is gaining in popularity and quite common in the MN community but I confess the first time I ever heard it in RL was about 18 mth ago and I thought I'd been told the baby's name was 'Otterly' and I really did think eh?!! And I have never before heard of Dolcie, so would again think 'eh?' until coming to MN to be educated.

mathanxiety · 21/10/2012 15:17

I don't like either. They sound like names for rag dolls.

Dolly was a cloned sheep. A dolly is also a doll. And Dolcie looks like a misspelling of Dolce (and Gabbana).

Heidi makes me think of goats and yodelling.

Lucy OTOH is a gorgeous name. It's not popular, just a classic, and a name that goes with you through your life.

Floralnomad · 21/10/2012 15:27

Sorry but I don't like either ,if you like Tilly why not just call her that ? Although it keeps making me think of northern Cookson books. Love Tallulah BTW and although Lucy is nice if you call her in a park you'll be surrounded by Labradors , same goes for Bella and Molly !

fruitpastille · 21/10/2012 15:27

I think they are both a bit eh really. If you like Tilly then just have that! It is popular but if you really love it i don't think that matters.

MrsSchadenfreude · 21/10/2012 15:59

Thisistheway - yes, she loves it, as do we. It really suits her. It's a family name and should be pronounced "Ottilia" but she only gets called that when she's naughty.

MadamFollywillFreakyouout · 21/10/2012 19:13

I think they are both pretentious and dreadful, sorry!

suzyrut · 22/10/2012 10:23

I love Ottilie but my dp doesn't like it much either, says that she'd forever be explaining and spelling it to people.

ClareMarriott · 22/10/2012 17:59

Ottilie is rather exotic and she could be called Tilly for short !! I think you are thinking of Dulcie and the only I know of is the actress Dulcie Gray likewise with Tallulah, the actress Tallulah Bankhead . What names has your DH come up with ?

ruby22 · 22/10/2012 21:02

I know of 2 Ottilie's one was my friends daughter's name, the other is from a 70s film with Joan Collins in. I think it very much depends on where you are located and if regional accents at school etc would alter the pronunciation....

Cahoots · 22/10/2012 22:14

I love Ottilie although it is very trendy.

VBisme · 22/10/2012 22:19

What about Odile?

cece · 22/10/2012 22:22

Ottilie was on my list (but not DH) so I like it.

Dulcie is not very nice imo. Bit old lady and not in a good way.

Other names we (I) liked were; Verity, Thea, Alethea and Anna

KennethParcell · 22/10/2012 22:22

do you mean Dulcie? i like Dulcie, but Dolcie looks like Dolce as in Gabanna which would be so embarrassing :))

Ottilie is utterly awful. Ottoline sounds like some bovine disease. dreadful

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 22/10/2012 22:26

Unless you are European and/or live in Europe, then no. They are just pretentious.

Bluestocking · 23/10/2012 10:35

Saggy, we Brits are European and live in Europe.

Rhubarbgarden · 23/10/2012 10:42

I like Ottilie. I know a little Ottie. Most people say "oh that's pretty" but she does get "Eh?" too fairly regularly.

If you don't want popular, avoid Tilly like the plague.

Clumsasaurus · 23/10/2012 11:13

How about Lacey?

fraktion · 23/10/2012 11:33

I wanted Ottillie for a DD but everyone I mentioned it to in the UK pronounced Utterly or Otterley and it put me right off it.

Original poster
Thisistheway · 23/10/2012 11:50

Lol bluestocking! I nearly let that put me off til I read your comment and realised I'm European too!

Thanks for your comments everyone. Dolcie is ruled out. And i'm less keen on Ottilie now - I still think it's a pretty name but it's probably a bit too eh? for me.

OP posts:
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 23/10/2012 12:20

Well you might be European, but Im British, and I live in Great Britain. Grin

KennethParcell · 23/10/2012 12:29

I know what the poster meant about 'european'. ie, NOT English. If the parents of an Ottilie were Portuguese or Italian or French or Spanish,,,,,,,,,,,,,, or MULDOVIAN or whatever, I would think, oh ok. But it's just awful if you are English, sorry british, sorry an English-speaking European. jmo of course.

Bluestocking · 23/10/2012 12:37

I knew what Saggy meant too, I was just being a bit of a pedant!

drjohnsonscat · 23/10/2012 12:47

Why only any good for Europeans? They are both names with a perfectly long Britiish heritage. Well Ottoline (Morrell) and Dulcie are. Never heard of Dolcie and would assume it was a typo for Dulcie which I love. Yes Dolcie makes me think of Dolcis but I think those who remember Dolcis are dying out Shock

YokoOhNo · 23/10/2012 12:54

Dont mind Ottilie. I had a friend at university who was called Ottilia (pronounced Oh-teal-ya), but always known as Tilly, if you are looking for a name that shortens to Tilly.

Dolcie is just awful. Thought it was a typo too, but now I know. It me of Dolce and Gabbana or else that man Joe Dolce who sang "What's The Matter You, Hey" and I'd probably pronounce it something like Doll-chay. Dulcie is not bad.