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Baby names

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

Not 'girly' girls names. Might as well call her Geoff...

182 replies

OkayHazel · 12/01/2013 03:25

Help! I can think of loads of boys names, and could name about 12 sons given the chance, but I'm really struggling with girls names and am hoping for suggestions to add to my list.

I really like girls names with harder sounds. Lots of consonants rather than vowels and nothing too long - probably two syllables tops. This means nothing girly, cutesy, flowery, overly pretty (Aurelias, Olivias, Florences), ending in I, IE, Y, IA (you get the gist).

The general trend is one or two syllables, ending in En or El (or other 'finite') sounds. Nothing too popular would be fab, but I insist on using a 'real' name and not an improper noun as a baby name. Any nationality is fine by me - open to ideas. (Though Greek mythology probably won't suit me either).

Names I do like include:

Hazel
Bronwyn
Jude
Merle
Morgan
Olive
Violet (Probably bucks the trend, but I like the hard 'let' sound at the end)

I've also noticed that I really I like unisex names, but only for girls. The more masculine/androgynous the name for my baby girl the better. Any suggestions would be very welcome as I've not come across many yet.

At this point in time I'm so frustrated, Geoff is really seeming like a good idea - maybe choose something a little more appropriate with your help :)

Thanks and good luck naming your babies too!

OP posts:
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mathanxiety · 12/01/2013 17:51

Morag goes far too far into non-girly territory imo. The Morag I knew hated her name and used to mumble when asked for it.

I don't like Merle or Jude for girls either. And Bronwyn makes me think of a brontosaurus.

The other names on your lists are nice. I like non-frilly names.

Suggestions:

Kendall
Emerson
Avery
Arden
Lark or Larkin
Devlin

Alix
Beatrix
Margaret
Honor
Harriet
Frances
Agnes
Edith
Greer
Elke
Juliet
Iseult/Isolde
Ines
Sybil
Colette
Kathleen
Noelle
Romy
Journey

Juno
Charis

Miriam
Judith
Ruth
Tamar

Niamh
Roisin
Angharad
Sigrid
Dagmar
Brunhilde
Hilda
Astrid
Mairead
Muireann/ Merryn
Maebh (Maeve) or better still Medb (very ancient spelling)
Elin
Eirlys
Kirsten
Kirsty

A-ending names that you might consider?
Mila
Vita
Vida
Una
Beulah
Dinah
Ursula
Elsa
Agatha
Saskia
Mahala
Eliska
Lida
Frida
Elfrieda
Magdalen(a), Magda
Aphra
Zytka
Irina

heidihole · 12/01/2013 17:52

Harper
Brooklyn
MacKenzie
Chester

BigGums · 12/01/2013 19:30

Wren

OkayHazel · 12/01/2013 20:08

LaCiccolina 'She' is still hypothetical. So I'd much rather choose a name I love, even if that act is 'about me', than choose a name I don't like on the assumption that my child 'might' be a girly girl.

She still might be a he. 'She' as far as I'm concerned doesn't really exist yet. 'She' will grow up with a name I love and no matter her traits, her name will be special.

I refuse to name a child on 'maybes' and 'mights' when what I know I love is solid.

OP posts:
pixi2 · 12/01/2013 20:12

Quinn.

I love this. My nephew loves this too but we agreed not to tell dh as as (also nephews godson) name ends in 'in' too.

pixi2 · 12/01/2013 20:13

Sorry, as ds name ends in 'in'.

TheCrackFox · 12/01/2013 20:19

Edith
Sylvia
Margot

Rhubarbgarden · 12/01/2013 21:20

Anouk

amck5700 · 12/01/2013 23:57

Avril
Tierney
Nairne
Logan
Inez
Lorna
Mabel
Merrick

Reaa · 13/01/2013 00:19

Harri

volvocowgirl · 13/01/2013 01:37

Prudence
Payton
Tegan
Bronwyn
Harriet
Mabel
Gwen

bootsycollins · 13/01/2013 02:34

Everest? Oh dear.

I've always thought Amber is a really cool name. Love Nina, Layla and Uma too.

SashaSashays · 13/01/2013 02:37

I don't like girly names either and none of my dds have those kind of names, i prefer quite American (according to mn) often androgynous names so have spent quite a bit of time researching this niche.

Names we used or considered are:

Lois
Rae
Ellis
Margot
Parker
Olive
Reese
Marnie
Dallas
Harper
Tinsley
Sloane
Dylan
Mason
Greer
Alexis
Celine
Spencer
Blake
Blair
Ingrid
Astrid
Marlowe
Casey
Devon/Devin

Will try and think of others.

Have you considered Meredith, Edith or Tanith if you like 'ith' names?

roundtable · 13/01/2013 02:55

Josephine? I love that name, but I don't have any dd's and I'm unlikely too.

Harriet
Georgina
Phillipa
Francesca
Christine/a

I 'mtrying to think of names that have male counterparts.

Yika · 13/01/2013 08:33

Fallon

NippyDrips · 13/01/2013 08:58

Sorry if these have been mentioned already, I didn't read all of the replies yet.

Robyn
Harriet
Scarlett
Francessca
Tyler
Taylor
Riley
Georgina/georgie
Alexandra/alexis
Pheobe

NippyDrips · 13/01/2013 09:01

Imogen
piper
Blake
Regina
Chris
Clair

ImNotaPheasantPlucker · 13/01/2013 09:05

Phillipa (Pip)

NippyDrips · 13/01/2013 09:05

Elspeth
Dawn

JumpingJackSprat · 13/01/2013 09:11

what about francesca, frankie for short? i dont think it fills many criteria so feel free to.ignore!

MeerkatMerkin · 13/01/2013 09:16

I have similar criteria to you! Currently TTC DS2 so have a handy list on my phone for names, I will c+p my girl names below in case it is any help:

Gala
Iris
Elsa
Etta
Amy
Vera
Eden/Edie
Ines
Rosa(line/lie)
Ida
Ariadne
Lenore (NN Lenny/Leni - also my grandfather's name so nice tribute)
Aster
Eris - Greek goddess of destruction!
Esther
Lotte
Kindra
Olive
Nova
Evren

Snog · 13/01/2013 09:18

Beryl
Meryl
Marion
Merrion
Sharon
Shannon
Sheryl
Dallas
Carol
Susan
River
Brooke
Karen
Sam
Kim
Daryl
Farron

OhIWishThereWasABook · 13/01/2013 09:24

Saxon? Daughter goes to school with one and I just thought, wow what a strong name.

LPplusOne · 13/01/2013 09:43

I actually know a lovely American woman named Jeffery.

I've known her for years and must say that it's really a fantastic name for her - cute in a non-cutesy way when she was younger, then it was appropiately 'cool' when she was a teenager, and now it is quite sultry/sexy in her late 30's.

Go for it!

BouncyPenguin · 13/01/2013 09:43

Gwen
Eve
Kit
Ruth
Jill
Fred
Dee
Quinn
Beth