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

Unusual/strong/pretty names for girls?

62 replies

missmaybe · 12/04/2013 12:15

Any suggestions on pretty but 'strong' names for girls? The ones I really like so far are:

Maya
Isis
Beatrice
Eve
Veda
Merle
Lena
Gabrielle

... but I'm not sure I've found 'the' name yet. I quite like the idea of a name with a Hebrew root but as you can see my list is wide-ranging in terms of origin! Inspiration would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
chica123 · 12/04/2013 13:40

Lara and Matilda?

WotSoFunee · 12/04/2013 13:40

Heidi
Verity
Helena
Genevieve

Serafinaaa · 12/04/2013 13:41

I was going to say Miriam too for a girl's name with a Hebrew root. It can be shortened to 'Mimi'.

Offcolour · 12/04/2013 13:44

Esther
Abigail
Ruth

SmellieWellies · 12/04/2013 13:45

Oh, I would have loved to have used Isis.

fussychica · 12/04/2013 14:07

Laurel
Freya
Pernill
Inez

MyNameIsSuz · 12/04/2013 14:09

I like Octavia, it's pretty and girly but shortened to Tavi sounds quite strong too.

JennyPiccolo · 12/04/2013 14:12

I can't see Octavia without thinking skoda.

fanjodisfunction · 12/04/2013 16:47

Gabriella
Clarissa
Alexa
Matilda
Althea

Willow36 · 12/04/2013 16:49

Meredith
Isobel
Emilia
Alexandra
Elizabeth
Catherine
Layla
Karina
Felicity
Natasha

WyrdMother · 12/04/2013 16:56

Carola or Caro
Thea
Venitia
Annis
(You can blame the last two on a fondness for Georgette Heyer)

baskingseals · 12/04/2013 18:13

Marianne

Christobel

Annaliese

Lois

Stella

Katya

AnathemaDevice · 12/04/2013 18:48

How about Anna?

Exhaustipated · 12/04/2013 19:00

Ramona
Naomi
Esther
Penelope
Roberta
Constance
Francesca
Cora
Rosa
Juno
Bethan
Viola

KittenOfDoom · 12/04/2013 19:36

Three from the New Testament

Tryphena
Tryphosa
Persis

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 12/04/2013 19:41

Holly (I teach secondary, and every Holly I've taught has been amazing)
Cedar (I taught one once, I still love the name!)
I like Merryn, suggested above.
Joy
Verity (which I love even more since the statue in devon!)

Varya · 12/04/2013 19:43

Jezamy (Cornish) has different spellings
Elena

Coconutty · 12/04/2013 19:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blue22 · 12/04/2013 20:58

Christiana, Allegra and Ariadne are all strong, pretty names I think

CruCru · 12/04/2013 21:10

Miriam was the sister of Moses.

Delilahahaha · 13/04/2013 00:06

Love Isis and Maya. Greta and Miriam are lovely sggestions above.

Phaedra
Allegra
Grainne
Maeve
Nina
Felicity
Carmen
Anais
Zora
Petra
Xanthe
Etta
Athena
Ines

MERLYPUSS · 13/04/2013 14:10

Helen (nn Nelly)

dementedma · 13/04/2013 22:46

Merry is nice.
Maya is becoming quite common now - I know 3, all under the age of two

dementedma · 13/04/2013 22:46

Merryn, not merry

chayahivory · 14/04/2013 14:41

My name (Chayah) is of hebrew origin. It is a derivative of Chavvah which is another form of Eve. It means 'Breath of Life'. My mother decided to have it prounounced Shay-ah (like Charlotte) but it can also be pronounced Chay-ah. I'm always being complimented on it. :) I've even known two people who decided to use it for their children.