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Original poster

Rosalind vs Melody

39 replies

ccsays · 04/11/2013 11:04

I'm 33 + 3 with my first, a little girl, and we've been calling her Melody ever since we found out 'it' was a 'she'. Getting closer to the due date now (Dec 20th) and I've been starting to swither quite a bit. I really do love Melody (bonus as me and DP are Dr Who fans) but I worry that it's a good name for a girl not a woman IYSWIM, and that it's the sort of name that won't be taken seriously as an adult. But on the other hand with all the Poppy and Honeys you hear of that doesn't seem like it should be that much of a concern.

Another name I've found myself drawn to myself recently is Rosalind. The more I think about it the more I like it and it feels like a good, 'strong' name. But (and this is where pregnancy hormones kick in) I kind of feel like I'm 'betraying' Melody a bit and it feels strange to consider another name when we've been calling her it for so long!

So what do you think? Which do you prefer? DP seems pretty easy going about it either way. We have also banded about Alice, Anna and Charlotte in the past, all of which are nice but feel a wee bit ordinary to me (no offence to anyone with anyone with daughters with those names!) So I think it's between those two.

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comedaygoday · 04/11/2013 11:10

I prefer Rosalind, but it's your choice. Why not wait and see if your DD looks like a Melody or a Rosalind

PeterParkerSays · 04/11/2013 11:13

I prefer Rosalind, mainly because I think Melody sounds a bit twee (plus I'm not a Dr. Who fan so don't get the references) and don't like "Mel" as a shortened version.

Beachballfamily · 04/11/2013 11:15

Both nice, but I prefer Melody. Not as little girly as Poppy, Honey etc - I can imagine it on a grown up. It sounds prettier than Rosalind, which to me is a bit of a middle aged lady name (and so sure to become hugely popular in the next year or so). But they are both good, solid names, so go with your gut!

eggyweggies · 04/11/2013 11:19

I prefer Rosalind. It's pretty and strong.

FloatingHandle · 04/11/2013 11:29

Rosalind

jinxdragon · 04/11/2013 11:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnnaConda · 04/11/2013 11:32

Rosalind

TheNunsOfGavarone · 04/11/2013 11:34

I prefer Rosalind.

lottiegarbanzo · 04/11/2013 12:10

Really like Rosalind. Melody is nice but a bit much like Melanie, which is very dated. I really don't like Mel.

Alexandrite · 04/11/2013 12:28

Alice or Anna

CordeliaRose · 04/11/2013 13:38

Of the two, I much prefer Rosalind - to me it's beautiful, strong, classic and feminine.

Rhubarbgarden · 04/11/2013 13:45

Rosalind is much nicer. I would hate to be called Melody, it's so twee.

NightOfTheCactus · 04/11/2013 13:49

Rosalind is a beautiful name. Personally not so keen on Melody - but that's just my own personal taste...

Maybe once she's born it might be clearer?

mumofthemonsters808 · 04/11/2013 13:52

I prefer Melody, not keen on Rosalind.

HenriettaBrain · 04/11/2013 13:54

I much prefer melody. I know a little 1yo Melody and her name really suits her. (Mum and dad very musical- mum sings and dad drums in a band so it really suits her!!)

I agree that Rosalind makes me think of a middle aged woman. It sounds a bit 'harsh' as a newborn name iykwim. Whereas Melody is a beautiful name, and if she feels it's too 'cutesy' when she's older, she can call her self Mel! However as you say, it will be a generation of Honeys and Poppy's and Alfie's and Ruby's, so her name won't look out of place!

And if you have been calling her melody from the start you may regret not using it a few months down the line

Allalonenow · 04/11/2013 14:07

I prefer Rosalind, it's a classy name that will "grow" with your daughter, childhood nn of Rosa, Rosie, but also a great adult name.
Melody is pretty for a six year old, but not so pretty for a fifty year old.

WhatABeautifulPussy · 04/11/2013 14:24

I prefer Rosalind, but why not keep both and see what she looks like or what she answers to?

evelynj · 04/11/2013 15:07

Use one as a middle name? I love Melody & my dd would have been this but dislike Mel for short, (ours is now Florence but called her Jemima all through pg). If you use one as a middle name then you can switch if you want, (bugger what anyone else says-my dd has 2 middle names, wish I'd given her 3!)

stripeytiger · 04/11/2013 15:18

How about Charlotte Melody

Original poster
ccsays · 04/11/2013 15:21

Thanks all for your input, nice to see a few in support of Melody! Agree about not being keen on Mel as a nickname, but I figure if she wants to shorten it there's not much I can do.

Seems like it would be a good idea to try and see what name she 'looks' like. Has anyone had experience of that? Having a few names floating about and feeling like one just 'clicks' when they see their baby?

RE: Using one as the middle name, is was going to use my surname as the middle name, so I think that plus another first name would feel a bit clunky.

OP posts:
greeneyes1978 · 04/11/2013 21:42

How about Elodie? Much prettier IMO even though I am a massive dr who fan!

fizzly · 04/11/2013 21:49

Love Rosalind. I have 4 good friends good Rosalind all of whom I have known since childhood - which I think is prob quite unusual as it is not a common name, but there was obviously a blip of naming in my postcode in the late 70s! Consequently I couldn't have it on my name list for DCs, but I think it is a seriously fab name and much better than Melody (sorry). Elodie was on my list though.

fizzly · 04/11/2013 21:49

good friends called

SatinSandals · 04/11/2013 22:00

Rosalind is lovely.

SoftSheen · 04/11/2013 22:28

Definitely Rosalind- have you also considered Rosamund?