Stella

[Beachballfamily]

Going in for a c-section tomorrow. We know its a girl. After much agonising, think we've decided on Stella. DH is particularly keen and I really like it too - my only worries are the connection to the beer, and the fact that it can't really be shortened. What do you think? Can you reassure me?

Other options are Tessa and Merryn, if anyone thinks those are much better!

[Edgarallan]

Stella is a beautiful name- classic and timeless x

[HyvaPaiva]

From your list, I love Merryn, it's beautiful!

Stella is too beery. I really love 'Estelle' though.

Don't like Zoe (to me it sounds dated) or Tessa. Sorry OP!

[AnnabelleDarling]

I don't think of beer, I think of stars. It's a beautiful name. In my experience of MN, people are far too concerned about what other people will think of the name when what really matters is what you think of the name.

Anyone who would tease a young girl because her name reminds them of a beer is an idiot who doesn't deserve the time of day.

My friend wanted to name her dd Flora, her mil was dead against it, saying she would be teased because of the margarine. Well, Flora is 10 now and no-one has ever mentioned margarine to her.

Call her Stella if you love it, it is a beautiful name.

[florascotia]

Agree that Stella is lovely. It means 'star' - what a great name to give a baby! As others have said, it certainly hasn't hindered Stella Macartney's career. Her clothes are elegant and classy and unfussily feminine - all good associations. And Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm is vv funny.

In western Scotland, it would be the 'Tennent' part of Stella Tennent's name that made people think of beer, anyway. Not the Stella! Tennents is the name of a massive brewery in Glasgow, where beers of various kinds have been made for centuries. One can even go on guided tours...

[florascotia]

Just as a ps - you could use more than one of your choices. Stella Merryn or Stella Merryn Zoe (depending on your surname) would make a good combination.

[Sundaedelight]

Stella is a wonderful name and I have it on my secret future list as number 1! Hope you get to meet your little Stella soon - maybe you have by now! Have known two Stellas, one old, one young. Never made any association with a beer and no one around did either. STELLA!

[aoife24]

Lovely name, only idiots would bother her by referring to lager.

[MrRected]

I have never encountered any teasing about my name. It was my grandmas name too.

[SilveryMoon]

I love it. Stella is a beautiful name.

[squoosh]

That's funny florascotia about Stella Tennent, never occurred to me she had a double beer name!

[KatherinaMinola]

Superb name. A name for a strong woman. Makes me think of Stella McCartney, Stella Rimington (former head of MI5), and Stella Gibbons. And Stella Maris. Absolutely timeless, and by far the pick of the bunch of the names you've mentioned. Zoe is nice, but Stella is fab!

[YouGrateMyCheese]

Go for Stella! She'll love the meaning and you can teach her the Sir Philip Sidney sonnet: "Stella, the only planet of my light, Light of my life, and life of my desire..." And who wouldn't love Marlon Brando screaming their name?

[DramaAlpaca]

Fabulous, feisty, graceful, strong girl's name if it can be all those at the same time

As you might have guessed, I love it!

[Davidhasselhoffstoecheese]

Stella is nice. Tessa is stunning though

[DIddled]

Stella is a beautiful name- would be no 1 if I would have had a daughter. And I love beer as well. Xx I know a Stella, an older lady who is truly inspirational x

[DIddled]

Stella Maris = star of the sea. How lovely is that? X There is a lovely hymn which references this.

[akachan]

I love the name Stella.