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What do you think of my girl name options?

23 replies

Vijac · 09/06/2014 10:53

I like Heidi, Annabelle, Imogen, Iona, Matilda, Xanthe and Violet. Do you have any associations with these names? My son is Jacob. Thanks!

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runningonwillpower · 09/06/2014 10:56

The only Heidi I know is very beautiful and a really nice person.

So, by association I would go with Heidi. (I also think it's a great name.)

princessdave · 09/06/2014 11:49

I don't know anyone IRL with any of these names but I really like Violet.

LiberalLibertine · 09/06/2014 11:52

Yes I like violet, and think it goes nicely with Jacob.

pilates · 09/06/2014 11:54

Violet and Imogen are my favourites.

manicinsomniac · 09/06/2014 11:55

Absolutely love all of them.

Xanthe - I have a baby Xanthe and have never met another one.
Heidi - never met one. It's very cute.
Annabelle - I know lots but it's so pretty and all Annabelle's seem to be lovely!
Imogen - Only know two. Very pretty. I think less common than it used to be? (not that it was ever all that common)
Iona - Only know one. I imagine there are lots more in Scotland.
Matilda - I know lots but I think it's popular because it's so lovely.
Violet - This is my least favourite but I don't know any and it's very elegant/sophisticated.

My order of preference would be:
Xanthe
Matilda
Annabelle
Imogen
Heidi
Iona
Violet

bridgetsmum · 09/06/2014 12:01

I think they are all lovely apart from Xanthe which I hate, sorry to pp but I think it's a horrible name Hmm

squoosh · 09/06/2014 12:01

Heidi - 1970's busty German au pair
Annabelle - a bit frilly and pony club-ish for me
Imogen - nice if not too exciting
Iona - hate, actually think it's horrifically ugly
Matilda - nice
Xanthe - lovely
Violet - beautiful

bouncinbean · 09/06/2014 12:04

Favourites are Imogen and Violet, then Heidi, not keen on rest although none of them are bad names.
Associations in your list - I know an Imo - she's fabulous, and a Heidi - really good fun, so those 2 do have good associations...

Cpt1sock · 09/06/2014 12:07

Violet is my favourite, it would be my first choice if I had a daughter but dh has said no way. I absolutely love it.

Xanthe is beautiful too,very cute and pretty.

My least fave is Annabelle but don't know why.

DramaAlpaca · 09/06/2014 12:14

Imogen - beautiful, classic name
Iona - very pretty, but be careful if your surname is also a noun - sounds like 'I own a...'
Matilda - I love the nn Tilly
Xanthe - I love this. I've only known one, when I was at school
Violet - adore this name, one of the few flower names I like
Annabelle - I find this spelling too fussy, but Annabel is fine
Heidi - I have an irrational dislike for this name

RAFWife12 · 09/06/2014 12:46

I love Imogen and Annabelle.

Imogen was vetoed by my DH, Annabelle is still on our list.
Really don't like Xanthe or Iona - sorry.
Others are nice but I don't love them.

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 09/06/2014 12:55

Violet has negative Roald Dahl and Just William connotations for me and Heidi is a cute little girl's name but doesn't work for me as an adult woman's name (I have a vague recollection Heidi in the book is called that as a child as a nickname for Adelheid). But I like Iona, Imogen and Matilda (prefer NN Tilda to Tilly, probably because of Tilda Swinton.) Matilda obviously also has Roald Dahl connections but his Matilda is a great character, not a horrible one like Violet Beauregarde.

BlueStarsAtNight · 09/06/2014 13:06

Heidi - love it, my favourite
Annabelle - pretty, I like it
Imogen - feels a bit done to me, v popular 5ish years ago Iona - bit a fan, I just hear 'I own a'
Matilda - fine, a bit boring these days
Xanthe - ok, I knew a nice one at school
Violet - feel like I should like it as I like older names, but I don't!

I do think any of them would go with Jacob though.

Guin1 · 09/06/2014 13:36

My favourite is definitely Xanthe. Also like Imogen.
Annabelle and Matilda maybe a bit too popular?
Heidi is different! Not sure if I like or not. Makes me want to say Heidi-Hi! But that may be me showing my age...
Like pp I feel I should like Violet, but don't and don't know why. Maybe too close to violent?
Iona is a nice option, but I do remember the "I own a ..." connection from my schooldays.

Montsti · 09/06/2014 13:37

I love Annabel (prefer it spelt this way) and like Matilda, Heidi & Imogen. Not keen on Iona nor Xanthe.

hashtagwhatever · 09/06/2014 13:39

I had a teacher called Xanthe very arty type.

My best friends mum is called violet lovely lady

DiamondsAndRust · 09/06/2014 13:46

Heidi - quite cute, but feels a bit '70s/dated to me
Annabelle - too frilly for my taste. Prefer Annabel spelling, but still not really my style.
Imogen - pretty, though too popular for me
Iona - OK; need to be careful with surname!
Matilda - like this; it sounds strong and not too 'girly' but still pretty, and has lots of good NN possibilities. Curent popularity would put me off a bit though.
Xanthe - beautiful - definitely my favourite of these
Violet - nice; prefer as MN. Suspect it might be a bit faddy, as it's one of the very 'of the moment' vintage names.

QuarterCracked · 09/06/2014 13:52

Heidi - i really like it. short & easy to say. Not that many. Like sadie
Annabelle - spell it Annabel. It's simpler than Isabel, easier to say. I like it.
Imogen - ok.

Iona - agree with pp, so I'm leaving her comment! OK; need to be careful with surname!
Matilda - ok
Xanthe - ok. it's not the x putting me off it as I like xenia. Xanthe would be a nightmare for people to pronounce. they would say zan the
Violet - mm, yes, very vintage indeed. Prefer Juliet. Less vintage.

ashesandfire · 09/06/2014 17:45

Heidi - have an irrational hatred of this name. It sounds twee and cutesy to me.
Annabelle - nice, much prefer the Annabel spelling, have taught several, bit bored of it
Imogen - I know a FABULOUS Imogen. (me Wink)
Iona - it's ok. I prefer Ione, which I think is lovely
Matilda - nice name, have taught several, all nice girls, just.... nice. Xanthe - love it. Know an absolutely beautiful little girl called Xanthe.
Violet - makes me think of a strong little fighter type (weird - the exact opposite of the phrase 'shrinking violet')

My order of preference, leaving out Imogen (which is clearly the best Grin)
Xanthe, Violet, Annabel, Matilda, Iona, Heidi.

Vijac · 09/06/2014 18:01

Thanks all. It's so hard to choose! Weird thing is that I used to associate Violet with just William and Charlie and the cf but now I seem to have moved beyond that and really like it. Sounds like Xanthe is a bit of a marmite name. Interesting to see people prefer Annabel.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/06/2014 19:52

Love Violet. Don't like Xanthe or Iona. Others okay.

Vijac · 11/06/2014 16:54

Or how about Thea too?! Thanks!

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Only1scoop · 11/06/2014 16:56

Violet or Annabelle

Beautiful

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