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Baby names

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

Names where one letter makes all the difference.

64 replies

Legionofboom · 27/08/2014 12:12

Prompted by a comment on another thread, I wonder if there are names that you like, but change one letter and you can't stand it?

I love Juliet but I don't like Julie at all.
I love Louisa while Louise does nothing for me.

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EvilHerbivore · 27/08/2014 12:15

Two letters so cheating slightly but I like Bethan but not Beth

KatherinaMinola · 27/08/2014 12:20

Lots of those Victorian or Medieval names that turn into 1960s names when you replace 'a' for 'e' - Joanna/Joanne, Christina/Christine.

KatherinaMinola · 27/08/2014 12:20

I do like Louise and Julie though.

manicinsomniac · 27/08/2014 12:24

I also love Juliet, quite like Julia and don't like Julie
I'm not keen on either Louisa or Louise but of the two think Louisa is much nicer.

Love Aubrey but dislike Audrey
Love Ava, like Aya and don't like Ada
Like Ella but not Ellie
Love Zara and Lara but don't like Tara
Like Hallie much more than Callie
Much prefer Lyra to Lyla
Really like Hayden but not keen on Jayden or Kayden
Like Kai but not Tai
Like Tian and Kian but not Ian

manicinsomniac · 27/08/2014 12:25

oh definitely agree with Joanna/Joanne and Christina/Christine

hallamoo · 27/08/2014 12:25

Jordon/Gordon
Sarah/Sara
Eve/Eva
Liz/Liza/Lisa

CorporateRockWhore · 27/08/2014 12:26

Kate - Classic, simple, good for little ones and grown ups
Katie - in my mind, not a grown up name, a bit nicknamey and cutesy

Mrsindecision · 27/08/2014 12:26

Similar ideas:
Anne - Anna
Clare - Clara
Helen - Helena
Sophie - Sophia
Olive - Olivia

Legionofboom · 27/08/2014 12:54

It's really interesting to see some of the names here. One letter really can change the feel of a name completely.

Jordan and Gordon feel totally different to me. As do Kian or Tian and Ian. I would say the same about Ryan and Brian.

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MightWantABaby · 27/08/2014 13:01

I know it's different genders but Alan VS Alana.
Hate Alan, love Alana.

babyblabber · 27/08/2014 13:15

i (being the one on the other thread!) think a simple change can make a huge difference.

we have a Sophia and I adore her name, it's perfect for a beautiful little girl to me.

Sofia on the other hand will always be a city in Bulgaria to me and cannot understand why anyone would choose it over Sophia! Looks so harsh for a girl's name I think.

Also have Leo on my boys list and people have suggested Theo or Leon to me, no where near as good in my eyes!

Hassled · 27/08/2014 13:19

Claire and Clare. I like Claire, but I love Clare.

MummyBeerest · 27/08/2014 13:20

The other day I met a little girl at the park who played with DD. I asked her name and I thought she said "Lola," so I repeated it and then her father corrected me "Nola."

I like it better than Lola.

Same with Emily and Emma. I love Emily but am not keen on Emma. I have no idea why.

JimmyCorkhill · 27/08/2014 13:37

Ooh, my RL name has been mentioned here as the flattering one Grin I have always thought so too but assumed I was biased!

AuntieStella · 27/08/2014 13:53

Aubrey/Audrey is a good one!

Just one letter moves it from man in Last of the Summer Wine to woman in Coronation Street Grin

There are quite a few other examples where one letter changes the sex:

Joe/Jo, Gary/Mary (or Barry/Carrie, depending on whether you're going for sound or spelling), Roy/Joy, Ben/Jen, Theo/Cleo, Eve/Steve, Lucy/Brucie, Faye/Ray

TessOfTheFurbyvilles · 27/08/2014 14:04

I think Amelie is beautiful, but I can't abide Amelia.

I think Holly is quite sweet, but I don't like Molly.

Clara is fabulous, Clare is blah.

Sophronia · 27/08/2014 14:51

I agree with lots of these, especially Louisa/Louisa and Joanna/Joanne.

Also:

Julia but not Julie
Clara but not Clare
Bethan but not Bethany
Susanna but not Susanne
Lara, Mara and Zara but not Tara, Cara and Kara
Maia but not Maya
Nia and Pia but not Mia and Tia
Sarah but not Sara
Lila but not Lyla

John but not Jon
Alec but not Alex
Tom but not Tim
Louis but not Louie

Onesleeptillwembley · 27/08/2014 14:58

Hate Olive, love Olivia.

NerfHerder · 27/08/2014 14:58

Love Sophia, not Sophie so much.
Love Laurel, but find Lauren far too boring (sorry, Lauren mums!)
Louisa far superior to Louise.

Jordan fine, Jordon not! But Gordon is great Grin

However, Caroline and Carolina are lovely, though I would expect a Carolina not to be native English speaker.

badtime · 27/08/2014 17:03

Dorien and Doreen

Lunastarfish · 27/08/2014 18:18

Why is Gracie cute but Tracie is trash?

GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 27/08/2014 18:25

Love Cora but not Coral, Nora or Dora.

Legionofboom · 27/08/2014 18:38

I have wondered that myself Lunastarfish

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C4ro · 27/08/2014 18:53

DDs bestie is called Iris except it isn't pronounced eye-ris its pronounced very short "i" I-ris. It sounds way nicer and that is no letters exchanged.

WaffleWiffle · 27/08/2014 18:58

I know a Mum who is obsessive about emphasising the A in her sons name, because she hates the E version:

Kalvin - Kelvin

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