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

Ottie or Pixie?

153 replies

GingerbreadPudding · 02/01/2015 15:41

Our little girl will be here in two weeks time and we were set on the name Ottie. Yesterday my husband said he likes the name Pixie which had been my favourite but he had said he didn't like it!

So now, after eight months of thinking this one would be called Ottie I'm now not sure. I love the name Pixie. And Ottie.

What do you think?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Athrawes · 04/01/2015 07:39

Seriously! What if she turns out to be a rather statuesque serious high court judge. Called Pixie. Please give the girl a chance and don't condemn her to cutesy.

LegoSuperstar · 04/01/2015 08:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bearleigh · 04/01/2015 08:36

I intensely dislike giving girls cutesy baby names like Pixie. It seems to show an attitude that they need never grow up; that they can always marry and be looked after. What if she turns out to be a girl who wants to be self-reliant ?

PrettyLittleMitty · 04/01/2015 08:46

I don't like either but I would go with Pixie if pushed.

whattheseithakasmean · 04/01/2015 09:00

I think Pixie would be worse if she did grow up teeny & cute. I am a little woman and it is no advantage in my professional life. The name Pixie would compound the problem.

My name isn't cutesy but does have an 'ie' ending and I would much prefer a name with more gravitas, to counter the fact I am small and slim with a feminine voice. I gave both my daughters 'serious' names, but they do have cute 'ie' ending nicknames.

Rhubarbgarden · 04/01/2015 09:14

I would hate to be called either of these names. Flaky, insubstantial sleb names. But then I'm quite a serious person - perhaps your dd will suit it better. Bit of a risk though.

TooManyDicksOnTheDancefloor · 04/01/2015 09:47

I actually clicked on this thread because ridiculous name threads make me laugh! Sorry, I'm also a teacher, these names are terrible. In Yorkshire Ottie would be pronounced O-ee, the Ts wouldn't get a look in! Do people generally pronounce Ts where you live?

LegoSuperstar · 04/01/2015 10:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EmmaGellerGreen · 04/01/2015 10:27

Give the poor child a real human name. Nicknames evolve over time to suit the baby/child/teen/adult.

Inkspellme · 04/01/2015 17:58

I always think the names review on mumsnet will give you a very honest reaction as people have nothing to lose and are far braver and blunter on a forum than they ever would be or could be to your face. I think this really holds true in this case. You may find if you go ahead with one of these you don't get anyone saying these things.

but they will be thinking them.

CaptainAnkles · 04/01/2015 18:05

I don't like either but I'd choose Pixie if I had to use one of them. Ottie is dreadful.

Archangelfarchnad · 04/01/2015 18:15

"You may find if you go ahead with one of these you don't get anyone saying these things."

Or maybe they will, inadvertently. I got friendly during my second pregnancy with another woman, second child for both of us - this was 12 years ago when people were still fairly conservative with names. The dad was a real joker type, really loved 'avin a larf. After their baby was born DH asked the dad, so what's her name? 'Amora' was the answer. DH laughed nervously because he thought it was one of the guy's typical jokes and said something like 'very funny, no really, what's her proper name?'. The other guy suddenly lost his sense of humour at that point - and Amora at least is actually technically a recognised name, unlike Ottie.

Since Ginger seems quite relaxed about us insulting her choices, I will weigh in with an opinion that they're both utterly awful as given names. Nicknames, OK, whatever, but not the name that will be called out and used officially, condemning your child to a lifetime of people sniggering over it and making mistakes. Why would you do that to a child you love?

fishnettights · 04/01/2015 19:10

Go for Ottilie over Ottie - you can still call her Ottie but she also be a Lottie or Tilly or Ottilie one day if she wants to be.

It is a great name.

AmITwirly · 04/01/2015 19:28

I've never heard of Ottie as a name (or even as a nickname) so I guess I would be a bit perplexed if I heard a child called this. I wouldn't automatically know how to spell it - Otty or Ottie; so I guess your DD would spend a lot of her time spelling it to people, if this is the one you go for. I'd be concerned about name-calling potential too: Hotty/Totty/Dotty/Snotty - it's not great is it?

On the other hand, because of Pixie Lott, Pixie Geldoff and Pixie McKenna, I think most people would know how to spell Pixie. So it has that advantage. Consequently, I would choose Pixie of the two, although I would prefer it as a nickname. Is there another "P" name you like, that Pixie could be a nn for? Penelope? Philippa? Patricia?

OttiliaVonBCup · 04/01/2015 19:30

My Grandmother's nickname was Ottie.

sparkleDJC · 04/01/2015 21:32

There were 87 girls in UK named Pixie last year, so there's a few around Smile !

EmpressOfJurisfiction · 04/01/2015 21:41

Whattheseithakasmean has a good point. I'm small and have always looked young. While it's not a problem nowadays, in my teens and twenties I would have dreaded telling people my name was Pixie.

TwentyFifteen · 05/01/2015 23:35

^^ or what if she is really big boned and clumsy - Pixie may not be great then either.

Hakluyt · 05/01/2015 23:42

I often wonder how Fifi Geldorf feels about her name.

TaytoCrisp · 05/01/2015 23:44

Prefer pixie.
But I think it will be much easier to decide once the little lady has arrived and you have spent 24-48 hrs with her. Exciting!

Inkspellme · 06/01/2015 10:30

Fifi got her name after a family aunt on her dad's side whose name was Fiona but whoose nn was Fifi. That's the story I heard - obviously I can't garuantee it's true. apparently paula Yates when asked about her unusual choices said that you can't name one child a name like Fifi Trixibelle and then call the next one Janet. Think she was probably right there.

Inkspellme · 06/01/2015 10:34

Whatthe - I see what you mean about it being worse called Pixie if you are petite. I'm 5 foot nothing and a name like Pixie would only have emphasised it more. If I was 5 foot 10 the name would have seemed illfitting. seems like a no win!

NeedABumChange · 06/01/2015 10:46

They're both crap and if you shouted them in the park I think we'd all expect a poodle to run up to you not a child or indeed a woman.

bluebelle2662 · 06/01/2015 18:42

Not convinced the OP was asking your opinions on the name, merely which name you preferred, not what it reminded you of, nor what they are short for.

I prefer Ottie.

HelloItsStillMeFell · 06/01/2015 18:47

Ottie has to be short for Ottilie surely? You can't just use Ottie on its own….can you? Confused

And Pixie is fine if she turns out to look like a Audrey Hepburn but if she's destined to look like erm…..someone much larger and much plainer you might be setting her up for a whole lot of shit.

Wait and see what she looks like, and if she turns out all elfin-like then nickname her Pixie. It's not really a proper name is it?