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

strong short girls names?

45 replies

mrstothemr · 20/06/2015 19:52

We like Eva and Ada, and also names that are slightly longer like Morgan. It should be recognisable as a girls name, with no need for spelling every time, but hopefully not so of the moment that we end up knowing five of them in a couple of years.

Anyone got any ideas? Can have an American bent but not be too outlandish for my English family's ears

OP posts:
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CPtart · 20/06/2015 21:22

Erin
Erica
Faye
Esther
Zoe
Zara

If you don't want anything "of the moment" I would avoid Eva. They are everywhere!

BikeRunSki · 20/06/2015 21:22

Astrid
Stella
Anya

ByeByeButterfly · 20/06/2015 22:25

Faye
Faith
Ava
Mia

mrstothemr · 21/06/2015 07:59

Thanks for all the suggestions, there's loads I'd not thought of.

Cora is very pretty, as is scarlett. Love the advice re doris, we've one in the family which would make it interesting! I like the older names but that particular one might be seen as preferential

OP posts:
zippyswife · 21/06/2015 08:05

Anna.

Strong short beautiful name.

Rosalie43 · 21/06/2015 08:09

I also love Ruth.

Not keen on American names that are usually surnames.

moggiek · 21/06/2015 08:10

I've always thought that Joan is a lovely name.

RickOShay · 21/06/2015 09:18

Just wanted to second Lois. Great name.

OwlOffshore · 21/06/2015 11:24

Anna, Nina and Cora - all fab.

RedToothBrush · 21/06/2015 13:45

Ones to cautious of if you don't want to be too popular/'of the moment':

Erin - currently 40th but is starting to decline in popularity
Violet - currently 78th and has shot up at speed and not peaked yet. I think is set to become huge as people get bored of Lily. 'Ette' / 'Ett' / 'Etta' endings seem to one of the upcoming trends.
Iris - currently 106th. Same as above with Violet though not quite as pronounced.
Scarlett - currently 17th. Doesn't look like its peaked yet and same this as Violet with the ending very on trend.
Isla - 5th
Eve - Together with variations of Ava and Evelyn etc, one of the most popular names about. Will be forever spelling or correcting.
Mia - 10th but has probably peaked.
Grace - 13th though definitely past its peak now.
Olive - Not hugely popular at 233rd, but you'll forever be correcting from Olivia.

As someone else has pointed out, if you want something that sounds strong, avoid y, ia, a, ie, elle or ella endings. They tend to be regarded as very feminine or princessy and are massively popular. Though Cora is possibly one of the few which is the exception to the rule.

I do think 'ette', 'ett', 'etta' are strong sounding but I think this is being picked up, so be wary of anything along those lines. Etta in its own right is going to be huge.

Names that start with A or E are generally all the rage, though some you can get away with.

Cleo and Juno are both on trend with -o endings but are not hugely popular currently at 358th and 626th respectively. I expect they will shoot up the charts but won't become too massive however the danger is with them is that may date badly.

'Grandma' vintage names like Doris, Edith, Nora, Ada, Martha etc which were popular 100 years ago are general pretty strong sounding and very fashionable but still a little marmity which stops them becoming too popular. (These are the ones that tend to break the a ending rule that makes them too wet sounding. Avoid like the plague though). Again they will date too though.

K names are getting bad press at the moment and commonly aren't thought of as classy. The real exceptions are the classics Kate and Katie (I'd even spell Katherine/Kathryn with a C at the moment for that reason).

If you can get your head around all that, you'll be fairly safe in coming up with something not to popular and strong sounding. It sounds like it rules out a lot, but it does leave a lot too plus it should help you work out when and if you want to break 'the rules' too.

Leaflitter · 21/06/2015 15:10

Who's giving K names bad press RedToothBrush?

puthyjip43 · 21/06/2015 15:23

Ruth
Faye
Zana
Gia

mrstothemr · 21/06/2015 16:08

Wow, mountains of info red, cheers

OP posts:
Teachermummy27 · 21/06/2015 18:29

Ruth
Ellen/Nell/Helen
Lois (biased because I have one!)
Blythe
Hannah

susurration · 21/06/2015 18:51

Olive
Hazel
Iris

LondonRocks · 21/06/2015 18:55

Rose
Martha
Joy

Bicnod · 21/06/2015 18:57

I have a Beth (Elizabeth)

Others on the shortlist were:

Nell
Tess
Martha
Mary
Bess

RedToothBrush · 21/06/2015 18:58

should read 'Avoid flower names like the plague though!'

urbinosparrot · 21/06/2015 19:05

The strong short girls I know have names like Ruth or Emma Smile

peltata · 21/06/2015 19:12

Clare
Jane
Rosa
Hope
Faith
Tessa
Sarah
Lara
Belle/Bella

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