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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Concerns about Margot

44 replies

rubybloom2 · 02/10/2015 17:39

Margot is a currently our top choice girls name. We have both always loved it, and like that it is familiar yet uncommon.
We have a couple of concerns though... Is it likely to get shortened to Marg? And could the spelling be mispronounced? (Eg. Mar-got) and if so, should we consider spelling it Margo instead? Would love your thoughts.

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Thebirdsneedseeds · 02/10/2015 17:42

I really like it. I wouldn't think to shorten it but don't know if others would. If you always use Margot correctly pronounced I think others should too.

Good choice

villainousbroodmare · 02/10/2015 17:46

I think it's lovely.
I don't think it's likely to be shortened, maybe because it ends in an "o" sound which already has a relaxed feel to it.
I also don't think that anyone will call her Mar-got; the one thing that might happen is that people who only hear the name might think it's spelled Margo, but sure, so what, that's easily fixed.

Lunastarfish · 02/10/2015 19:04

I don't think it will be shortened. I expect you'll get the odd mispronouciation through to

LemonPied · 02/10/2015 19:09

It's a lovely name, the one I worked with didn't seem to have an issue with it being mispronounced either.

MyNameIsSuz · 02/10/2015 19:19

It's on our shortlist too, I was worrying about it getting shortened to Maggie or mags, which I don't like. I think Margie is quite cute in a 1940s kind of a way. I don't think too many people will pronounce the t.

BlahBlahUsername · 02/10/2015 19:22

IMO you'll have more problems if you spell it Margo. Only a small percentage of people won't know how to spell Margot, so you'd be more likely to have to correct people and say no 't' on the end. In fact if I saw 'Margo' I wouldn't know which way to pronounce it!

Kittykatmacbill · 02/10/2015 19:24

Lovely name - wish we had called dd1 (and dd2) it. But please apell it properly.

SmugairleRoin · 02/10/2015 19:51

If you're worried about ending up with a shortening you hate, don't use it - it's the childs name and you can't know what nickname they might use.

I don't think pronunciation should be an issue though.

CactusAnnie · 02/10/2015 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

rubybloom2 · 02/10/2015 20:19

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I do prefer spelling it properly with a T. We have friends with a little Maggie so we would avoid shortening it to that.

DH doesn't share my concerns over potential bad nickname or mispronunciation, says I'm overthinking it and I probably am!

I can see my parents and older family friends thinking associations with The Good Life, but it was before my generation so I'm not overly concerned. As a huge ballet fan and former dancer, I'm more inspired by Margot Fonteyn.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

OP posts:

BondGate · 02/10/2015 20:27

I thought Margot was pronounced Mar-got well into adulthood.

I've never met one in real life, and names in literature don't tend to come with a pronunciation guide, so I assumed it was pronounced the way it was spelt (with a 'T'), until mumsnet baby name threads educated me.

emwithme · 02/10/2015 20:30

Oh I love Margot adds it to the list for future DDs

It's beautiful and classic and makes me think of the Good Life and Margot Fonteyn and generally a lovely poised elegant lady.

allbie · 02/10/2015 20:36

Margot is a fantastic name. If DS had been a daughter, he would be Margot Celeste. I would be overjoyed to hear a little girl being called Margot!

HumphreyCobblers · 02/10/2015 20:39

I love Margot in The Good Life!

merrymouse · 02/10/2015 20:42

I like Margot in the good life, but given that people of your daughter's generation are unlikely to be good life watchers it's not really relevant.

HopefulHamster · 02/10/2015 21:08

I like it :)

NameChange30 · 05/10/2015 00:33

Good name but please don't drop the t!

I know a French Margot and no-one really shortens it, apart from her family who sometimes call her 'Go-go'! (Repeating syllables seems to be a 'thing' in French nicknames!)

Anyway I don't think you need to worry about shortening or pronunciation. It's not hard to say and people will call her what you call her - then later what she calls herself.

Nicknames often have nothing to do with actual first names, anyway.

diggerdigsdogs · 05/10/2015 00:38

I love margot. It was always on my lists but DH was a mean veto-er. A very glamorous older posh girl was named margot at my boarding school.

Use it! Stop over thinking!

Becles · 05/10/2015 00:44

Margo Ledbetter was a fashion icon. I loved her character so very much. The names a great one and worth using to commemorate her

groovergirl · 05/10/2015 02:53

Cool name.

Regarding the spelling, remember what Margot Asquith said when greeted by the pretty but unsophisticated movie star Jean Harlow: "The T is silent, as in Harlow."

Canyouforgiveher · 05/10/2015 03:07

keep the t.

No mad abou it myself but it is not going to be uncommon in the next ten years. I suspect it is going to become the next isla/ava/emily so if it being uncommon is the primary reason to choose it, don't. If you like it as a name, nothing to do with popularity, then go for it.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 05/10/2015 03:22

Love Margot :)

Minimaus · 05/10/2015 12:12

In French speaking countries Margot is pronounced without the T, but in Germany, Holland and Scandinavia, it is pronounced Mar-got, with the T.

I suppose most English people might prefer the French pronunciation but I would definiately not assume that everyone will pronounce it that way.

Also, I think you need to be prepared for your dd's friends to shorten Margot to Marg, Margie or Maggie as it is difficult to 'control' nicknames once at school.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 05/10/2015 13:22

Watch out for autocorrect calling her maggot!

sherbertlemon17 · 05/10/2015 17:37

I know a girl with this name and it is spelt Margaux. I think her mums side of the family are French. Could that be an alternative if you're worried about pronunciation?

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