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Baby names

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

Original poster

Pauline

69 replies

LookingforRainbows · 09/11/2015 22:02

Hi all, looking for some honest opinions. Currently 24 wks with DD, and I am hoping to name her Pauline, after my mum. I am really close to DM and recently she has really been a pillar of support in a very difficult time for me and my sister, and just as my dsis honoured my dad by naming her DS after him (although DN does go by an abbreviated more modern form of DDad's name most if the time) I would love to honour my DM by naming my DD Pauline after her granny.

DH says that he likes the idea of DD being named after her granny, and he does like the name but he is concerned that Pauline is a bit of a 'granny' name, and that she might get teased at school. DH thinks that we should we should have Pauline as a middle name and our second choice of name, Elizabeth first, but I honestly think Pauline Elizabeth flows and sounds better than Elizabeth Pauline.

I know it is quite old fashioned, (admittedly DM is in her early sixties) and I haven't heard of anyone younger than my DM called Pauline - and I know that there was a threat a few days a go about names that will never make a come back and I remember seeing Pauline on that thread a few times (my heart sank a little) but the more I think about it, I just feel so drawn to the name and I just feel it is so right, to honour my mum in this way as she has been incredible to me, and she spends so much giving to us, I just wanted to give something back to her.

So, do you think Pauline is too old fashioned for 2016? Shall I go with my heart, and take the risk that she may be teased (which I wouldn't want) it shall I just play safe and keep it as a middle name?

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SuckingEggs · 09/11/2015 23:25

I think it's nice. A refreshing change from Amelia, Evie, Maia, Ellie etc.

myotherusernameisbetter · 09/11/2015 23:27

I quite like it, I prefer Paula though, but Polly is a nice NN

needtothinkaboutseniorschools · 09/11/2015 23:28

I think Pauline is a beautiful name, made even more special by the reason you're choosing it. Go for it!

Sophronia · 10/11/2015 00:38

Pauline is great! I'd much rather hear of a little Pauline than yet another Evie, Lily or Isla.

Belazu84 · 10/11/2015 07:05

Go for it. I'd love to meet a little Pauline.

Mydearchild · 10/11/2015 07:17

There's a reason why it's not popular any more. I would use it as a middle name instead, it's a lovely gesture. That said if you really like the name then go for it completely unhelpful Wink

caravanista13 · 10/11/2015 07:42

I think it would be unlikely for her to be teased about it. Children are generally very accepting of others' names.

scribblegirl · 10/11/2015 07:47

Iirc it's very popular and trendy in France Smile

VeryPunny · 10/11/2015 07:47

There's a Pauline in DDs nursery - her parents are German FWIW. Perfectly good name.

ThursdayLastWeek · 10/11/2015 07:55

It's not a name to my own taste, but I love the idea! It's is certainly unique (these days) without being 'made up'.

And it means something to you.

I wouldn't thrust the nn Polly on her too quickly either as that's a totally different type of name IMO.

florascotianew · 10/11/2015 09:50

I think Pauline is a lovely name, and as others have said, you have a great reason for choosing it.

I once met a very pleasant girl called Paulina, nicknamed Lina (Leenah).

DeepBlueLake · 10/11/2015 10:40

Does your mum have a nice middle name? Sounds like a nice gesture OP bit Pauline isn't a great name for a child in 2015.

DS1 has the middle name of DH late brother as thats more a classic name (been in the top 20 for years) instead of a god awful 80s name.

DS2 has my Granddad's middle name too which is a top 100 name, no way was I going to lumber my gorgeous DS with Gordon as a name.

dayslikethis · 10/11/2015 10:53

Two things...

Firstly, I think either Elizabeth Pauline OR Pauline Elizabeth sounds fine - I don't hear one as being better than the other. If you decide to go with it though, please, please, please call the child by her given name and not her middle name. My parents decided that my name flowed better with the "middle" name first and so switched them around and I have always been called my actual middle name and I have hated it my whole life - now as an adult I answer to either, because on all my official stuff (bank accounts, driving licence, passport, medical notes etc...) I am my first name. It bothers me less now as I am used to it, and I have resigned myself to being called either, but I really didn't like it as a child or teen.

Secondly - if you want to honour your mum, but aren't sure of using her name, how about asking her to choose the name? That way she is giving something really special to your DD and you can tell her as she grows up that Granny chose her name because she is such a special part of her life and loves her very much. She might choose something you would never have thought of, but it would be her choice.

dayslikethis · 10/11/2015 10:56

(I don't think Pauline is awful though - not to my taste and yes, you will probably get some raised eyebrows from adults, but I don't think kids would even bat an eyelid at it - they don't know the 60s/70s connotations of it - it's just another name to them and from my experience - kids are a lot more forgiving of unusual names than adults are. (with the exceptions of names or initials which can be changed into other words or rhyme with other words iyswim))

MitzyLeFrouf · 10/11/2015 11:25

My best friend is a Pauline. She's a very cool doctor in her 30's. So I think it's lovely and much nicer than all those fussy Florence and Edith type names.

And I bet you anything that in 20 years time it will be shooting back up the popularity charts. Isabel was considered hopelessly out of date twenty or so years ago. Look how that turned out!

Ham69 · 10/11/2015 18:30

Quite shocked at people describing it as "beautiful". I love the idea of you naming her after your mum. My DD has my mum's name as a middle name and I personally would go with that option.
I live the name Elizabeth though and also really love Polly. Polly Elizabeth is what I'd describe as a beautiful name.

TattieHowkerz · 10/11/2015 19:42

Vin Diesel and his wife recently called their baby Pauline.
Mike Myers and his wife called their new baby Paulina.

Maybe it is heading for a revival!

LibrariesGaveUsP0wer · 10/11/2015 19:48

I think it's fab. I am so, so, so over the obsession with super frilly, super girly, almost always ending ie or ia names.

greenpeas88 · 09/09/2017 12:04

Hehe. I came across this thread whilst looking for baby names.

I've been reading about more old fashioned names having a resurgence, and I wanted to see if MY name was any more popular.

I'm a Pauline. A 29 year old one. I would be interested to know what name the OP decided on!

Dixiestampsagain · 13/09/2017 03:22

I think Paulina could be nicer- Polly/Paula/Lina all options with that too.

CaoNiMartacus · 13/09/2017 08:24

Pauline is a beautiful name.

I think when names seem to be of a certain era or age-group, they take on connotations that prevent you from assessing the beauty of how they sound. I'd place names like Beryl, Sheila and Shirley in this bracket. All lovely!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/09/2017 08:41

I think it's really pretty especially when pronounced Paul lean with emphasis on the lean.

greenpeas88 · 13/09/2017 11:50

I really dislike 'Paula', and am often called it by mistake.

Newmanwannabe · 13/09/2017 12:07

Don't google that name with the surname Hanson... unless you want to be put off .....

amousehaseatenmypaddlingpool · 13/09/2017 12:09

Pauline nn Polly is lovely