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

Strong girls names?

42 replies

InstantFlowers · 16/12/2015 12:09

Girls names that aren't too girly? Pretty is OK, can't have any names ending in 'a' or 'er' sounds as odd with surname. Surname is quite dull, so name shouldn't be too boring!

Really like Ada and Ramona but doesn't work because of above. Also like Rosalind (names of famous women scientists go down well). And it may just be pregnancy hormones, but I've been wondering about Arrietty (with a plainer middle name) because the girl character in The Borrowers is so fierce and independent.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Tangoandcreditcards · 16/12/2015 12:23

I have picked out Ramona for DC2 if it's a girl (38w pregnant). Along similar logic lines.

Other names we considered were:
Zoe
Nancy (doesn't look that "strong" written down but the one I know is pushing 90 and kicks ass)
Josephine
Etta (but another a name)

I love Arietty...

StDogolphin · 16/12/2015 12:47

Emmeline
Aerin
Alix

5madthings · 16/12/2015 12:52

I like arrietty, but dh doesn't.

We have four boys and one girl so far. Our dd is Merryn.

Astrid and juno are on our list if baby 6 is a girl, we opted for a suprise so have to wait and see.

Boys names are much easier imo.

Oh I like Arwen as well but dh doesn't.

Hazel was on our list for a while and robyn but have gone off both.

I like Addison as well but again vetoed by dh.

HooseRice · 16/12/2015 12:55

Alexandra
Corrinne
Heidi
Greta

toffeeboffin · 16/12/2015 12:59

I love Astrid too.

Avery.
Loretta.
Mallory.

Alexandra.

Surely Rosalind would be shortened to Rosie which isn't very strong?

Artandco · 16/12/2015 13:00

Liesel
Margot
Nell
Ottoline
Edith
Wyn
Hermione

5madthings · 16/12/2015 13:02

Oh avery is in my list but again vetoed by dh...
I like Rosalind but yes rosie is what it would likely become.

We almost named dd genevive but didn't because it would end up jen /jenny which we don't like.

MitzyLeFrouf · 16/12/2015 13:38

Please don't go with Arietty, it would be like calling your child Pollyanna. I would think 'twee' rather than 'strong'.

Now science isn't my forte but strong women that sprint to mind are...

Sophie (Scholl)
Diane (Fossey)
Lucy (Stone)
Nancy (Blackett)
Marian (Halcombe)
Eleanor (of Acquitaine)
Vera (Brittain)
Bess (of Hardwick)
Helen (Keller)
Anne (Bonny)
Cleo(patra)
Dorothy (Parker)
Frieda (Kahlo)
Mary (Wollstonecraft or Seacole)
Elizabeth (Blackwell)

CakeRattleandRoll · 16/12/2015 15:25

Miriam
Ingrid
Corisande
Anwen
Ruth
Tamsin
Imogen
Seren
Yasmin
Rachel
Abigail
Harriet
Margaret
Bridget

Original poster
InstantFlowers · 16/12/2015 17:12

Thank you! I forgot about nicknames, Rosie isn't ideal. Split vote on Arrietty then Grin I know it's a bit of a risky one, comes from the irrational bookworm side of me though. Don't want to sound twee, though for sure.

I love Zoe! Though I know one I don't like, so it depends if I can override the association in my brain. DH already ruled out Astrid, but he didn't give a reason, so maybe he's open to persuasion?

I like Merryn, Aeryn, Marian, Tamsin, Imogen, maybe I like names ending in n. Genevieve is beautiful, but I can't have Jenny nickname either - it would be most unfortunate with our surname. Rachel is gorgeous, though I'd need a really interesting middle name if we use that, and I was thinking a short middle name would be best. Oh and Eleanor is lovely, I'm fond of the name Helen but think it would be dull with our name.

Oh Tango I hope you have a girl, Ramona is so great!

OP posts:
emilybrontescorset · 16/12/2015 18:10

Ariadne.

froggyjump · 16/12/2015 21:44

Zoe was my preferred girls name through all 3 pregnancies, but I had 3 boys!

Also love Ramona and Mona.

Other suggestions - Nina, Ruth, Naomi, Miriam, Kate, Anne, Ingrid, Judith.

Jw35 · 16/12/2015 21:49

Hazel

myotherusernameisbetter · 16/12/2015 23:50

Fatima, as in Whitbread? She was pretty damned strong.... :o

Ipushedmygrannyaffabus · 16/12/2015 23:55

Arrietty is my secret favourite name of all time but DP would never go for it! Also love Ramona!

What about Rowan or Scarlett or Mairead?

hownottofuckup · 16/12/2015 23:57

What's a weak girls name then?
Not being facetious, my DD's names are mentioned on this thread, but I never thought of them as strong (or otherwise). What's the criteria?

Fynbos · 17/12/2015 00:03

Quinn - I know girls and boys with this name and seems to work well for both.

myotherusernameisbetter · 17/12/2015 00:05

I'd guess it means not frilly and girly names (such as Poppy and Rosie and Emily?) though clearly a strong woman can be called anything. personally, I'm not a fan of the frilly and girly either but I don't know if i'd necessarily call other names strong, not sure what the adjective should be tbh.

Anyway, my favourite girls name at the moment is probably Lorna

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 17/12/2015 00:05

Tate
Paige
Rhian
Alice
Grace
Evelyn
Constance
Yazmin
Isabel
Jade

timelytess · 17/12/2015 00:15

Amazon?
Serena?
Esther?

TheSecondViola · 17/12/2015 00:20

Mathilde
Maud
Isabel
Margaret
Constance
Christobel
Rosamund

CharmingChampignon · 17/12/2015 00:31

Ruth
Megan
Ellen/Elin
Ione/Iolanthe/Xanthe
Merryn/Seren
Kirsten/Kristen
Anwen/Arianwen

CharmingChampignon · 17/12/2015 00:33

Hermione
Briony
Elise/Eloise
Juniper
Hebe
Juno

CakeRattleandRoll · 17/12/2015 04:06

How about Aderyn? It means 'bird' in Welsh.

Or Catrin? Or Carmen?

BikeRunSki · 17/12/2015 06:08

I know you said no names ending in "a", but-
Stella (as in Rimmington, can't get cooler than a lady spy)
Jessica (as in Ennis-Hill)
Lizzie (as in Armitstead, shortlisted for SPOTY)