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Baby names

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

Please rip my girls name list to shreds!

85 replies

fluffypenguinbelly · 16/02/2016 20:02

We have a boys name all sorted and ready to go. Girls names are proving difficult to say the least. I'm a bit meh about all of them. Going round in circles is not helping.

Flora
Florence
Martha
Isla
Orla
Beatrice

Feel free to suggest more. It's giving me a headache. Tia.

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ABitAsleep · 17/02/2016 09:55

I love Flora, i think it's pretty and feminine and would suit a child or adult. The only problem is, i think is is 'girly' which your child may not like as much if they are a tomboy.

I think Isla and Florence are too popular at the moment, so i would personally stay away from them.

I quite like Martha, but think it suits adults better than children. Whenever i hear it i think of a Catherine Cookson film.

Orla is nice, but not a personal favourite, i don't think it is anything special.

I like Beatrice (I prefer Beatrix) there are good opportunities for nn and i think it is pretty cute, but also grown up.

lanbro · 17/02/2016 10:02

You did say rip to shreds right?! All awful, boring and unimaginative...sorry! All those names make me think of old ladies, I know they are currently fashionable but it's a no from me I'm afraid!

There are many beautiful names out there, please don't use an old lady name!

megganonion · 17/02/2016 10:03

Love love love isla.. and Diana has snook up on me this pregnancy! All them names are lovely though.

sugarplumfairy28 · 17/02/2016 12:08

I think everything is lovely apart from Beatrice and Martha. I think they all have an elegance to them, while being sweet for a toddler and solid enough for a teenager and young lady.

tkndnv · 17/02/2016 12:14

I like them all, apart from Beatrice.

Orla is probably my fave.

PunkAssMoFo · 17/02/2016 13:19

Flora- margarine
Florence- really popular atm
Martha- frumpy
Isla- very current
orla- meh
Beatrice - nice

BeautyIsTruth · 17/02/2016 15:30

Rip apart you say?

Flora - I actually really like this. Makes me think of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora Macdonald, she was a tough lady. Also, the goddess of flowers, sounds all spring like and happy. Downside - vaginal flora. Thrush. Bit of a posh girl association.

Florence - Can't stand this. So Victorian and not in a good way. Florrie and Flo are awful nicknames. Aunt Flo means period. Very of the moment and will end up being very dated again I think. I'm always shocked when I see people mention it as being pretty. In fact, I'm still completely baffled that's it's so popular.

Martha - I used to think this was awful. I knew a girl at school called this and I felt sorry for her for having such an ugly name. Lots of associations with frumpiness, housework and cooking due to the biblical Martha and Martha Stewart. Think it might have traditionally been a servants name as well. Getting more popular. But Martha Wainwright is a very cool namesake and I appreciate its not frilly like lots of other girls names currently popular and therefore sounds stronger.

Isla - Pretty but VERY of the moment. Zoomed to the top of the charts out of nowhere (it's no. 3 in England and Wales). Doesn't seem to have much history behind it. I know it's Scottish and has been used a lot there but the only well known one I can think of is Isla Fisher. Who is great but it just strikes me as flimsy and faddy. It's a very pretty sound but I don't know if there's much strength behind it, if you see what I mean.

Orla - I love this but it is getting more popular. Sounds similar to Isla so could end up sounding dated and being confused with it. Golden princess meaning is nice but might be too cutesy for you. I like the mythology behind it.

Beatrice - I mentioned this being popular to my nearly 90 year old grandmother the other day and she looked absolutely horrified - to her it's an old granny's name. I can kind of see its appeal as it sounds happy and no-nonsense (I can imagine a strong businesswoman called Beatrice) but it's still stodgy to me. I class it with Florence in that it will be very dated one day as there only seem to be babies or old ladies called it and not many inbetween. I do really like it as a middle name though. Again, along with Florence and to a lesser extent Martha, seems to be the go to hip middle class, yummy mummy NCT type name.

I hope that's been enough ripping apart for you. Grin I don't actually dislike them as much as it would seem (apart from Florence, which IMO should be consigned to the dustbin of names so awful they should never be used again). You've just selected a list of names that are very predictable. Nothing wrong with that, they're mostly nice names but Beatrice, Florence and Isla seem to be everyone's favourite name at the moment, especially on here. None of them will do your daughter a disservice.

I think the best one you've got is Flora, you should definitely use that. Although I hope my thrush comments didn't put you off but you did say to rip apart Grin. I shall try and think up some more suggestions for you in a bit.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 17/02/2016 15:36

Amen. Beauty Grin

rumbleinthrjungle · 17/02/2016 15:39

Love Flora. Real history to that name. Freya is similar, also a lovely name. (Or take a step sideways and try Fauna)

Love Orla and Isla too, although if you're looking for something in that region Iona is similar.

Beatrice, (Bea for short?) also nice. I can't handle Martha, it makes me think of that drippy wench in the British Bake Off. Which goes to show everyone's associations with a name are so individual that whatever you call your daughter people will just come to see that name as her and associate it with her qualities.

CPtart · 17/02/2016 16:38

I don't like any of them.
How about Zoe, Louisa, Catherine, Meredith, Erica, Natalie?

fluffypenguinbelly · 17/02/2016 16:49

Thanks everyone. This child isn't having a name if it's a girl! Loads of fab other suggestions but unfortunately having a huge family means loads have been taken.

Also, can't have a single syllable first name as non negotiable second name is one syllable. My DH is a PITA and has vetoed my favourite names of Thea and
Romilly. We love Aoife but aren't Irish enough for the spelling. I quit. Fingers crossed for a boy.

OP posts:
BeautyIsTruth · 17/02/2016 17:23

Awww feel a bit mean now, especially about Florence. Blush Tons of people like it so I'm clearly in the minority. They're all good names.

Here's my suggested list for you:

Harriet
Erin
Tabitha
Jemima
Adela
Rosa/Rosalie/Rosalind/Rosamund/Rosanna etc.
Anya
Anna/Annabel
Lydia
Elodie
Eleanor
Felicity
Juliet
Lara
Francesca
Penelope
Phoebe
Madeleine
Thalia
Merryn
Gabrielle/a
Zara
Lucy/Lucia
Esme
Niamh
Nancy
Violet
Maya
Clara
Alexandra
Lois
Naomi
Esther
Stella
Eloise
Nina
Constance/Connie
Claudia
Genevieve
Helena
Hazel
Honor
Iris
Josephine

I think Aoife's lovely, don't think you need to be Irish for that spelling. English people cope with Siobhan and Sinead just fine.

Abbinob · 17/02/2016 17:24

Flora reminds me of vaginas but I have no idea why?

itsbetterthanabox · 17/02/2016 17:24

I like Orla and Martha.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 17/02/2016 17:25

If you like Romillu how about Rumor?

rainbowstardrops · 17/02/2016 17:44

I like Florence but prefer Fleur to Flora.
Also like Isla, it's pretty.
Are you adverse to 'wackier'/more modern names?

Willow
Anais
Amelie
Eden
Skye
Hettie
Bella
Jeannie
Amber

Anywhere close???

fluffypenguinbelly · 17/02/2016 18:03

I am not adverse to anything. DH is a big old boring loser.

Girl has a nice ring to it I think.

I am pretty sure I have read every name ever invented. My brain is going to explode. What happens when you can't think of a name? Don't they just randomly allocate one? We might take our chances.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 17/02/2016 18:07

I really like both Florence and Martha.

rainbowstardrops · 17/02/2016 19:41

Girl has a nice ring to it I think.

Eh????

Bit tricky if dh is a bore Grin

candykane25 · 17/02/2016 20:01

I'll decide for you.

Nancy.

calzone · 17/02/2016 23:26

Eliza.

DixieNormas · 17/02/2016 23:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NadiaWadia · 18/02/2016 00:13

Flora is quite nice. Don't really like any of the others much. Isla is very fashionable right now, so will become dated in the future quite quickly, I should think.

BeautyIsTruth · 18/02/2016 00:16

Just post her picture on here when she's born and we'll name her for you! Job done. Grin

fluffypenguinbelly · 23/02/2016 09:32

Seren?

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