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Baby names

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

Down to top 5, got to make a decision!

92 replies

BobbingUpAndDownLikeThis · 06/04/2016 17:58

Stuck between Beatrix, Dorothy, Harriet, Marianne and Matilda for baby due very soon! Surname is double barrelled with lots of T's in it, so I think that Matilda probably doesn't work with it but not sure.

Would like to know if you hate/love any of these names, and if so, why. Also would be interested in nicknames used for Marianne (so far thought of Mari, Maz, and Annie but the others have much more nickname potential).

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Carolndaryl · 06/04/2016 17:59

Love love love Marianne

evenoldergregg · 06/04/2016 18:15

I love the name Dorothy and still sometimes wish I'd named my six year old this instead!

Sophronia · 06/04/2016 19:00

Marianne or Dorothy

Summ3r · 06/04/2016 19:34

Love Matilda or Harriet

29redshoes · 06/04/2016 19:56

I like Marianne best!

MissBattleaxe · 06/04/2016 19:59

I love Marianne!

BendydickCuminsnatch · 06/04/2016 20:05

Love Dorothy! Dot is a great nn. Also like Matilda nn Tilda or Matty. The Tilda I know is an awesome woman. I'm a Harriet (Harry, NOT Hattie Angry) and it has served me well thus far.

LaceyLee · 06/04/2016 20:07

I like Marianne loads and it's so unusual these days. Plus I like the Jane Austen connection. Maria could be another nickname I suppose or just 'M', but Mari is nice imo.

BobbingUpAndDownLikeThis · 06/04/2016 20:13

Pleasantly surprised by the love for Marianne and Dorothy - was worried they are both too old-fashioned :) I think my top 2 are probably Marianne and Beatrix but I keep coming back to Dorothy (I love the character in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries!)

The nicknames for Harriet are so wonderfully varied :) I like Hattie but can see why you wouldn't, but I like that you can have Harry or Ettie because they're very different.

OP posts:
insanelycheerful · 06/04/2016 20:14

Marianne most definitely! All lovely names but Marianne is wonderful.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 06/04/2016 20:15

One thing with Harriet is that people seem to have trouble spelling it, even though that's the most common spelling of the name IMO. I blame Ainsley Harriott Wink

FishOn · 06/04/2016 20:17

Beatrix is my fave

BrendasGotABaby · 06/04/2016 20:17

Marianne by a country mile

Coldtoeswarmheart · 06/04/2016 20:18

Harriet might get shortened to Hatty, which might give you too many Ts?

Marianne will get shortened to Maz.

Dorothy will be shortened to Dotty, how bothered are you by the T thing?

EllaHen · 06/04/2016 20:21

Marianne. Love it. If dc2 were a girl, I would've pushed for it.

BobbingUpAndDownLikeThis · 06/04/2016 20:27

I'm not that stressed about the T thing - because how often do you introduce yourself by nickname and surname? But DH seems to worry more about it.

OP posts:
Kingfisherfree · 06/04/2016 20:30

Marianne 100%.

Coldtoeswarmheart · 06/04/2016 20:35

TBH if DS uses his full name he has a consonant repeated 3 times and it only ocurred to me when he noticed it himself.

LotsofDots · 06/04/2016 20:38

Wait and see what she looks like! Your list is nice and short so you'll be able to narrow it down once she has arrived. For what it's worth, I have one DD with one of your names. She was nearly a Penelope, but she didn't look like one. Currently expecting DC3 and have at least two of your other names on the list!

Wishfulmakeupping · 06/04/2016 20:38

Harriet! Fab name my ds would have been Harriet Elinor if he'd have been a girl.
Marianne is also nice.
I really liked Dorothy as a mn for dd a few years back but since then its been really popular with a few people I know and it's put me off to be honest.
Not keen on other two.

HelenaJustina · 06/04/2016 20:41

Another vote for Marianne

NoCapes · 06/04/2016 20:43

Love Harriet
If DS2 was a girl he'd be Harriet

JenniferAnistonsHair · 06/04/2016 20:47

Harriet is gorgeous.

Meredith also sounds fab with your list. Just a thought. Good luck!

DramaAlpaca · 06/04/2016 22:12

I love Marianne, it's one of my all time favourite names.

Undercooked · 06/04/2016 22:12

I like Dorothy but love Dorothea. Dorothea could be Dora, Thea, Dotty, Dot, Dodo...

I actually like all your choices except Harriet which is the epitome of plain to my ear.

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