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

What do you think of these names?

66 replies

Cattenberg · 16/12/2017 23:26

My unborn baby is probably a girl, and I didn't think I'd struggle to name her, but I'm really undecided right now. My ideal name would be fairly unusual, but still easy to pronounce and spell, and feminine, but not too "frilly".

What do you think of these names? Do you associate any of them with a particular age group/generation? (I can't find much name data for the UK that goes back before 1996).

Oh, and feel free to be brutally honest. One of my friends has successfully put me off a few names by claiming they sounded like certain diseases.

Antonia
Serena
Selina
Esther
Rosa
Raina
Lila
Nina
Rialita
Marisa
Jacinta

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
Cattenberg · 16/12/2017 23:27

*Sorry that's Rialta, not Rialita. It's Italian, I think.

OP posts:
Battleax · 16/12/2017 23:29

Selina is pretty inoffensive.

LoveInTokyo · 16/12/2017 23:30

Rosa is my favourite by a country mile. Feminine but gutsy. I also like Antonia.

ladystarkers · 16/12/2017 23:32

Only one I vaguely like is Jacinta nn jessie. What about Mila.

ladystarkers · 16/12/2017 23:33

Natalie

twotired · 16/12/2017 23:35

I love Serena and Esther, lovely names. I am a bit indifferent about the others (sorry - they are very lovely but not for me).

hubbybubby · 16/12/2017 23:36

Love Marisa and Antonia

LinaBo · 16/12/2017 23:42

Jacinta is my country's equivalent to Ethel or Gertrude - great-auntie type of name, iyswim.

Marisa is my mum's name, I've never met one in the UK.

ElizaDontlittle · 16/12/2017 23:45

I like Antonia and Esther, and Rosa has grown on me in recent years.

ONS has a fabulous names tool going back 100 years if you Google it.

NannyR · 16/12/2017 23:47

Rosa and Nina are lovely, personally I'm not keen on the others.

MaroonPencil · 16/12/2017 23:52

My favourite from your list is Rosa followed by Marisa and Nina. I am not keen on Lila, it makes me think lilo.

I have always liked the name Jacynth, and prefer that to Jacinta.

BlazingPaddles · 16/12/2017 23:52

Marisa is my pick by a mile. It's gorgeous. And Antonia is nice too.

In Dublin Jacinta is considered deeply unfashionable. Deeply. Just for another perspective on that name!

ProseccoMamam · 16/12/2017 23:57

Nina is lovely, I've never met a Nina, but I think she'd be sweet

eastlondoner · 16/12/2017 23:59

Lila was on our shortlist, but we (I) decided against it because it just sounds too much like liar.

OlennasWimple · 17/12/2017 00:01

Lila is too close to lilo and lido for my liking. It could be a nice NN for a longer name, but I don't like it on its own

Rialita sounds made up / close to Lolita or raita / a beefed up version of Rita

Selina, Serena and Antonia are Sloane Ranger names (though I like them all!)

Pinkitis · 17/12/2017 00:03

Like Antonio and Rosa.

PinkCrystal · 17/12/2017 01:17

I like these ones
Serena
Esther
Rosa
Raina
Lila
Jacinta

Koala2018 · 17/12/2017 01:29

My opinion:

Antonia - A strong masculine name with a lot of expectations. I'd hate to imagine an unattractive Antonia because it's already so masculine.

Serena - Beautiful name, not common and one I'm considering myself.

Selina - Uncommon, no associations with older generations. I could become quite fond of this if my DD would have a friend called this.

Esther - An older name, as obvious as it may be to me and you, I don't think everyone will pronounce it properly and your daughter may have to spell it out alot.

Rosa-

Raina - Sounds like a gypsy traveller name, do not like one bit. They often call their daughter things like this and 'Rainy'. Avoid.

Lila - Pretty but quite boring and it's very feminine and conventional, she's going to need a big personality to not be stereotyped as such. Also, she'll be asked to spell it as people may assume Lyla or Lilah.

Nina- Will be teased as it sounds like Neeenahh Neeenah the police/ambulance are coming!

Rialita - First time I've seen this, first opinions ugly and trying too hard to be unusual at the risk of giving DD a silly name she won't like.

Marisa - Neutral feelings towards it. Curious to what the nickname would be?

Jacinta - I don't like this one at all.

Bare in mind these are just my opinions, everyone will have different ones. Hope this is useful!

ChocolateCrunch · 17/12/2017 07:55

I like Marisa from your list.

userabcname · 17/12/2017 07:57

I love Serena - I think it's a beautiful name. From the others on your list, I like Rosa but the rest I don't think are as pretty.

ImADingleDangleScarecrow · 17/12/2017 08:01

I like Nina & Rosa from your list. Serena is quite nice too. Really not keen on Lila or Esther.

holidayqueriwifi · 17/12/2017 08:02

Selina is beautiful.

Navegante · 17/12/2017 08:29

Antonia and Serena are my favourite. I wanted Antonia for my dd but we have a friend called Anthony who would be convinced we'd named her after him (he's just that type) so didn't go for it Sad

MrsMoastyToasty · 17/12/2017 08:33

Definitely not Rialta. It's a brand of motor home.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 17/12/2017 08:40

Marisa, Rosa and Selina, are all very lovely !