Please help...changing DD name

[rubyred84]

I'm so conflicted over what to do about my daughter's name. She is 8 days old, and we called her Bryony. It wasn't an easy decision...we spent months looking for a name that we loved as much as her sisters name (Imogen), and thought we had decided on Ottilie (nn Ottie). We announced it via text to family when she was born, and the responses we got were "wow, never heard of that before". Literally nothing else. I spoke to my mum and asked her what she thought, she said it was a name she had never heard of and just thought we were setting the baby up for a lifetime of explaining her name, spelling it etc. Also, she hinted it was a bit pretentious. So, after a few days we decided on Bryony, and this is what we have "announced" her as. Cards etc are arriving with this name on.

But I'm now not so sure. It was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to give her a name. I just don't feel it's a pretty/beautiful name anymore, and I don't know if it goes with Imogen. But I am used to calling her it now (for a few days i called her Ottilie by accident).

I would love others thoughts. Do you think Bryony goes with Imogen? Is Ottilie really that pretentious? Should we have stuck to our guns and gone with Ottilie? Does Ottilie even go with Imogen? Is Bryony a "pretty" name in your opinion?

I was due to register her tkmorrow but ive cancelled for now as we have time. I feel like I need to go back to the drawing board for a bit to make sure we are certain on her name.

Others that have come to mind that are prettier and match Imogen are Phoebe, Freya (a bit of an issue as DH has a close-ish friend who's daughter is called this), Clara....

Im still sad at our family's reaction to our first name announcement...we werent asking fir their opinions, it was the proper announement! So now I'm totally unsure of myself and what to do.

I'm just a bit lost and would really appreciate some help.

I love Bryony and prefer it to Ottilie but if Ottilie is the name you love them that should be here name.

Both names 'go' with Imogen

It is also very pretentious

In your opinion.

I like both Ottilie and Bryony, but prefer Ottilie. I also like Clara and Freya! All pretty names. Choose the one that you like the best. None of them are ‘out there’.

Clearly quite a lot of people will think Ottilie is a bit pretentious/unusual. I agree it's a very 'mumsnet' name. It's up to you how much you mind this. I think it's also prone to misspelling. She's your baby though!

Bryony will probably be shortened to Bry but goes well with Imogen as they are both non frilly names that sound quite grown up. It's definitely a more established known name.

I'm not mad about either name. Everyone has different tastes though! It's horrible to doubt your choice. I still sometimes wish I had chosen different girls names but 8 years later is definitely too late

See I don’t think of Imogen as a “pretty” name. It’s nice and I like it, but I don’t think it’s pretty.

I think Imogen and Bryony sound find. Imogen and Ottlilie are also fine. Go with whichever you want.

I wouldn't change it, it's a lovely name and goes well with Imogen.
I'm sorry I dislike Ottilie.

I absolutely love Ottilie. I think it is absolutely beautiful. Our daughter has a name that raised many eyebrows, but we love it and actually everyone has more or less forgotten about it now

Choose the name you love the best. You have 6 weeks to register, call her Otille for a few days then Bryony for a few days and see which is more natural to you.

Fwiw I got a few cats bums faces from relatives when I named my daughter Amelia 15 years ago, but I didn’t let it faze me, it was always going to be my daughters name from when I was 9 or 10 so other peoples opinion was irrelevant.

Ottilie

I far prefer Bryony. It has the same “pretty but strong” vibe as Imogen for me. Ottilie seems too “frilly”.

Both are lovely names. Go with what is natural to you and what you prefer as it's best to do it now before it's too late! Might sound stupid but what does she look like? Bryony or ottilie? What comes most natural to you? There'll always be someone with an opinion so go with what you feel and what clicks for you.

Imogen isn't 'pretty' to me, I love it but it's more of a strong, no nonsense name to me. So that just shows these things are open to interpretation.

I don't like Ottillie at all, it sort of sounds like the name a cartoon animal would have for some reason (probably an otter)... Ottie is even worse. Totally Mumsnet name though so loads on here will love it.

Bryony is great in my opinion, same vibe as Imogen and unusual without being 'weird'. I love it. Of your alternatives Phoebe is my favourite, she sounds strong and sparky and it goes well with Imogen.

Imogen, Bryony and Ottillie all have the same sort of "feel" to me - strong, unfrilly, unusual without being unheard of. (Imogen a bit more used.) I also love Clara and Freya (Phoebe less so).

But it doesn't matter what I think and it doesn't matter what your family think. Call your baby whichever one of your equally lovely names feels most right to you. Others will get used to it.

Bryony is a lovely name. Ottilie is absolutely dreadful. I don’t understand the love it gets on Mumsnet. Horrid name.

How do you pronounce Ottillie? I've seen this name on MN a few times is it O-Tilly?

Never heard of Ottillie and I much prefer Bryony. Very pretty name.
I have an unusual name and honestly I hate it.

Its embarrassing to introduce myself, as you inevitably have to correct them, then listen to the 'that's an unusual name/I've never heard that before) , its very awkward at work and all my emails from customers have different spellings on, its annoying have to spell out several times when giving my email etc

Plus the fact that my sister has a normal name (like Imogen).

I've grown to accept my name now, usually going by a nickname, but it does make it hard at work and I do think it may have affected my confidence growing up.

My honest opinion- Its honestly not worth it! Bryony is different enough but still known.

Bryony is a lovely flower name meaning to sprout I see it as very feminine and strong, don't go off people's reactions, children grow into names.

If you love Ottillie, use Ottillie. You'll regret it otherwise. I like Bryony as well and really love Freya, but you know in your heart what you want her to be called.

Much prefer Bryony to Ottilie — it’s beautiful! And much more unusual than Ottilie, I think.

Prefer Bryony. Not keen on Ottilie or Clara. Freya is nice but there are lots of them.

Bryony is a nice name OP. It's ok with Imogen but imo names like Alice, Harriet, Beatrice, Florence, Jemima go better.

Chloë?

I don't like ottillie much, it sounds like utterly.
Bryony is nicer (though I prefer Briony spelling). I have a family member named Briony and she has always loved her name and had compliments throughout her life. I am quite envious as the rest of us have very "safe" names from that era (think Karen, Louise etc).

Having said all that, if Ottillie is the name that you love, both of you, then it is the name you should use.

Ottilie is a beautiful name. I've taught three in my five years of teaching (all were lovely!) Definitely not unusual or pretentious. My daughter has a very unusual name and family were all shocked/horrified at first, but now it's just her name and everyone is totally used to it! Go with your heart and not family pressure!

Bryony is a great name. I really don't like Ottilie sorry,

I think Bryony is really pretty! Not Brenda-ish at all and matches Imogen very well. But you must go with what feels right to you.