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Original poster

Laura or Gemma?

111 replies

PimmsAndPonies · 20/05/2019 10:29

We are expecting DC2 shortly and two of the girl names we are considering are:

Laura
Gemma

Which do you prefer? DC1 is a boy and has a very traditional boys name (5 letters), so we want a nice short traditional girl's name to go with his name.

I'm leaning towards Laura, but my OH prefers Gemma. Any comments on either name would be appreciated.

Thanks

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FishCanFly · 20/05/2019 12:22

Laura is very boring. Gemma is cool

BlueMerchant · 20/05/2019 12:26

Laura is lovely.
Gemma isn't.

Kanga83 · 20/05/2019 12:28

I prefer Laura. Or Emma as an alternative to Gemma (although I know that wasn't an option!), I think it's the G in Gemma that I find dated.

Bin85 · 20/05/2019 12:31

Laura is better by far

Barbarafromblackpool · 20/05/2019 12:33

Laura.

paintwater · 20/05/2019 12:35

Laura. As PP said it’s timeless whereas Gemma seems very dated to me (all Gemmas I know were born in the late 80s-early 2000s)

AllyMcBealmademe · 20/05/2019 12:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ as requested by the OP.

RuffleCrow · 20/05/2019 12:42

I actually really like Gemma and think it's due a revival.

There was a gorgeous ethereal Gemma in my class at primary school and it also makes me think of Gemma Whelan who's awesome in Horrible Histories & Upstart Crow amongst others things, and woefully underused in Game of Thrones.

Bluntness100 · 20/05/2019 12:43

Laura, it's a lovely feminine classic name.

Gemma not so much, I keep thinking Gemma Collins.

Proseccofuelled · 20/05/2019 12:52

Don’t like either
Laurel & Jemima are nice ?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 20/05/2019 12:54

these are very late 80s/early 90s- if forced to pick Laura (Gemma is awful).

Cookit · 20/05/2019 13:01

Laura 100%.

Gemma is such an 80s name.

Freyanna · 20/05/2019 13:07

Laura

Complainingagain · 20/05/2019 13:09

I think they're both quite dated and dull but if I had to choose it would be Laura

twilightcafe · 20/05/2019 13:09

Laura is pretty and timeless.
Gemma is a bit dated.

outsho · 20/05/2019 13:18

Really 80s/90s, not keen on either. Went to school with lots of Laura’s and Gemma’s, I don’t see those names doing the rounds again for a very long time.

Bumsnet69 · 20/05/2019 13:22

I prefer Lara to Laura. Dr Zhivago vibes.

Not keen on Gemma.

Howtotrainyourhamster · 20/05/2019 13:23

Laura is a classic - I know a 7 year old Laura.
Gemma is extremely dated 80s name - not keen on it at all, I also find it quite a hard name.
So, out of these, Laura.

MollyHuaCha · 20/05/2019 13:26

Laura

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 20/05/2019 13:26

I love them both - I especially like Gemma because of the 1960s Noel Streatfeild books. Gemma was cool and could play the banjo. To me the name is only dated in a fabulous way!

Laura or Gemma?
Original poster
PimmsAndPonies · 20/05/2019 13:49

Thanks for everyone's replies - all much appreciated.

I know that the names are a bit dull/old-fashioned for some people's taste, but for us we like classic/traditional names rather than anything too modern.

To the person that suggested Emma, sadly that's already a name in the family so we can't use it :(

OP posts:
helpmum2003 · 20/05/2019 13:54

Of those 2 Laura.

Jemima?
Aurora?

Original poster
PimmsAndPonies · 20/05/2019 13:58

OH doesn't like Jemima, and Aurora is not traditional enough for us, but thank you.

OP posts:
formerbabe · 20/05/2019 14:00

Laura is a classic

Gemma is very 80s/90s

formerbabe · 20/05/2019 14:03

In a similar style...how about

Sarah?
Claire?
Emily?
Kate?
Jennifer?