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Baby names

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

Girl’s names

26 replies

Abstractporridge · 11/06/2019 00:19

What are people's thoughts on the below names for girls?

I consider them all fairly unusual (although not too out there!) am I right? How often have people come across them?

Astrid
Romy
Etta
Greta

OP posts:
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Penny4Thoughts · 11/06/2019 02:44

Etta is lovely but usually a nickname for various names - I.e Etta James wasn’t a full name

Divgirl2 · 11/06/2019 06:52

Astrid is okay but not the "prettiest" of names. It's my favourite of the ones you've picked.
Romy I dislike. It looks like a nickname to me (which is fine, it's just not my style).
Etta again is too nickname-y, and I don't think Etta is strong enough to stand on its own as a name, personally.
Greta is okay, again not the prettiest name but there's nothing inherently wrong with it. I know a couple and they seem to be doing fine.

How about Estelle, Zelda, Sabine.

IHeartKingThistle · 11/06/2019 06:53

Love Astrid and Greta, they sound like they should be having adventures up mountains.

carmenbea · 11/06/2019 06:56

I like Greta

memaymamo · 11/06/2019 07:18

I agree that they're all unusual yet not 'out there'. I like Astrid very much, and Romy is quite cute though people could be confused on the pronunciation.

I really dislike Greta, along with Gretchen and Gretel. They sound so phlegmy and harsh, like they'd be a great name for a cartoon troll.

Abstractporridge · 11/06/2019 07:48

Thanks for the feedback.

Very funny comments re Greta and Astrid (mountains and trolls) they are clearly a bit too fairy tail sounding.

I think Romy is our favourite at the moment. How would people think to pronounce it and how common is it?

OP posts:
Stiffasaboard · 11/06/2019 07:50

I like them all

I would pronounce it Roh-mee but not sure if that’s right!

lucymegan · 11/06/2019 07:51

Romy

Abstractporridge · 11/06/2019 07:51

Fairy tales - spelling!

OP posts:
SundayMorningSun · 11/06/2019 08:48

I would say Row-mee (row as in row your boat - mee like the second syllable of Amy).

I know one baby Romy, but that was the first time I heard it I think.

TurquoiseAndPurple · 11/06/2019 11:08

I reeeeally don't like Greta. Don't mind Etta.

I know an Astrid and loooove this. I only like Romy as a nn for Romilly. Much prefer Romilly!

Lilyannarose · 11/06/2019 11:18

They are all nice.
I'd say Greta is my favourite. I absolutely love this.
I like Romy too.
Etta is nice, but would assume it was short for a longer name like Henrietta or Arietta. It is nice though.

TempsPerdu · 11/06/2019 14:02

We have an 18 month old Greta and (after taking absolutely ages to decide) we’re really happy with our choice. Knew it was a bit of a marmite name from posting ideas on here (which the reactions above seem to confirm! Smile) but comments irl have been overwhelmingly positive. We were aiming for something strong, uncommon but familiar and feminine without being cutesy or frilly and it just seemed to fit the bill - having said that she mainly goes by Ettie at the moment (my DM’s suggestion which seems to have stuck!)

I like Etta too but agree it sounds a bit nicknamey - we actually thought it might make a good nn for Greta when she’s older! Also considered Juliet, and Etta works as a shortening for that too.

Astronica · 11/06/2019 14:09

I like them all except Etta - which sounds stuttery and unfinished to me. Greta and Astrid are strong and stylish and Romy sounds lively and a little quirky. I know a lovely little Romy whose full name is Romilly. I like both Romilly and Romy as a name on its own.

Sauvignonblanket · 11/06/2019 14:36

I only know one Romy (which she pronounces Row-mee) and she's mid-thirties. I only know one Astrid too and she's slightly older. I don't know any of the other two. Of your four, Astrid is my favourite.

Abstractporridge · 11/06/2019 14:41

I like Romilly, but unfortunately it also makes me think of Erwin Rommel so it would definitely be Romy as a stand alone. I have always thought it was pronounced Ro-mee rather than Rom-ee (I guess it is the latter that is used as a nn for Romilly.

@tempsperdu feminine without being cutesy and frilly is exactly what we are after. Good to hear that you’re happy with your choice and that feedback is positive.

Interestingly all of these names seem to divide opinion! I guess that is often the way unless you opt for something more traditional or one riding high in the charts.

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Shadow1234 · 11/06/2019 18:03

Absolutely love Romy. (Know of one who is 23 and pronounced row-mee).

TatianaLarina · 11/06/2019 19:51

Like Romilly (never reminded me of Rommel - the Rs are pronounced differently). Don’t like Romy except as a nn for Romilly.

Don’t like the others.

daisypond · 11/06/2019 19:58

Romy is my favourite but I prefer Romilly. Greta and Astrid are a bit like dressing-up names to me, like putting on a fancy dress costume. Etta sounds like a nickname. It would be good if short for Henrietta.

rachelgrace · 11/06/2019 20:34

I really like Astrid I think it is really cool and quite unusual. I also love Greta, it makes me imagine a little girl in a dress and pigtails. I dislike Romy and especially dislike Etta sorry.

Owlbert · 11/06/2019 21:22

The only one I've met in real life is a Greta and it's the only one of those I'm not keen on as I think it's very 'harsh' sounding. I'm sure I'd change my mind if I met a cute little Greta though as the baby makes the name!

Abstractporridge · 11/06/2019 21:31

@Shadow1234 lovely isn’t it. It has grown on DH and I more and more.

Ultimately all the names we like split opinion so we are best to go with the one we love.

Out of interest which of the 4 names do people hear the most/are most familiar with? Which do people think is the most unusual?

OP posts:
Sophronia · 11/06/2019 21:40

I know a Romy short for Rosemary.

I like Astrid and Greta the best.

Tillygetsit · 11/06/2019 22:58

I like Romilly and Roma more than Romy.

Wiseoldnannyplum · 11/06/2019 23:07

Love Etta

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