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Baby names

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

Original poster

We've found the name but scared of people's reaactions

308 replies

Joeybee · 23/07/2019 21:45

Baby #2 is due in October. I already have a son, Stanley.
I'm fussy with names
Nothing in top 50
Nothing with strong R or W sound (clashes with surname)
Not ambiguous to say/spell
Vintage or classic name
Has nickname options.
Middle name will be Elsie

So after a LOT of researching a name came to me out of nowhere. It's very unusual and a vintage girl name. I love it and Husband does. However when I look it up on websites, it seems to be a name people either love, or hate.
So now I'm doubting myself.
Do I just go with the name that feels right, and that meets my criteria and brace myself for a few possibly insensitive/negative comments OR just go back to the drawing board again?

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whattodo2019 · 23/07/2019 23:03

I like it. We have an Araminta at school, known as Minty.

GabsAlot · 23/07/2019 23:04

My car was called minty he was a polo-just saying

TuesdaySunshine · 23/07/2019 23:04

Araminta sounds like a maiden aunt in a Roald Dahl book to me. But it's what you think that counts. I'm not sure MN is the place to try out baby names tbh - too many conflicting opinions.

Isatis · 23/07/2019 23:07

When I started reading I was convinced it was going to be Gertrude.

julensaor · 23/07/2019 23:08

Araminta is lovely, reminds me of The Borrowers.
That was Arriety which is nicer, it really does sound like a joke name 'Araminta' and Marnie isn't a derivative. But that is my opinion and you will never please everyone. If we were all in the top 50 names what a boring world it would be.

Sakura7 · 23/07/2019 23:10

I also never heard of it until Crazy Rich Asians.

It's not a bad name per se, but it definitely fails one of your tests. Your DD would often be asked to spell it. It's a very unusual name that lots of people haven't heard of, she'll get a lot of "What? How do you spell that?"

Ohyesiam · 23/07/2019 23:11

Ooh I love it. Nickname minty.

Ellmau · 23/07/2019 23:12

It's beautiful.

Atlasta · 23/07/2019 23:12

Stanley is a good name
Elsie is a good name
Araminta isn't.
If I was Araminta in the trio I wouldn't be thanking you.

Pieceofpurplesky · 23/07/2019 23:12

The Borrowers. I like it. Doesn't go with Elsie though
Araminta Elsie

DowntonCrabby · 23/07/2019 23:13

Stanley was bold, you obviously love it, so do you actually care what a bunch of random MNers think of the choice for your DD? If you love it, you love it.

FWIW I dislike Araminta but adore Stanley. I adore Elsie too.

IsobelRae23 · 23/07/2019 23:16

I love names that are not as well know- I don’t love this one. My friend in school had a pony called this, and they called her Minty for short.

Flashingsilver · 23/07/2019 23:17

I think I know someone with an Araminta, she has lovely names for her children, I like it.

Don’t tell your friends and family, your choice of name, wait until the baby is born, as they will all give you their unrequested opinion.

QOD · 23/07/2019 23:17

Araminta is BEAUTIFUL and actually way less popular round her and boring than Stanley - there’s a LOT in the SE

31RueCambon · 23/07/2019 23:19

Awful. Why can't you use Elsie? That does go with Stanley.

Araminta has so many vowel sounds, it is like a name that revs up but never arrives anywhere nice. Arabella works a little better. But the better half of Arabella is Bella. Araminta is just a collection of syllables but too many vowels.

C0untDucku1a · 23/07/2019 23:19

Loved moondial!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/07/2019 23:19

"Its awful. "
There someone has said it to you, and The world hasn't ended, has it.
Your baby your choice

PollyEsterblouse · 23/07/2019 23:20

I had a friend by this name during my teens in the 80s. Shortened to Minta. She was incredibly cool and lovely. I think it's a gorgeous name.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 23/07/2019 23:24

I like Araminta but agree with pps that it doesn’t go with Elsie. It’s an awkward elision - Aramintarelsie.

Atthebottomofthegarden · 23/07/2019 23:24

I like it. Not entirely sure it works with Elsie though. Minty Elsie REALLY doesn’t work!

LovePoppy · 23/07/2019 23:25

Keep your name
Announce it after birth

Then family is stuck with it. It’s not their name

Suzeyshoes · 23/07/2019 23:26

Sounds like you’re trying to be posh.
If you like it, despite knowing it’s a ‘marmite’ name, why bother asking what people think of it?

Justaboy · 23/07/2019 23:28

Anyway the name is Araminta

WoW! thats a lovely name, a tad unusual but great all the same:-)

caoraich · 23/07/2019 23:29

I know a lovely elderly Araminta so am disposed to like it.
I think it's fine with Elsie and the main thing is it isn't a made up pretend name

BackforGood · 23/07/2019 23:29

I don't like it personally - that's fine, we are all different.

I don't think it 'goes' with either Stanley or Elsie- as said upthread they are traditionally solid working class names, whereas Araminta is a definite 1980s 'Sloane Square' / horsey name. All of which is fine - there is no need to have 'matchy names', but if you do, then they don't match.

The main point is though, the fact that you want to give your dd a name that you've already acknowledged a lot of people won't like, and that you are so nervous about you didn't even tell us what it was when you started this thread Confused.
Doesn't sound like 'the one' to me therefore.