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Baby names

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

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?

OP posts:
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Purplecatshopaholic · 24/07/2019 00:23

So you are going to have Stan and Minty....okaaaay

TruffleWuffle · 24/07/2019 00:28

It’s an awful name. If you love it though, don’t tell anyone in advance. It’s easier to “sell” the name when it’s attached to an adorable newborn. Then your family/friends will love the girl and slightly disregard their true thoughts on the name, hopefully

NeckPainChairSearch · 24/07/2019 00:36

I don't mind Araminta, but I LOVE Stanley and Winifred (I know a pp beat me to it, mind).

Stanley and Winifred. Winifred Elsie. Yep, love that. Grin

Monday55 · 24/07/2019 00:40

the name has the R sound though which you said you didn't like in your original Post. If you would change your name to Araminta by deed poll and feel happy bout it then go ahead and use the name on your child...otherwise please don't, its hideous and it's not a name most will be able to spell outright without your child correcting them for the next 80+ years to come.

NeckPainChairSearch · 24/07/2019 00:48

I had to dash back to this thread...I went straight from here, to a friend's 'new baby' message. She's called her DD Araminta! Minty for a nn. What a fab coincidence! Grin

GuiltyPleasure · 24/07/2019 00:52

My friend named her daughter Araminta 20+ years ago. She's always been known as Minty & I think this will be the obvious diminutive. I've always found it a bit Jilly Cooper/ public school/pretentious but it does go well with Stanley IMO & if you like it go with it!

Sophronia · 24/07/2019 00:53

Elsie Araminta sounds better.

Wakeupalready · 24/07/2019 00:53

Also Minty doesn't have to be the abbreviation.
Ara , Minta, and Min are all possibilities as shorts.

NeckPainChairSearch · 24/07/2019 00:55

I much prefer Minnie as a diminutive, but I agree that Minty will be the go-to.

gluteustothemaximus · 24/07/2019 00:56

You might like it, you might be happy with the marmite name, but will your child? I work in a school. The kids that have to explain and spell out their marmite names, I feel a bit sorry for.

I wouldn’t fancy being called minty. But, your baby, your choice.

GibbonLover · 24/07/2019 00:56

So not that unusual then eh NeckPain.

But yes, there's a strong 'R' in Araminta. Unless you're Jonathan Woss, of course. It really doesn't go with Elsie either - it's like a juxtaposition of Coronation Street and a game of polo.

As for Minty, at least her peers won't remember this guy:

We've found the name but scared of people's reaactions
UterusUterusGhali · 24/07/2019 01:08

Ach it's an all right name. You love it so name your child that.
Names are so personal. I dislike many in the top 10 but clearly people love them.

It's fine.

WashingMyHair247 · 24/07/2019 01:15

It's not a name I like much but I think you should stick with this. You love it. It goes with Elsie. Stanley and Minty works. It's refreshing not to have another Lily-May or bloody Alfie/ Archie/ Payton/ Gracie.

Do it. This is your choice. None of the rest of us matter

Greeborising · 24/07/2019 01:18

People are terrible about baby names.
Everyone has an opinion.
Thing is, your baby, your choice, end of.
Children grow into their names. Before you know it you can’t imagine calling them anything else.
Araminta is a fine name

skybluee · 24/07/2019 01:19

I don't like it, sorry. But names are so subjective.

Mintypea5 · 24/07/2019 01:28

Our bump is called minty because DH vetoes Araminta (I was half joining). I read a story as a child called Moondial and the main character is called Minty and always kinda loved it! Great choice

My DH will never believe me someone else wants to use it!!! ♥️

Graymare · 24/07/2019 01:32

Have loved Araminta ever since reading and watching Moondial years ago.
Classic but a bit different. Do have to agree with PPs though that it doesn't flow particularly well with Elsie. Maybe something more like Elizabeth as a middle name.

Durgasarrow · 24/07/2019 01:37

pretty!

Moragen · 24/07/2019 01:42

My husband's great-grandmother was called Araminta. She was born around 1830 (yes, 1830) and was Dutch.

It is a horrible name.

wednesdayrobyn · 24/07/2019 01:43

Can’t say I’m a fan of the name but then who cares? As long as you and dh love it then go for it.

We didn’t tell anybody the names in our shortlist as I knew they wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste and I didn’t want to be put off my anybody’s reactions. It’s much harder for anybody to criticise a name once the baby is here.

MrsFezziwig · 24/07/2019 01:46

Am so happy that I can be the first to suggest Accrington!

And if the middle name starts with a vowel, the first name shouldn't end in one - it doesn't flow properly (unless you put an R sound in and make it AramintaRelsie).

julensaor · 24/07/2019 01:58

And now reading through this thread, the name has grown on me. Use it OP.

mathanxiety · 24/07/2019 02:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Joeybee · 24/07/2019 02:34

Oh my gosh, I posted my last reply and then went to work. Checked now and SO many replies.
Thank you everyone for your comments (good and bad) and feedback.

Honestly, I knew some people wouldn't like it, that's fine. I don't like a LOT of baby names I hear, even very popular ones. My main intention from my post was to actually hear what people think and react to the name. I wanted to see if anyone said anything I hadn't thought of - like an association with a bad character or something.

I don't want to ask people 'in real life' because I have no intention of revealing this baby's name until birth. We didn't reveal Stans name until birth either. People will just accept the name eventually once they are told what it is.

For people saying Stanley is working class and Araminta middle class. I think in the UK thats the case. However I live in Australia now and I don't think there are those same associations here. Hardly anyone here has even heard of Stanley and I get a lot of "is that an old English name?"...they just don't see it the same as British do, nor is it at all popular here. I am thinking to Aussies Araminta will get a similar reaction.

It's interesting that some people think Araminta Elsie goes, and some think it doesn't. I think it depends on accent and stuff like that. I'm going to think it over a bit. Elsie is non-negotiable. It's my husbands nanas name and she passed away a few years ago. We decided then our future daughter would have that middle name. I don't like it enough as a first name, to me it's a nickname name and too girly. So we will either go with Araminta Elsie or pick another first name.

Araminta does sound fine with our surname. I have a double barrelled surname and both names start with R, so that's why I wanted to avoid R or W names or names with a strong R sound, however I don't think Araminta has that strong R sound.

So thanks everyone for your replies. To me Araminta doesn't sound frilly or too girly. I actually think it sounds quite strong and bold. It does sound a bit posh, but as I said it's not got that association in Australia.
I have thought of Arabella...I know that's more mainstream and less marmite. However it is more of a mouthful to me, and I just don't like it as much.
I love that the name is also a nod to Harriet Tubman (whose birth name was Araminta) and also there's a series of books called Araminta Spook, which I think would be cool to have as a kid.

Hmm, anyway, I'm not 100% but I'm pretty sure this is the name I'll use. The good and bad comments have helped me cement my thoughts on this name. So thank you Mums, I think it's great to have this community to discuss things like this and have a place to go to for advice.

OP posts:
OooErMissus · 24/07/2019 02:35

Stanley and Araminta could not be more different.

Stanley works down the mines, and Araminta is the youngest daughter of an Earl.