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Baby names

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

Original poster

Carmen

40 replies

FH27 · 18/01/2020 11:18

Hey guys so we don't know yet what we are having but we really like the name Carmen for a girl but I would love some second opinions on it. The other girls name we are considering is Julia.

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endofthelinefinally · 18/01/2020 11:20

I know 2 Carmens. I think it is a lovely name.

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 18/01/2020 11:43

I love Julia but I’m not a fan of Carmen I'm afraid.

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 18/01/2020 11:44

Unless you are Spanish/South American, which changes the pronunciation, in which case I like it.

MikeUniformMike · 18/01/2020 12:20

Julia is nice but I don't like Jules/Jools.
Carmen is fine.

Lavenderblues · 18/01/2020 13:17

I prefer Julia.

StopMegxit · 18/01/2020 13:19

Carmen is lovely. Classy.

Julia is OK.

DramaAlpaca · 18/01/2020 14:47

Carmen and Julia are both fabulous, classy and elegant names.

If I had to pick I'd choose Julia.

SaorsaSolasta · 18/01/2020 14:53

I really like the name Julia, not so keen on Carmen

NotNowPlzz · 18/01/2020 14:55

Hate Julia. Love Carmen.

toffeeghirlinatwirl · 18/01/2020 15:04

Both names are beautiful x

smemorata · 18/01/2020 15:04

It's ok. Makes me think of Carmen Miranda. Actually I prefer Miranda!

BobbyBlueCat · 18/01/2020 15:08

Carmen is beautiful. Very feminine and strong.

Julia just makes me think of a frumpy, middle-aged office worker!

Original poster
FH27 · 18/01/2020 19:22

Hello everyone, thanks for your replies. It's interesting how everyone has such different opinions on names. I am still undecided but we have plenty time. It was good to get some responses though as I would consider Carmen to be quite an unusual name so it's good to know what people think about it x

OP posts:
daisypond · 18/01/2020 20:47

Julia is super - classy and elegant. It only has positive vibes for me. Carmen us OK.

shartsi · 18/01/2020 21:12

Definitely Carmen. I always imagine a very beautiful sophisticated woman.

That is why I called my DD 10 Carmen. She is the only one with the name in her school.

Dyra · 18/01/2020 21:25

Carmen is a wonderful name. Julia seems very out-dated to me now.

misspiggy19 · 18/01/2020 21:29

Carmen.

Julia sounds so dated.

MondeoFan · 18/01/2020 21:35

Carmen

Julia awful

TheCanterburyWhales · 18/01/2020 21:35

Carmen is short for Carmela here in Italy and is really dated.
Julia seems more timeless to me, though I prefer Julie which is really pretty and due a comeback imo!

Thymeout · 19/01/2020 02:20

I think it would depend on what the baby looked like. She'd need to have quite dramatic colouring to carry off a name like Carmen.

REignbow · 19/01/2020 02:22

Definitely Carmen!

Topseyt · 19/01/2020 02:24

I like both names but Carmen has the edge for me.

My DD (17) has a friend called Carmen. I like it.

BoomZahramay · 19/01/2020 07:33

Julia is lovely.

I don't like Carmen as a girl's name because it has 'men' at the end. I also know two, neither of which help the name's cause.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 19/01/2020 07:40

I didn't call DD Carmen, because I was worried she'd have colouring like DH, who is pale and blond. As it is, she has olive skin and black hair and eyes, and could have carried it off beautifully. It's a shame you can't see a photo of them as a teen when you name them 😂

sashh · 19/01/2020 07:50

Personally I wouldn't use it because I'm quite a fan of the opera.