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Baby names

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

Iris Deborah/Deborah Iris

57 replies

Lulu828 · 08/04/2020 18:33

Hello!
Two significant names that we want to use (and love, obviously) are Iris and Deborah.

We were thinking Iris Deborah, but now we are thinking would Deborah Iris be better?
Thoughts please!
Thank you 😊

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chickedeee · 08/04/2020 18:41

Deborah, if you are happy with it being shortened to Debs or Debbie.

Orphlids · 08/04/2020 18:42

Deborah Iris sounds better, I think. And I haven’t heard of any little Deborahs, so it would be wonderfully unusual, but still a name everyone is familiar with. I think it’s a lovely choice.

Whatsyourflava · 08/04/2020 18:42

Much prefers Iris
Deborah will be shortened so depends what you think of Debbie /Debs

Whatsyourflava · 08/04/2020 18:44

I’ve been wondering why I always dislike the sound and feel of the name Deborah and just read it aloud and realised it’s the “bore” part. Not ideal. I have never liked the feel of the name

Corrag · 08/04/2020 18:46

It's not pronounced "bore" though. It's Deb-o-rah, not Deb-ore-ah.

Orphlids · 08/04/2020 18:54

Anyway, whether we like names is irrelevant. The names have been chosen by the OP because she loves them. She was asking which is better, Iris Deborah or Deborah Iris. What’s the point in just saying horrible things about her choices? I don’t understand some people on here.

Blursula · 08/04/2020 18:54

I like Iris more, but it’s nice that Deborah isn’t used much these days. If you’re fine with it being shortened, a little Debbie could be very cute.

pilates · 08/04/2020 18:56

I think Iris is more current and so it would be Iris Deborah

CalleighDoodle · 08/04/2020 18:59

Id go for Deborah. And if people shorten it, correct them every time.

Read her story in the Old Testament too. Pretty cool.

Fivefourthree · 08/04/2020 19:02

I think it depends on what you want to call her on a daily basis. Once the birth announcements wear off, middle names become largely forgotten except as a formality, ime

Rio5555 · 08/04/2020 19:03

Iris. I think Deborah is about mumsy, she won’t thank you for it. My school friend was called Deborah and her nickname was bra.

ofwarren · 08/04/2020 19:05

Deborah is my name.
Be prepared for shortening. Everyone does it. I get Deb, Debs, Debbie and hardly anyone calls me by my full name.

TheEndIsBillNighy · 08/04/2020 19:05

I much prefer Iris. Deborah is definitely a name I associate with a much older generation.

Ginginwine · 08/04/2020 19:07

I like Deborah but deb, debs, Debbie I don’t.

Iris is a lovely name.

SnowdropFox · 08/04/2020 20:38

I prefer Iris as a first name but I don't think it flows as well as Deborah Iris. So I'd go with that as long as your surname doesn't begin with E!

IdblowJonSnow · 08/04/2020 20:44

Middle names are almost irrelevant really arent they.
I'd go for Iris. Not keen on Deborah, although makes me think of the song by Pulp which is awesome!

daisypond · 08/04/2020 20:50

I like both but would go for Iris, which I really like.

Iris243 · 08/04/2020 20:52

Iris is a beautiful name. I absolutely love it.

Iris243 · 08/04/2020 20:52

^ as you can probably tell by my username! Smile

TheWordmeister · 08/04/2020 20:54

Not Deborah - that's a Sharon/Tracey/Karen name. Not good.

LotusClover · 08/04/2020 21:01

Deborah is a very outdated name. If that's what you like about it though then go for it.

I'd use it as the middle name personally.

Iris Deborah.

DramaAlpaca · 08/04/2020 21:39

I like Deborah a lot, but really don't like the inevitable diminutives. So it's a name I'd only use as a middle name where there's no chance of it getting shortened.

Iris Deborah sounds gorgeous, and flows better than the other way round.

babynamelover · 08/04/2020 21:40

I like Iris Deborah it's very sweet 😊

Astronica · 09/04/2020 02:00

I love both names. As a combination I think Iris Deborah works a lot better, but that really doesn't matter - it's which name you prefer as the first name. I have a sister called Deborah who is only ever Deborah. Occasionally someone tries Debbie and they get corrected. It hasn't been a problem, and I wouldn't avoid the name for that reason. Not much help here about which to put first - they are both such strong, lovely names. Does one sound better with the surname?

Lulu828 · 09/04/2020 12:02

Thank you everyone 😊
I guess maybe the world isn't ready for Deborah just yet, which is a shame because I really like the sound and the look of it. I don't however want everyone thinking it's an odd choice.
It's such a shame that Iris is so popular now, but it is beautiful and timeless I think.
Food for thought.
Thank you!

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