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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls' names

64 replies

OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 09:45

Due in a week and a half. Don't know the sex but we are decided on our boy's name.

Shortlist:
Matilda (growing on me, DH thinks it's a bit boring)
Hadley (I loved until about 2 weeks ago. This is DH's favourite).
Orla (too popular now?)
Iris (feel like this is a better middle name!)
Saoirse (my fave but I feel like we will be saddling her with a lifetime of spelling issues)

All 4 go with our surname, no issues there.

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Lavendersy · 30/09/2020 10:29

Saoirse is lovely and the most interesting and memorable.

The others are common and a little dull imo.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 30/09/2020 10:34

You have two of my favourites on that list op! Matilda Iris is perfect!!
I think Iris is wonderful for a first name too though..
Not so keen on the others.
I Can never remember how to pronounce Saoirse?

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 10:53

Mixed bag so far then!

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Tweetypietwo · 30/09/2020 11:06

All nice names in my opinion!
Orla is my favourite
Iris is my least favourite, works well as a middle name though.

Hallie instead of Hadley?
Sheonagh instead of Soairse?

OhCaptain · 30/09/2020 11:10

Are you Irish? I prefer the Orlaigh spelling.

Saoirse is lovely. Very popular.

I quite like Hadley actually, which surprises me lol!

I think Matilda is classic.

Don't really like Iris.

Auto · 30/09/2020 11:14

Hadley sounds like a boys name or surname to me. Hayley?
I quite like Orla too and don't think it's too popular.
Suggestions - Saskia, Cara, Eleanor

user1493494961 · 30/09/2020 11:22

Matilda by far. Hadley is awful.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 11:23

We fell in love with Hadley after reading The Parisian Wife - it was the name of Ernest Hemingway's first wife. I was reading it in the bath about 10 years ago and came out and said 'if we ever had a daughter... what about Hadley?' But now I'm worried about it!!

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TenThousandSpoons · 30/09/2020 11:27

Don’t like Hadley but the others are good.
Orla is my favourite.

PeskyRooks · 30/09/2020 11:45

Hadley just reminds me of the Spandau Ballet bloke but then I am old.
Matilda is the best by far.
Orla and Iris are ok.
Saoirse is a pain to spell.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 11:56

I'm so torn. It would be a controversial choice but I loved it for so long.

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OhCaptain · 30/09/2020 11:58

@PeskyRooks

Hadley just reminds me of the Spandau Ballet bloke but then I am old. Matilda is the best by far. Orla and Iris are ok. Saoirse is a pain to spell.
Hmm it’s a perfectly normal, beautiful Irish name.

It’s no more a pain to learn to spell than any other word.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 12:17

@OhCaptain Irish heritage but wouldnt describe myself as Irish, but I think they are beautiful names.

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florascotia2 · 30/09/2020 12:22

OP, I expect you already know this, but Hadley Richardson's first name was Elizabeth. Hadley was her middle name (and her maternal grandmother's surname). Obviously, your baby, your choice, but Hadley seems better as a middle name, to me.

FolkSongSweet · 30/09/2020 15:37

@OhCaptain

Are you Irish? I prefer the Orlaigh spelling.

Saoirse is lovely. Very popular.

I quite like Hadley actually, which surprises me lol!

I think Matilda is classic.

Don't really like Iris.

No such spelling as “Orlaigh” - I think they’ve confused Orlaith and Orlagh.

I’m Irish and personally hate how Orla sounds in an English accent (ola or awla) - you really need to pronounce the “r”, so I’d rule that one out.

Otherwise I like Saoirse (seersha, not sersha) and think people will be increasingly familiar with it in England.

Trevorina · 30/09/2020 16:08

I like Hadley

Saoirse and Orla seem to be in 'in' Irish names round my way

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 16:37

I knew this wouldn't help me Grin

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LizzieAnt · 30/09/2020 17:44

There's an "r" in Saoirse that needs to be pronounced too though @FolkSongSweet.

Mrsi2020 · 30/09/2020 18:41

I love Hadley ! I like Hanley too

I think orla is lovely and I like both ways of spelling it! Xxx

17caterpillars1mouse · 30/09/2020 19:33

Matilda - it OK, but very overused in my area so has lost its spark

Hadley - I find it a bit downmarket and don't see the appeal sorry

Orla - pretty but I prefer the spelling Orlaith. I also prefer the different but very similar name Oona

Iris (feel like this is a better middle name!) - love it
Saoirse - I really like it and think Irish names are becoming more mainstream with a lot more people being able to pronounce them so I wouldn't worry, yes some people would struggle on first meeting, but not everybody by a long stretch

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 19:35

Thanks- I laughed at 'downmarket'.

Our son is Gregory if that helps at all

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FolkSongSweet · 30/09/2020 20:08

@LizzieAnt

There's an "r" in Saoirse that needs to be pronounced too though *@FolkSongSweet*.
Yes you’re right of course. I don’t mind it so much when it’s less emphasised - See-sha doesn’t seem as egregious to me as Awwwwla for some reason!
JoanApple · 30/09/2020 20:10

Orla is lovely.
Hadley sounds like a boys name.

I have an unusual name. A lifetime of spelling and pronunciation. I hate it.

OhCaptain · 30/09/2020 20:10

@FolkSongSweet I'm Irish too and there are two Orlaighs in DS's class. And yes, that is how they spell it.

They're not the only ones I've heard of spelt that way either.

Original poster
OhToBeASeahorse · 30/09/2020 20:13

Ok I'm adding 2 to the list:

Florence
Dorothea

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