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Baby names

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

Original poster

Our final (I think...) list

80 replies

Sexnotgender · 03/02/2021 18:07

We’ve finally got a top 5.

Joy
Julia
Penelope
Helen
Vivienne

Thoughts welcome, or ideas. Naming a human is HARD.

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AfterSchoolWorry · 07/02/2021 03:30

Vivienne is beautiful.

alexdgr8 · 07/02/2021 03:38

sorry i can't pick, but unusually for me on these threads,
i can honestly say that
they are all fine names !
any of them would be good.

alexdgr8 · 07/02/2021 03:39

sometimes i can't pick for the opposite reason !

Nandocushion · 07/02/2021 03:58

They are all wonderful names. I don't think I've ever seen such an excellent list.

I do think you'll find it difficult to name a tiny baby 'Vivienne' but of course she won't be tiny forever so don't let this stop you.

Theoldwoman · 07/02/2021 04:31

I love Julia, the rest are too Nana for me.

Juliet
Bethany
Amelia
Charlotte
Olive
Rosa

Original poster
Sexnotgender · 07/02/2021 06:26

@WildCherryBlossom

How about using Joy as a middle name? I love Julia Joy.
We have middle names decided already Smile
OP posts:
Original poster
Sexnotgender · 07/02/2021 17:42

@Theoldwoman

I love Julia, the rest are too Nana for me.

Juliet
Bethany
Amelia
Charlotte
Olive
Rosa

Thank you, not really a fan of any of them but I appreciate the suggestions Smile
OP posts:
Llyn · 07/02/2021 17:49

Then we really need the middle names to see which first name works best?

I love Vivienne Joy.

Original poster
Sexnotgender · 07/02/2021 19:01

Middle names are Daphne Mary and are non negotiable ❤️

OP posts:
partyatthepalace · 07/02/2021 19:12

Julia or Vivienne -
Julia - a great classic
Vivienne - love the energy of it - makes me think vivid or vivacious
Helen is dull, tho Helena and Eleanor I like
Penelope will always be Penny which is wet
Joy - the only one I knew was a misery, I think it’s a bit of a burden of a name

Other thoughts - Marianne, Genevieve, Lois, Serena, Philippa, Cassia, Claudia

Original poster
Sexnotgender · 07/02/2021 19:13

Love Claudia, DH does not😔

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shreddednips · 07/02/2021 19:18

Julia definitely! It's just gorgeous, I prefer it to Juliet by miles.

However, I also like all the names on your list, you have brilliant taste! Vivienne is the only one I probably wouldn't pick myself but it's still nice.

SusannahSophia · 07/02/2021 19:23

Joy - difficult to live up to. My friend’s sister was called Joy, it didn’t suit her. Friend was called Judith.

Julia - I like this

Penelope - not so keen. Too many girls called Penny at school so I think of it as a Karen, Susan, Sharon type of name, big for 1960s babies. Just too recent to have granny chic.

Helen - lovely

Vivienne - OK

Original poster
Sexnotgender · 07/02/2021 19:29

Joy - difficult to live up to. My friend’s sister was called Joy, it didn’t suit her.

True, we both love it because we know a wonderful woman called Joy in her 90s who is just amazing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sexnotgender · 07/02/2021 19:31

So many kind comments, thank you. It’s so difficult choosing a name, I’m thankful we’ve managed to decide on a few we both like. We don’t have entirely similar taste.

OP posts:
andannabegins · 07/02/2021 19:38

I have a daughter whose middle name is Joy, she loves it and I love it and she certainly lives up to it. She also loves that there are many Christmas decks with her name on!

Amdone123 · 07/02/2021 19:59

I love Julia, and the Italian version Giulia.
Julia Joy is lovely.

Llyn · 07/02/2021 22:32

@Sexnotgender

Middle names are Daphne Mary and are non negotiable ❤️
In that case Julia is my favourite.

Vivienne or Helen both work ok because the ‘n’ runs into the ‘d’. But I don’t think Penelope or Joy work at all.

CaptainCabinets · 09/02/2021 18:57

Oh I love Joy! I know a very lovely one in her 90s.

I’ve never liked the name Helen. Penelope is lovely and lends itself to a variety of NNs. Julia is pretty but it’s a bit mumsy for me. Juliana? Juliette? Julienne?

I’m also going to throw Jolie, Joni and Tessa in for consideration Grin

notalwaysalondoner · 09/02/2021 19:26

Joy - a bit old lady and bland for me
Julia - fine, not a big fan
Penelope - quite like, much more interesting than Joy, Julia or Helen. Likely to be shortened to Penny.
Helen - fine, classic, but not a fan
Vivienne - my second choice after Penelope

CruCru · 09/02/2021 19:41

Julia is my real name and I love it. It gets shortened to Jules. The only downside was when people would shorten it to "Julie" which I always hated growing up (there's nothing wrong with Julie but it is quite a different name). Having said that, this doesn't happen now that I am a grown up.

niknakpak · 10/02/2021 03:25

Vivienne is beautiful

MagentaDoesNotExist · 10/02/2021 03:52

Vivienne is nice. V or Vivi for short. Violet is pretty too as an alternative.

Julia is nice and also Juliet.

Similar styles of names... Rosalind, Emma, Chloë, Catherine.

MagentaDoesNotExist · 10/02/2021 03:57

Juliet is much more classic and beautiful than Julia.

Wombatstew · 10/02/2021 04:10

My name is Helen, I don’t really like it, I always wished I had a prettier name like.....Vivienne