Mumsnet's most loved baby names

[SmeleanorSmellstrop]

I feel like there are a bunch of names that Mumsnet posters unanimously adore. I have never seen Josephine or Rosa get a negative comment, for example. As for boy names, I think Edward seems really well-loved. What do you think?

@Wondermule, "Huh?? Well as long as people in Wales keep using Welsh names they’re not going to die out are they? What does it matter if they are used in England with a different spelling? It’s a compliment if anything. "

They don't die out, the pronunciation gets changed. Dylan being said as Dillun and Rhiannon as Reeannun, for example. Ugh!

Not sure how you'd change the spelling of welsh names, as the language is phonetic. Maybe write Siân as Shahn or something? The vowel sounds are different - Siân as Shahn don't sound the same to me.

[quote KirstenBlest]@Wondermule, "Huh?? Well as long as people in Wales keep using Welsh names they’re not going to die out are they? What does it matter if they are used in England with a different spelling? It’s a compliment if anything. "

They don't die out, the pronunciation gets changed. Dylan being said as Dillun and Rhiannon as Reeannun, for example. Ugh!

Not sure how you'd change the spelling of welsh names, as the language is phonetic. Maybe write Siân as Shahn or something? The vowel sounds are different - Siân as Shahn don't sound the same to me.[/quote]
But Welsh people will keep pronouncing them the right way, won’t they? That’s my point - every culture has their own names which they pronounce correctly, and ‘borrowed’ names which they have altered slightly. It really isn’t a big deal. Eventually most names will be lost to time, it’s just what happens 🤷🏼‍♀️

DD's name is on here with a lot of loathing for it. She's in her 20s so I guess we were ahead of the trend. It's also a family name and she was named for a great aunt.

At least it was a change from all of the endless Milly, Molly, Katie, Amy, Emma of her era.

@Wondermule, no they won't. I've seen enough spats on here where you get a poster saying it's said one way and another saying it's said a different way. Welsh is phonetic, so there isn't any reason for a name to be said in different ways.

Wales has areas that are Welsh-speaking and areas that aren't. If you don't speak Welsh, the vowel combinations and names ending in r are tricky.

An example of a name that will sound different will be something like Eira or Lowri. They don't sound like Eye-ruh and Lowry in Welsh.

Some people can't hear the difference between Marian and Marion or Marian and Marianne.

It's also

Theo
"Oh, such a beautiful name!"

And Elizabeth. "Such a classic'"

You forgot to use the full name

Theodore "Aww such a beauiful name but I am bias'

Elizabeth is a classic. Hasn't fallen out of use at any point. The shortened forms go in trends though.

[quote KirstenBlest]@Wondermule, no they won't. I've seen enough spats on here where you get a poster saying it's said one way and another saying it's said a different way. Welsh is phonetic, so there isn't any reason for a name to be said in different ways.

Wales has areas that are Welsh-speaking and areas that aren't. If you don't speak Welsh, the vowel combinations and names ending in r are tricky.

An example of a name that will sound different will be something like Eira or Lowri. They don't sound like Eye-ruh and Lowry in Welsh.

Some people can't hear the difference between Marian and Marion or Marian and Marianne.[/quote]
I just don’t get what you’re worked up about, I really don’t.

Stop goading then.

Interesting thread. @Drunkenmonkey I so think you have a point ( I think it was you) re the names classed as strong and classic mainly being the ones that have endured in aristocratic circles. Fascinating.

It's so subjective,.though - I've seen PPs saying they haven't met a Thomas in 30 years and that they've apparently laughed out loud at the name Seren - I know two of each under 12yrs. I also know more than one Wren, a Persephone, a Lux, a Hugo, a Kit, an Arlo, a Margot (all under 8yrs) - based on this thread, these are variously ridiculous/incredible 😁

I guess you just get used to what you're surrounded by, as it were! And it does of course drones on where you live, your local demographic, whether you have friends living abroad/from other cultures etc.

*I so think = I DO think, sorry

@KirstenBlest

Stop goading then.

Goading on a name thread 😂 such sensitive souls on here!

Ophelia

Nina and Clara

Elizabeth

Margot, Margot and more Margot.

I can't imagine peering into a pram and 'coohing' baby Margot, I don't know any in real life and I work across many, many schools.

My only association is Margot Leadbetter in 'The Good Life'.

I know a lovely Margot, I think its such a sweet name.
I'm also a fan of Margot in Margate.

I think if you are Welsh you need to accept that people who speak English but not Welsh will pronounce your name (or your child's name) a bit differently to the way it's pronounced in Welsh.

I am also part of a bilingual family and I live in a non-English speaking country. My name is pronounced in a Japanese way when people are speaking Japanese, and even when most Japanese people speak English they still don't get the English pronunciation exactly right because most Japanese are not native speakers of English (and even if they are, it's usually North American English with a rhotic R!). My kids' names also have actually fairly different pronunciations depending on the speaker and language being spoken. It's all part of the tapestry of life etc. etc.

Sometimes I like to play MN Name Bingo

Loveday, a name I never encountered before makes a surprisingly high rate of appearance on here. Usually “if I’d have had a daughter I would have named her Loveday but sadly I had all boys” or “I was desperate to use Loveday but DH vetoed it” sad face. Loveday. I think it’s awful.

I’ve noticed an increase in popularity in June and Joan. People that think Joan is a wonderful name for a girl. I completely disagree. Who, in 2021 looks at a newborn and thinks, “ah yes. She’s a Joan.”? Only MNers

Maurice is apparently a wonderful name for a boy.

Someone will inevitably pop up somewhere and say Balonz jokingly. Such an MN in joke.

Ishbel gets touted on here a lot as a wonderful name too. That’s not a typo. Ishbel. Frigging AWFUL. Sounds like something on the bottom of your shoe that disgusts you.

Marnie/Marni. Apparently it’s the best name ever. Nope. Sets my teeth on edge. Such an irritating name like smarmy and mardy having a baby.

Posters that assume EVERY name is Gaelic, otherwise it’s made up if you’ve spelled it wrong. In correcting them they will respond that it’s up to you if you want to pronounce it incorrectly but really it should be x, ignoring the fact that it’s not the same name! Ie “I really like Nieve for a girl, it means snow what do you think?”

“Without meaning to be critical, the correct Gaelic spelling is Niamh and the meaning is not snow, it means bright or radiant in Irish Gaelic.”

“Thanks but it’s not Niamh. It’s Nieve pronounced Nee-ev-ay. I’m not looking for an Irish name, DH is Spanish.”

“Whilst it’s your choice to mispronounce or misspell Niamh, might I suggest that Neve might be a better option? No criticism intended.”

And yes Persephone, Ottilie, Clara etc all very popular on here. Also Ariadne, Calliope etc

I do know real life Arlos, Margots, Laras etc

I disagree that Mumsnet loves classic, normal names. On the contrary, people suggest some right shit on here that you'd be beaten up for round these parts. I always wonder if they've forgotten they're naming a 21st century child and think they're having a Greek god or a middle aged jam maker in the WI.

Great idea for a thread! Have really enjoyed the lighthearted posts.

Can't believe no one has mentioned Lydia (I don't think anyway). Often mentioned with Juliet. Always Lydia, MN loves it! I always think it sounds like a name from my generation and I'm in my 30s.

The 'if I like this name, what others will I like?' threads make me laugh. OP will like say the name Caitlyn and someone will give a list like Juno, Violet, Maeve, Lydia. What do those names have in common and how are they like Caitlyn?! Or the OPs who post a list of favourite names and there are about 20 on it - how can you like that many enough to consider naming your baby them?

people suggest some right shit on here that you'd be beaten up for round these parts.

Where do you live? In the UK?

It has already happened to Niamh and Orla. They are Neeve and Awla now.

How do Irish people pronounce them?

Isabella gets a lot of love on here. I meet so many Izzies and Bellas.

I know a little Arlo - he and his parents are lovely. The name makes me think of a clown (Harlequin/Arlecchino). I realise that’s a bit random.

I was going to say Ottilie. (Although there is no 'standard' European pronunciation - it's Otteel yuh if German, Oteelee if French.)

Ottilie, Elodie, Freya, Lily, Rose, Alice, Elizabeth

Boys - Freddie, Oscar, Bear, Theo, Teddy

@Subordinateclause

Great idea for a thread! Have really enjoyed the lighthearted posts.

Can't believe no one has mentioned Lydia (I don't think anyway). Often mentioned with Juliet. Always Lydia, MN loves it! I always think it sounds like a name from my generation and I'm in my 30s.

The 'if I like this name, what others will I like?' threads make me laugh. OP will like say the name Caitlyn and someone will give a list like Juno, Violet, Maeve, Lydia. What do those names have in common and how are they like Caitlyn?! Or the OPs who post a list of favourite names and there are about 20 on it - how can you like that many enough to consider naming your baby them?

Bahahahha yes the 'suggest similar names' threads are hilarious as very rarely are the names anything like the original suggestion!

It's only via MN and an occasional instahun I happen to follow that all these wartime names apparently seem to be popular. Names like Mabel, June, Earnest etc. If one of my friends told me they were naming their kid that I'd struggle to not say congrats on the birth of your 90 year old. Reminds me of the Friends episode when Ross wanted to name his and Rachel's baby Ruth!

@Luckyelephant1

I know children with the names:
Mabel
Ruth
Wilbur
Agnes
Kevin
Brian
Rodney

Working in a school means I see a whole range of names and DH has family in ‘fancy’ parts of London.