Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Opinions on these unusual girls names?

42 replies

lavawater · 28/08/2022 19:45

I'm not pregnant (!) BUT one of my biggest hobbies is looking through baby names Blush

I've found some girls names that I love at the minute but would love to share them and see MN opinions on them. (I'm sure this board isn't restricted to those pregnant looking for opinions anyway?)

Here's the list of my new favourites:

  • Brontë
  • Chase
  • Dolly
  • Fallon
  • Ginny
  • Jay
  • Leonie
  • Noelle
  • Zola
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
LadyWithLapdog · 28/08/2022 19:49

Leonie and Noelle, maybe Ginny. Not a fan of the others. I love baby names too.

MarmiteCoriander · 28/08/2022 19:50

Brontë- I like it, but it will rarely be written with accent
Chase- Sounds American and male, or a dogs name
Dolly- I'd constantly think of the singer. Might be ok as a nn
Fallon- sounds like a male name or something rude like fellatio
Ginny- Reminds me of Gin. Not keen, better as a nn only
Jay- I only know male Jays
Leonie- Its ok and better than some above
Noelle- I know one born in April. I like it
Zola- Like Cola? Its different, but it the actual work sounds harsh somehow.

Zone2NorthLondon · 28/08/2022 19:51

Brontë ok I don’t have strong feeling either way. Bit whimsy and girly

Chase, fucking hell it’s dreadful. Just don’t

Dolly No, the sheep, or the big haired country singer

Fallon love it

Ginny Ghastly horsey and old lady name

Jay it’s a boy name

Leonie Love it

Noelle naw, it’s a granny name

Zola Ok

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/08/2022 19:56

Brontë- OK, accept will be a nuisance
Chase- High school jock
Dolly- cute nn for Dorothy
Fallon- don't like it
Ginny- pet form of Virginia
Jay- I only know male Jays
Leonie- Ok
Noelle- ok for a Christmas baby
Zola- Controversial runner

Smartiepants79 · 28/08/2022 20:00

Dolly is a nickname or for if you’re a huge Parton fan. Fallon and chase are awful.
Bronte is a bit pretentious.
I rather like both Leonie and Noelle.

Touga · 28/08/2022 20:07

Brontë - nice, but a bit twee & pretentious
Chase - boys name
Dolly - nah, sounds like a pets name
Fallon - not particularly feminine, just sounds like a surname
Ginny - nice, but prefer it spelled as Ginnie/Jinnie
Jay - boys name
Leonie - sounds chavvy
Noelle - Like it, but I think she'll just get called Noel by lazy speakers
Zola - sounds like a coldsore cream

drinkallthecoffee · 28/08/2022 20:12

Leonie is my favourite, followed by Fallon and Noelle. I'm not so keen on the others.

youcantry · 28/08/2022 20:30

My Daughter is a Brontë - now 23, not at all twee or precocious! Confident, strong willed, Successful career, great social life, lovely boyfriend.....
She also really likes her name. Our Irish and Canadian family do pronounce it Bron-tay but no one minds.
It's only ever shortened to 'Bee' which i quite like - don't like 'Bron'
Also know another one who is a teenager.
I love Dolly but the cat got that one!

youcantry · 28/08/2022 20:31

*pretentious

HorribleHerstory · 28/08/2022 20:44

Brontë - instant association with the Brontë sisters which by definition means the name is pretentious. The whole reason the sisters had that name with the diaeresis is because their Irish father Patrick thought Brunty was too common and wished to hide his ancestry/origins/go up in the world and associate with the aristocrats.

Chase - paw patrol. Boy.

Dolly - noun, the opposite of what I want to teach my daughters they are. Parton. Would assume diminutive but I’m not sure what of - Dorothy?

Fallon - Fox. Interesting association.

Ginny - Weasley. Great Aunt who uses it as a nickname for Virginia. Regardless it’s a diminutive.

Jay - nice bird. Boys name. Would assume it was a nickname and spelt J for a girl short for something. Jayne?

Leonie - it’s a nice enough name, not too keen on feminine forms of masculine names though.

Noelle - see above.

Zola. Footballer. Gianfranco i think? Very famous. Not heard it as a first name or a girls name. Nola?

OldEnoughToHaveReadBunty · 28/08/2022 20:50

Leonie is nice & not too unusual I don't think.

Fallon is fine too. Not sure any of the others would be my choice TBH.

Smogtopia · 28/08/2022 22:02

I'd go so far as saying I hated chase, dolly and Jay. The rest aren't necessarily what I'd choose but I wouldn't pay too much attention to hearing them. None I'm massively keen on. Some would sound ok as a nickname should they have naturally come about - eg Charlotte became Chase as she was an early Walker and you ran around after her - but not a nickname in a premeditated sense

Wouldloveanother · 28/08/2022 22:05

I like Ginny and Noelle, not keen on the rest

ohffsomg · 28/08/2022 22:06

Love dolly

RuthW · 28/08/2022 22:27

None of them are particularly unusual.

Brontë. Not my taste but nice

  • Chase too unisex for me
  • Dolly love Dorothy with Dolly as nn
  • Fallon - just no
  • Ginny - a nickname so no
  • Jay - too unisex for me
  • Leonie lovely
  • Noelle too Christmassy
  • Zola ok. Reminds me of Zola Budd
PortalooSunset · 28/08/2022 22:27

If I'd had a girl she'd have been Dorothy, nn Dolly.

Like Leonie, Noelle and Zola too. Not keen on the others.

DramaAlpaca · 28/08/2022 22:34

Love Leonie, also love Dolly as a diminutive of Dorothy. Zola is OK.

Jay and Chase are boys' names.

I don't like the rest at all. I especially dislike Fallon.

Mumofgirls2017 · 28/08/2022 22:34

Brontë- knew a lovely little Brontë. Quite like.
Chase- boy to me

Dolly- short for Dorothy

Fallon- ok I guess. ?short for something
Ginny- like short for Imogen, Ginevra

Jay- boy.
Leonie- ok

Noelle- dated

Zola- kind of like!
OP's posts:
See all

ADVERTISEMENT

LadyWithLapdog · Today 19:49
Leonie and Noelle, maybe Ginny. Not a fan of the others. I love baby names too.

Bookmark

MarmiteCoriander · Today 19:50
Brontë- I like it, but it will rarely be written with accent
Chase- Sounds American and male, or a dogs name
Dolly- I'd constantly think of the singer. Might be ok as a nn
Fallon- sounds like a male name or something rude like fellatio
Ginny- Reminds me of Gin. Not keen, better as a nn only
Jay- I only know male Jays
Leonie- Its ok and better than some above
Noelle- I know one born in April. I like it
Zola- Like Cola? Its different, but it the actual work sounds harsh somehow.

Bookmark

Zone2NorthLondon · Today 19:51
Brontë ok I don’t have strong feeling either way. Bit whimsy and girly

Chase, fucking hell it’s dreadful. Just don’t

Dolly No, the sheep, or the big haired country singer

Fallon love it

Ginny Ghastly horsey and old lady name

Jay it’s a boy name

Leonie Love it

Noelle naw, it’s a granny name

Zola Ok

Bookmark

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · Today 19:56
Brontë- OK, accept will be a nuisance

Chase- High school jock
Dolly- cute nn for Dorothy

Fallon- don't like it

Ginny- pet form of Virginia

Jay- I only know male Jays
Leonie- Ok
Noelle- ok for a Christmas baby

Zola- Controversial runner

Bookmark

Smartiepants79 · Today 20:00
Dolly is a nickname or for if you’re a huge Parton fan. Fallon and chase are awful.
Bronte is a bit pretentious.
I rather like both Leonie and Noelle.

Bookmark

ADVERTISEMENT

Touga · Today 20:07
Brontë - nice, but a bit twee & pretentious
Chase - boys name
Dolly - nah, sounds like a pets name
Fallon - not particularly feminine, just sounds like a surname
Ginny - nice, but prefer it spelled as Ginnie/Jinnie
Jay - boys name
Leonie - sounds chavvy

Noelle - Like it, but I think she'll just get called Noel by lazy speakers
Zola - sounds like a coldsore cream

Bookmark

drinkallthecoffee · Today 20:12
Leonie is my favourite, followed by Fallon and Noelle. I'm not so keen on the others.

Bookmark

youcantry · Today 20:30
My Daughter is a Brontë - now 23, not at all twee or precocious! Confident, strong willed, Successful career, great social life, lovely boyfriend.....
She also really likes her name. Our Irish and Canadian family do pronounce it Bron-tay but no one minds.

It's only ever shortened to 'Bee' which i quite like - don't like 'Bron'

Also know another one who is a teenager.

I love Dolly but the cat got that one!

Bookmark

youcantry · Today 20:31
*pretentious

Bookmark

HorribleHerstory · Today 20:44
Brontë - instant association with the Brontë sisters which by definition means the name is pretentious. The whole reason the sisters had that name with the diaeresis is because their Irish father Patrick thought Brunty was too common and wished to hide his ancestry/origins/go up in the world and associate with the aristocrats.

Chase - paw patrol. Boy.

Dolly - noun, the opposite of what I want to teach my daughters they are. Parton. Would assume diminutive but I’m not sure what of - Dorothy?

Fallon - Fox. Interesting association.

Ginny - Weasley. Great Aunt who uses it as a nickname for Virginia. Regardless it’s a diminutive.

Jay - nice bird. Boys name. Would assume it was a nickname and spelt J for a girl short for something. Jayne?

Leonie - it’s a nice enough name, not too keen on feminine forms of masculine names though.

Noelle - see above.

Zola. Footballer. Gianfranco i think? Very famous. Not heard it as a first name or a girls name. Nola?

Bookmark

ADVERTISEMENT
OldEnoughToHaveReadBunty · Today 20:50
Leonie is nice & not too unusual I don't think.

Fallon is fine too. Not sure any of the others would be my choice TBH.

Bookmark

Smogtopia · Today 22:02
I'd go so far as saying I hated chase, dolly and Jay. The rest aren't necessarily what I'd choose but I wouldn't pay too much attention to hearing them. None I'm massively keen on. Some would sound ok as a nickname should they have naturally come about - eg Charlotte became Chase as she was an early Walker and you ran around after her - but not a nickname in a premeditated sense

Bookmark

Wouldloveanother · Today 22:05
I like Ginny and Noelle, not keen on the rest

Bookmark

ohffsomg · Today 22:06
Love dolly

Bookmark

RuthW · Today 22:27
None of them are particularly unusual.

Brontë. Not my taste but nice

Chase too unisex for me
Dolly love Dorothy with Dolly as nn
Fallon - just no
Ginny - a nickname so no
Jay - too unisex for me
Leonie lovely
Noelle too Christmassy
Zola ok. Reminds me of Zola Budd

Bookmark

ADVERTISEMENT
PortalooSunset · Today 22:27
If I'd had a girl she'd have been Dorothy, nn Dolly.

Like Leonie, Noelle and Zola too. Not keen on the others.

Bookmark

Back to top
Add your message here
Talk guidelines
Getting started
Your username

Message

Add image
You can upload up to 3 images in JPG, PNG, or GIF format.

Add image (up to 6mb each)

Watch this thread
Preview
Post
ADVERTISEMENT
Active

AuntieStella · 28/08/2022 22:36

Brontë - too much a surname for me
Chase - isn't this a boys name?
Dolly - OK
Fallon - very Dynasty
Ginny - Weasley (major Harry Potter character, so won't be seen as unusual)
Jay - I'd think boy
Leonie - like this one
Noelle - only for Christmas babies
Zola - OK, but the athlete was controversial

puddingandsun · 28/08/2022 22:40
  • Brontë - I only see it as a surname

  • Chase - would've thought it's a boy name

  • Dolly - I have transgender associations

  • Fallon - very like felon

  • Ginny - nope. Gin or gene?! Nope.

  • Jay - Ok for nn for J names. But only for not nice J names. Otherwise, a bit of a shame to shorten a lovely name to an initial.

  • Leonie - knew one. I like it. Not sure if it hasn't had it's time/ whether it's timeless.

  • Noelle - No. I like Elle.

  • Zola - i don't like any Z names.

Sorry, if too honest. Only because you said you're not actually expecting.

Fivebeanchilli · 28/08/2022 22:44

Brontë - not that unusual. I know quite a few but not with the accent.
Chase - horrible. And it's so much more common for boys
Dolly - again not that uncommon. But really dislike it
Fallon - ok. Not very pretty
Ginny - I like this.
Jay - again so much more common for boys. Don't like it for girls or boys
Leonie - I quite like this. I prefer Ione though
Noelle - I like this
Zola - it's ok. Just reminds me of Budd.

Ginny and Leonie are the only ones I like.

Kezzie200 · 28/08/2022 22:49

Brontë - Will always be spelt without an accent so accept that, or don't choose it. Moaning parents of a chosen complicated name annoy me. Otherwise it's nice.
Chase - american
Dolly - Parton. I prefer names not associated with one thing only.
Fallon - Dallas! Or was it Dynasty. No.
Ginny - nickname
Jay - boyish
Leonie - lovely
Noelle - sounds like an Instagram influencer
Zola - budd. So, a no from me as I only associate it with one person.

Cheeselog · 28/08/2022 22:56

Brontë - surname not a first name and everyone pronounces it wrong
Chase - male name, a bank
Dolly - cloned sheep
Fallon - not a first name, Jimmy Fallon
Ginny - Weasley
Jay - male name
Leonie - really like it
Noelle - a bit blah but at least it’s a first name and a female name…
Zola - surname of depressing French author, not a first name

hellosunshineagainx · 28/08/2022 22:59

lavawater · 28/08/2022 19:45

I'm not pregnant (!) BUT one of my biggest hobbies is looking through baby names Blush

I've found some girls names that I love at the minute but would love to share them and see MN opinions on them. (I'm sure this board isn't restricted to those pregnant looking for opinions anyway?)

Here's the list of my new favourites:

  • Brontë
  • Chase
  • Dolly
  • Fallon
  • Ginny
  • Jay
  • Leonie
  • Noelle
  • Zola

I know a Dolly, a Ginny and two Leonie's so perhaps not unusual as such but they are uncommon certainly. I don't personally like any of the names listed but that doesn't matter, it's not hat you and your partner want

glitterfarts · 28/08/2022 23:01

Brontë - love it
Chase - male Dr on house TV show
Dolly - toy
Fallon - stuck up lawyer
Ginny - nickname for vagina
Jay - kay is better
Leonie
Noelle
Zola