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Baby names

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

It's actually a girl, unusual girl names please

158 replies

Girlsnamesarealsohard · 21/09/2022 07:47

Hi,
I posted on here a while back because I'd done nub theory and had all the symptoms of a boy pregnancy. Someone ended up suggesting a lovely name, Tristan, which I really liked and managed to convince husband of.

Turns out I was wrong and it's a girl.

Seeing as I managed to have success with suggestions last time I thought I'd try and set the impossible task again, so...

I need a girl's name that:

Is not top 200 and more unusual to go with my son's name.
Is Celtic or Roman (possibly Greek)
Has a longer and shorter version.
Is a bit more modern sounding than old fashioned.
Is less common so I am unlikely to have taught or met one (long in the tooth teacher so meet a lot of children)

My husband has suggested a few names that I like but have taught before, so I feel they belong to that child if that makes sense. Husband thinks once you use a name it becomes yours and you forget prior associations, but I'm not so sure. It's not about negative or positive associations, taught some lovely children with lovely names, but after knowing them really well for a year I can't help but associate that name with them.

Has anyone else had similar and used a familiar name that became their own?

Thanks again!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
megosaurusrex · 21/09/2022 13:55

Pandora, can be shortened to Dora

ODFOx · 21/09/2022 13:58

Antigone- Tiggy or Ani
Apollonia - Polly

notangelinajolie · 21/09/2022 14:02

Kirsten

MadeinBelfast · 21/09/2022 14:15

pinkunicorns54 · 21/09/2022 13:31

No name suggestions, but I do a similar job and worked with a child, who was actually quite challenging to work with, for a period of a year.

I had my heart set on their name from before we conceived, but was put off when I was pregnant because I was working with them (only one I've ever worked with in my 10yr career).

I actually talked it through with my line manager, who convinced me to use it. I did, and now our DC is all I think of when I hear their name!

I agree with this post. Your child will be the most important child in the world to you and their name will become associated fully with them. Don't go out of your way to pick a name that you might not be quite as keen on just because you haven't taught one. Chances are, you might find a unique name and one would turn up in your class after maternity leave! Just pick what you love.

zoopigi · 21/09/2022 14:25

Ariadni (Ari)
Andriana (nana)
Persephone (foni)

Girlsnamesarealsohard · 21/09/2022 14:40

MadeinBelfast · 21/09/2022 14:15

I agree with this post. Your child will be the most important child in the world to you and their name will become associated fully with them. Don't go out of your way to pick a name that you might not be quite as keen on just because you haven't taught one. Chances are, you might find a unique name and one would turn up in your class after maternity leave! Just pick what you love.

Yes thank you for both your perspectives.
Most of my shortlist have been mentioned on this list so just have to work out which I guess.

We do like unusual names anyway so going for something unique is not a chore and will go well with our first, but interesting to see most of our maybe list came up, so I reckon I've exhausted my options haha!

OP posts:
Facecream · 21/09/2022 15:22

Aisling (means dream in Irish)
Aoife (pronounced ee-fah)
Moira
Mari
Saoirse (meaning freedom in Irish)

Harrystylestutu · 21/09/2022 15:59

Bathsheba - Biba?

whatausername · 21/09/2022 16:10

Malvina
Vanessa
Idony
Hesper/Hester
Dinah

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 21/09/2022 17:20

Trista.
Tiana
Tanisha.

Snog · 21/09/2022 17:28

Which are your fave names from the suggestions OP?

theresnouseingrumpin · 21/09/2022 17:43

Heidi?

GobbolinoTheWitchesCat · 21/09/2022 17:47

I was also going to suggest Isolde!

Do you know the story of Tristan and Isolde?

BearWoman · 21/09/2022 18:01

Skye
Athena
Gia

Ginsoakedcatlady · 21/09/2022 18:08

Marianne (Mazzy or Maz).
Tom Jones said on The Voice that he has an aunt called Keziah (Kez-aye-a) who everyone called Kizzy. Always liked that.

Mydogneedsabath · 21/09/2022 18:14

Thomasina

Goodoldvera · 21/09/2022 18:30

Alethea nn Thea

Girlsnamesarealsohard · 21/09/2022 19:09

Around ten faves, Ariana, Ariadne and Delphine probably top.three.

OP posts:
soundsystem · 21/09/2022 19:17

Girlsnamesarealsohard · 21/09/2022 08:09

Thanks @Cornishmumofone some nice options there.
I do like Arianna and Arianne but not sure if they will get too popular due to Ariana Grande.
I like Ari as a shortening too.

Arianwen!

seasunshine22 · 21/09/2022 20:45

Romany or Romilly nickname Romy

greenhousegal · 21/09/2022 21:03

Nerissa
Darina
Alessa

Lochroy · 21/09/2022 21:04

Morven

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 21/09/2022 21:07

Krista
Veronica
Rowena
Jodie
Coral

LostInMeadows · 21/09/2022 21:38

I also work in a school, I've had alot of strange names but only had maybe 3 unique girls names that have stood out.

First is Lumina, it means sunshine or brilliant light, nicknames were Lumi (which itself means snow) or Mina (which means love)
That always stuck with me.

There was also a Ramona with the nn Rammy or mona.

Last one was Esmeray which can be nn to Esmè or Ray.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 21/09/2022 21:42

Girlsnamesarealsohard · 21/09/2022 08:09

Thanks @Cornishmumofone some nice options there.
I do like Arianna and Arianne but not sure if they will get too popular due to Ariana Grande.
I like Ari as a shortening too.

Arianwen? Lovely Welsh name, quite unusual but relatively easy to pronounce compared to some

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