Ottoline or Mirren?

[LizzieS88]

We are having a baby girl and really struggling for names. The current favourites are Ottoline and Mirren...
Ottoline: we love but does it come with too much baggage - too posh / grand / pretentious (nb we don't like Ottilie as an alternative)?
Mirren: maybe not as pretty but it is unusual but not difficult to pronounce. Also it's Scottish, where I grew up.

What do you think?

(Other names we've considered are Charlotte but it feels a bit too common and I don't really like the royal family connection; and Rosamund, but we don't like Roz / Rozzie as she'd get called...)

I don’t know why, but I find Morven a bit harsher a sound - a bit like Morgan. Elspeth I do like - but I’m Elizabeth and so it really is just my name recast. Thank you though! Any ideas are always helpful. I think I can safely say I’ve ruled out Ottoline at least based on this thread 😂

Ottoline is awful. Sounds like an ointment for a skin condition. Not overkeen on Mirren but its an acceptable name.

Both Ottoline and Mirren are quite nice but I'd play safe and go with Charlotte, which is a classic and will not date. Don't worry about the royal connection.

Mirren is a fairly classic name too, St Mirin was born in 565, according to Wikipedia!

I don't see any risk in using the name Mirren.

Ottoline, I'd bin that suggestion, it sounds like some sort of transport to me, a fuel additive or a skin care product to someone others.

I've just noticed your last post - glad the baby has been spared from Ottoline.

Mirren is a good name, I know exactly what your mean it's softer than Morgan and Morven.

I think I prefer Merryn to Mirren though.

I agree. It's much nicer and doesn't make me think of football results.

I also prefer Meryn/Merryn to Mirren, which just reminds me of football.

Ottoline is awful! People would likely pronounce it as "line" rather than "leen" which isn't good.
Auto Line sounds like a used car dealership.

Mirren

Please don't saddle your child with Ottoline. Sounds like a fuel additive or medicine like others have said.
Mirren is really popular where I am but I am in Scotland so maybe that's why.
I prefer Morven as it's softer overall (with the Scottish accent) but Mirren is nice too. It does make me think of the football team every time though.

I like Mirren and Morven, and love Merryn and Miriam. I also love Maude, although I know it's not really the same wheelhouse.

A few years back and until recently it was compulsory to have Ottilie on every girls' name list here. Mainly because one of those mum influencers (now disgraced) had one.
For me, for that reason, it sounds achingly try-hard and pretentious.
The other name is nice.

Mirren is great

Ottoline is not.

Ishbel
Arran
Ailsa

I’d go with Mirren though

Mirren is lovely.

Thanks so much everyone. I’m now really attached to Mirren, this has made me love it more than ever.

Definitely the right choice IMO, it's a really lovely name 😊

Definitely the right choice. Hope DH likes it too.
LO will be glad you didn't land her with Ottoline.

Ottoline isn't great, I would pronounce it Otto-Line, rather than Otto-Leen. Her nickname would probably end up being Otto, which is kinda cute...but no. Please don't call her that!

Mirrin is a sweet name, I probably wouldn't be able to spell it first time, but would be able to pronounce it at least!