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

Florence or Evelyn?

49 replies

yellowmeerkat · 12/05/2023 10:55

Down to the final 2!

We love the nn Evie, weren’t keen on Evelyn at first but this name has grown on us and we’re wondering if registering as Evelyn with nn Evie would give her more options in the future.

Florence is a last minute addition to our shortlist! Not overly keen on nn Flo so this is putting us off a bit.

What are your thoughts? And if you have a Florence, what nn does she go by?

Thanks!

OP posts:
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Pranadds · 12/05/2023 11:21

Definitely Florence. Flossy is a cute nickname.

Evie is very overdone.

TulipVictory · 12/05/2023 11:22

My Florence goes by Florie

FriedEggChocolate · 12/05/2023 11:26

I like Evelyn but it's a family name for us. I'd shorten to Ev or Eve, not Evie. Less keen on Florence but they work well together as a first / middle name if you can't choose.

KirstenBlest · 12/05/2023 12:15

Not keen on either of them, but Florence is much nicer than Evelyn. I like Evie but it's very popular. I don't like Evelyn at all

RuthW · 12/05/2023 12:23

I have an adult Florence. She mainly goes by Florence, sometimes Flo. I call her Floss.

Pemba · 12/05/2023 12:33

Prefer Evelyn, it is much nicer. I know it's more popular but I still do.

I don't like Florence, to me it is stodgy and Victorian, the associations are Florence Nightingale and the character in 'The Magic Roundabout'. Oh and Florence and the Machine, but it doesn't seem to suit her. Similarly I dislike Constance and Hortense so it's the ending I don't like.

I like Flora though, did you consider that?

anon12093 · 12/05/2023 12:33

Florence is beautiful

Pemba · 12/05/2023 12:36

Oh and the short forms of Florence, Flo, Flossie, Florrie are all jokey Victorian kitchen maid type names.

Pranadds · 12/05/2023 12:43

Pemba · 12/05/2023 12:36

Oh and the short forms of Florence, Flo, Flossie, Florrie are all jokey Victorian kitchen maid type names.

But I doubt Op’s baby or her peers will care about that, or even know. It’ll be a very normal name to them - it’s currently in the top 10.

KirstenBlest · 12/05/2023 12:49

Oh and the short forms of Florence, Flo, Flossie, Florrie are all jokey Victorian kitchen maid type names.
You could say that about names like Ella, Evie, Lily etc.

PeonyPaws · 12/05/2023 12:51

I like Florence nicknames Florrie or Flossie are cute. Not keen on Flo.

I don’t care for Evelyn but I do like Evie. Could you just use Eve as a BC name then nickname her Evie? That way it still gives her a more grown up sounding name should she prefer it further down the line.

MyOtherUsernameIsDave · 12/05/2023 12:52

Evie/Evelyn is just so overused. Especially with all the Evie-Rose/Grace/Mays.

Prefer Florence, Floss is cute. Although both names are popular.

Ohjoybacktowork · 12/05/2023 12:54

Evil - Lynn or Aunt Flo?

Hard decision indeed!

tonkywonky · 12/05/2023 12:55

Evelyn. Florence is so meh, every other baby is called it atm.

KirstenBlest · 12/05/2023 13:29

@tonkywonky , of course, and the name Evelyn shortened to Evie is so unusual

yellowmeerkat · 12/05/2023 15:44

@KirstenBlest we like Evie better too and were thinking of using as a full name but then wondered if she’d rather have something more formal with a few more options when she’s older.

@Pranadds I love Flossy, definitely much better than Flo imo, thank you :)

@Pemba not considered Flora, thanks for the suggestion. May still get nn Flo though!

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 12/05/2023 16:51

@yellowmeerkat , I don't really understand the need for a longer name as a first name 'for more options', if the name is a recognised name. I'd not register a child as Flo, for example

'Evie' has been in the top 100 names for girls for 20 years. Eve is nice for a grown woman, and could be Evie (and the other way round). I don't like the look or sound of Evelyn, and what options does it give? Evelyn Eve, Ewa (Ev-va), Evie, Lyn? Really?

I know some people who on reaching adulthood switched to a middle name, so that could 'provide options'

Thequeenofwishfulthinking · 12/05/2023 16:53

Definitely Florence. It’s a delightful name. There are hundreds of Evies/Evelyn’s/Eves.

KirstenBlest · 12/05/2023 16:54

If you registered an Evie as Evangelina she could be Eve, Evie, Eva, Angie, Angela, Angelina, Lina or Evangelina when she's older.

CruCru · 12/05/2023 17:41

Would you pronounce Evelyn as Eve-linn or Ev-linn? If someone pronounces it the other way, how much will it annoy you?

I like Florence but I don't know very many.

ourflagmeansdeath · 12/05/2023 18:15

I like them both, but Florence is beautiful. Evelyn is pretty but there are 2 pronunciations and I don't think Evie is all that great.

Twazique · 12/05/2023 19:20

Evelyn is lovely!

Don't risk Flo!

WhatWeDoInTheShadow · 12/05/2023 19:21

Florence. It just sounds nicer to me

inomniaparatis · 12/05/2023 19:38

I have an Evelyn so I'm clearly biased! Was concerned about the overused aspect but where I am in Scotland, I've yet to meet another so I'm glad I didn't let that put me off. Have met a few Florence's, one shortened to Florrie which is pretty. Personally I like Florence but hate Flo so that would put me off!

PickledScrump · 12/05/2023 20:28

i like Evelyn as Ev-eh-Lyn or ev-Lyn but not as Eve-Lyn so depends how you’d say it and if the different pronunciations bother you. I absolutely hate the nn Evie though. There’s so many of them she’ll definitely be one of multiple in a year group

much prefer Florence. If you don’t like flo there florrie, flossie or even Effie. So lots of options.