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Baby names

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

Original poster

Critique my girl list please

64 replies

starryeyeze · 05/07/2023 12:50

Baby girl due soon and we're struggling to find names we both like.

DS has a really common name and it is a bit annoying when there is always another boy with his name wherever we go, so we wanted to go more off piste with DD.

So far, names we both agree have potential include:

Chloe
Amelie
Tamia
Sierra
Niamh (one parent is Irish)
Aoife
Eloise
Gabriella

Any thoughts?

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OopsieeDaisy · 05/07/2023 14:07

I love Elodie (I know this isn’t on your list but saw it mentioned above). I also like Chloe, Eloise and Gabriella.

FirstFallopians · 05/07/2023 14:13

If you are irritated by the popularity of your sons name, it would be nothing compared to the ubiquity of Chloe and Amelie.

Niamh and Aoife are a bit dated in Ireland- they’re still being used, but there are loads cutting about it their mid-late twenties, a bit like Chloe. They also blend into those Eve/Eva/Ava kind of names.

Original poster
starryeyeze · 05/07/2023 14:22

I'm glad I made this thread, it's helped a lot.

No love for Tamia or Sierra (the more 'out their' names') but a lot of love for Niamh (which has surprised me a little) and some of the French names.

I do like some of the new suggestions too.

I'm going to show this thread to DH later and hopefully we make some final decisions.

OP posts:
babysharkdoodoodedoodedoo · 05/07/2023 14:52

Eloise and Gabriella 😍 Niamh nice too.

helpmum2003 · 05/07/2023 14:54

Niamh, Gabriella and Eloise are lovely and not too common although would Eloise get shortened to Ellie?
Juliet?

Duttercup · 05/07/2023 14:56

Not convinced Eloise is a mouthful or would get shortened. There's one in my toddler's nursery group and if a 2 year old can pronounce it, I'm sure everyone else can manage. There's an Elodie too which is quite pretty.

PickledScrump · 05/07/2023 15:48

Niamh was very popular a few years back. They’ll all be around 4-10 now so it will likely be quite dated. It seemed to be THE name for girls for a while with a variety of spellings.

Of your list I like Elouise, I only know of one and she’s always Elouise, it never gets shortened

MerryChristmasToYou · 05/07/2023 16:14

It might not be shortened @Duttercup , but I've seen it misspelt as Elouise (ugh!) a fair few times. I think it's a mouthful, and chances are if I do, then so will others. All the El names seem to blur into each other. Elodie doesn't do anything for me - it looks pretty but sounds bland, as does Amelie.

cptartapp · 05/07/2023 16:39

I only like Eloise but is likely to get shortened to the ubiquitous Ellie which is done to death.
Prefer Louisa.

Plentiful · 05/07/2023 16:43

Niamh or Aoife, which are ageless classics. I think Chloe is very dated, likewise Sierra, and the others don’t stand out particularly.

Jennalong · 05/07/2023 16:46

I like them all except Tamia and
Sierra . The first sounds like it is stomach condition and I'm sure my father once owned a Ford Sierra car.

shoopshoopdedoo · 05/07/2023 17:19

Love Chloe, Aoife and Niamh. Not fond of the others.

Whatisityoucantface · 05/07/2023 19:00

Aoife and Niamh, by miles the best!!

Maireas · 05/07/2023 19:07

The only one I dislike is Sierra.
Just makes me think of Ford Sierra - and not in a positive way.

PerspiringElizabeth · 05/07/2023 19:13

yeah it’s not really that they’re all individually popular, but all blend into one vowelly clump. Aoife, Eloise, Amelie etc all blend with Emily, Evie, Ella etc. All lovely names though!

We had lots of your names on our list so I’ll share some of our list:

Erica
Leonie
Alyssa
Juliet
Cleo
Cara
Lydia
Penelope
Francesca
Hazel
Adelaide
Charis
Leonie
Heidi
Alyssa
Adelaide / Adeline
Gabriella
Merryn
Marnie
Naomi
Bryony
Lucy
Louisa
Freya (popular though)
Zara
Penelope
Zoe
Sidonie
Natalie

Loved Gabriella but we changed our minds at the very end of pregnancy. Felt quite dated and wasn’t hugely keen on the inevitable Gabby.

Mumofgirls2017 · 05/07/2023 22:44

Eloise!

User6761 · 05/07/2023 23:11

One name stands out for me - Aoife. Love it.

lochmaree · 05/07/2023 23:14

I have 2 boys but on our girls list was Rhionna and Anastasia.

lucie82 · 05/07/2023 23:38

My ex sister in law is called Tamia. I like Elinor, Callie, Sophia, Aurora, Nova and Annie

user1492757084 · 06/07/2023 03:13

My choices from your list ..

Gabriella Niamh 10/10
Aoife Eloise 10/10
Bridget Chloe or Chloe Bridget 9/10

SpringSummerDreamer · 06/07/2023 04:11

Chloe - cutesy and rather dated from recent use.
Amelie - ditto
Tamia - sounds made up, apologies if it isn't.
Sierra - a bit too fashionable
Niamh (one parent is Irish) - pleasant but fairly common esp. if Irish.
Aoife - ditto
Eloise. - nice but always seems too strongly associaed with the song
Gabriella - best on your list, interesting, international and a name to grow into.

SpringSummerDreamer · 06/07/2023 04:21

F you like 'e' sounds, how about Cicely /Cecily?

Original poster
starryeyeze · 06/07/2023 14:34

Thanks for further insights and name suggestions.

I didn't make Tamia up, I know the name from an American singer and always thought it was pretty.

To the PP who suggested Gabriella with the middle name Niamh, I love this! Now to convince DH...

OP posts:
inkypig · 06/07/2023 18:29

oooh such a lovely list! I’d go with Aoife or Sierra

Chloe - really pretty
Amelie - like this but know lots of little Amelies
Tamia - not keen
Sierra - lovely (also love the nn Cece)
Niamh (one parent is Irish) - really nice but know a lot
Aoife - dd1 is an Aoife so its my absolute favourite
Eloise - don’t really like this one
Gabriella - quite cute

Jeansmuddy · 06/07/2023 18:36

Eloise or Niamh