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Baby names

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Original poster

2 very different girls names - can't choose

51 replies

sunshineseabeachshells · 02/09/2023 14:34

I know mumsnet view "Rose" as the ultimate filler name, however it has very significant meaning so is non negotiable.

Narrowed down to:
Rose Juliet
Or
Athena Rose

I love the strength of Athena, and do have links to Greece. Love Theodora but doesn't go with surname. Rose of course has a lot of meaning so must be featured. And I really love Juliet from Gnomeo and Juliet. I like Delilah but worried about the negative meaning and that it would just be shortened.

Which of the two above would you pick and why?

Thank you.

OP posts:
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Riverlee · 02/09/2023 14:36

I would wait until the baby was born, and then decide what suits her best.

KirstenBlest · 02/09/2023 14:44

Rose Juliet.
Rose seems to be every other little girl's middle name, and nobody will think of it as being of special meaning to you. Many of the girls my age had the middle name Ann/Anne, some of them named after their grandmother, but it still seemed a bog standard filler middle name.

Many posters seem to have a strong reason for using Rose, May or Grace as a middle name, when the names haven't been particularly popular in the past.
I suspect that had MN been around in the 1970s/80s there would have been many posters claiming Louise was a name with special meaning to them. My DCs schoolfriends seemed to mostly be Something Louise, Something Jane or Something Claire.

HamishTheCamel · 02/09/2023 14:45

I know it's not one of the options but I would go for Juliet Rose. Absolutely love Juliet and I think it sounds better that way round.

Lifeinlists · 02/09/2023 14:48

HamishTheCamel · 02/09/2023 14:45

I know it's not one of the options but I would go for Juliet Rose. Absolutely love Juliet and I think it sounds better that way round.

I was just thinking the same. Juliet is a lovely and underused name.

KirstenBlest · 02/09/2023 14:51

Rose is really nice as a first name. I like Juliet, but don't like how some make it rhyme with Serviette. Athena is nice but I'm not sure it it's a bit long without an obvious short form - I don't like Thea.
I don't like Delilah and it will probably be shortened to Del or Lilah.

Original poster
sunshineseabeachshells · 02/09/2023 14:52

Thank you @HamishTheCamel and @Lifeinlists but I dislike nicknames and Juliet will definitely get shortened to Jules or something.

OP posts:
BungleandGeorge · 02/09/2023 14:58

KirstenBlest · 02/09/2023 14:44

Rose Juliet.
Rose seems to be every other little girl's middle name, and nobody will think of it as being of special meaning to you. Many of the girls my age had the middle name Ann/Anne, some of them named after their grandmother, but it still seemed a bog standard filler middle name.

Many posters seem to have a strong reason for using Rose, May or Grace as a middle name, when the names haven't been particularly popular in the past.
I suspect that had MN been around in the 1970s/80s there would have been many posters claiming Louise was a name with special meaning to them. My DCs schoolfriends seemed to mostly be Something Louise, Something Jane or Something Claire.

there are lots of Grace and may in grandparents generation, maybe less rose but also lots of names containing rose like rosemary etc. and those grandparents will have multiple grandchildren, not to mention great nieces/ nephews etc. suddenly there’s a lot of people linked to the name, especially when you consider 2 families combine when a baby is made. I don’t think OP and others are likely to be making up a link to rose!

ShoesoftheWorld · 02/09/2023 15:00

Athena Rose. I don't think it really matters whether people think you've used a 'filler' middle name or not. You could also give an extra middle name (Juliet, if you must* - Athena Juliet Rose)

*I'm not keen. It just says 'teen bride who meets a devastating end' to me.

BungleandGeorge · 02/09/2023 15:02

Personally I’m not keen on Athena. I think rose and Juliet are both much nicer

mosiacmaker · 02/09/2023 15:03

Athena Rose is really nice. I agree with PP on Juliette Rose rather than other way around. I know a few Juliette’s that are never shortened to Jules etc so I wouldn’t not choose the name because of that.

TheAloe · 02/09/2023 15:06

Rose as a first name is very beautiful and classic. It only becomes a filler when it’s used as a second name.

TreeHuggerMum1 · 02/09/2023 15:08

Athena Juliet Rose

My DD has two middle names as we couldn’t choose…
just putting that out there.
If not, Athena is a stunning name!

FinnRussell · 02/09/2023 15:09

Rose Juliet.

Not sure that disliking nicknames is a good reason to avoid a name - school friends are likely to come up with something whatever name you choose.

Purpleavocado · 02/09/2023 15:10

I love Athena, such a strong name.

BaronessBomburst · 02/09/2023 15:14

I like Rose Athena, just to add another combination.

cptartapp · 02/09/2023 15:15

Juliet is nicer. Rosa nicer still.
Juliet Rose or Rosa Juliet?
Don't like Athena at all.

bringbacksideburns · 02/09/2023 15:23

Love the name Rose. It’s timeless. Know a Rose and a Rosie decades apart.

I’d go with Rose Juliet because Athena is too Tyson Fury for me. Each to their own but they have daughters called Athena and Venezuela, which is a bit much for me!

5thCommandment · 02/09/2023 15:30

We went for Layla-Rose. Juliet is a bit pretentious to me but go with your gut.

Mumofgirls2017 · 02/09/2023 15:45

Both lovely. I’d go Athena. But more unusual, strong and I love it.

faban · 02/09/2023 16:05

I love Athena

faban · 02/09/2023 16:05

Juliet is absolutely beautiful tho

DinnaeFashYersel · 02/09/2023 16:20

Rose Juliet

Classic and beautiful

Athena is to frilly for me.

grass321 · 02/09/2023 16:37

Rose is a lovely name. I know I'm showing my age but Athena will forever be the poster shop for me.

CurlewKate · 02/09/2023 16:38

Rose. It's lovely.

Athena is a hell of a lot to live up to!

grass321 · 02/09/2023 16:39

I like Juliet, but don't like how some make it rhyme with Serviette.

Now I'm intrigued as I've only ever heard it pronounced like Jule-iette.