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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can’t decide on a girl’s name, please help!

54 replies

Littlemissnonam · 20/09/2023 19:03

Hi all, due a baby girl in two weeks and DH and I can’t decide on a name, it’s stressing me out. So far we’ve narrowed it down to:

Charlotte
Matilda
Philippa
Isabel

He loves Charlotte, I think it’s ok but don’t feel like it’s ‘the one’. I love Matilda and would go with that in a heartbeat but he isn’t keen.
I realise a compromise is necessary - what are people’s thoughts on these names? Thank you!

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RedDoughnut · 20/09/2023 19:06

All great, I like Matilda best.

Gnomegnomegnome · 20/09/2023 19:08

Philippa is awful (sorry).

Out of the rest my favourite is Isobel

Maireas · 20/09/2023 19:12

Philippa is lovely, and far less common than the other names, if that's an issue.

WDIAROM · 20/09/2023 19:18

I like Matilda.
The only name I dislike is Philippa. What about Phoebe?

SquigglePigs · 20/09/2023 19:21

I think they're all lovely.

Charlotte was on our shortlist.
Matilda is nice and not too common.
Phillipa is probably my least favourite on your list but I love Pip or Pippa as a nickname.
Isabel is lovely although personally I prefer Isobel as a spelling.

SkyeBlue28 · 20/09/2023 19:32

I like all those names but my favourite would be Charlotte followed by Isabel. Charlotte isn’t that common where I live but I know lots of Isabels and they are all lovely which makes me love the name even more.

cptartapp · 20/09/2023 19:50

Charlotte.
Don't like Matilda.

LastNightAPandaSavedMyLife · 20/09/2023 20:00

I don’t like Matilda. I love Isabel but it’s immensely popular.

FayCarew · 20/09/2023 21:00

Charlotte - always popular, might get shortened to Charl (Sharl), Charlie or Lottie. Good enough for the Waleses.
Matilda - a bit overused for a strong name. Might get called Tilly or Tilda
Philippa - might get shortened to Phil, Pippa, Flip or Pip. Will get spelt Phillipa sometimes
Isabel - Isabelle and Isabella are so overused.

Charlotte or Philippa.

squeakyclean13 · 20/09/2023 21:11

Love all the names but would change Philippa to Pippa. Just to offer another twist, I have an Isabella who is always Bella and she gets so many compliments about her name. All your options are lovely though x

theduchessofspork · 20/09/2023 21:12

Philippa

They are all nice but the rest are all very overdone, and Philippa is very elegant. Pippa is cute too.

Zanatdy · 20/09/2023 21:29

I’d chose Charlotte, lots of name options for toddler and teen - then adult. Isabel can also be shortened too but it’s very popular. Then again so is Charlotte. I’ve always been a fan of Charlotte and would have chosen it as a middle name as it’s my mums middle name but it didn’t go

Riverlee · 20/09/2023 21:32

Charlotte would be my favourite.

i know you’re not asking for alternatives, but names that jump to mind include Felicity, Harriet , Henrietta and Penelope.

Original poster
Littlemissnonam · 20/09/2023 21:47

Thanks everyone, I do love Pippa as a nickname for Philippa. It’s such a difficult choice!

OP posts:
Mumofgirls2017 · 20/09/2023 22:52

Have to say I like Matilda 😬

user1492757084 · 21/09/2023 06:37

Charlotte Matilda and Matilda Charlotte are lovely full names.
Others ..
Philippa Charlotte - Pip

ArtG · 21/09/2023 06:41

Matilda was my grandmother’s name. I have a cousin named after her who, to my knowledge, has never been known by anything other than Tilly.

groovergirl · 21/09/2023 06:56

They're all good. Just be aware that these names are now 15-20 years past their babyhood peak. My DD 15's friendship cohort has several girls named Matilda, Tilly, Charlotte, Charlie, Isabella, Isabel and Bella. Phillipa/Pip is less common.

Pick the one that suits your DD when you meet her. Or start a new trend! My money is on Cicely, Cecily, Annika, Nora and Lucinda for the rest of the 2020s.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 21/09/2023 07:15

Like them all but Matilda best but if your husband doesn’t then both Isabel and Philippa are good names. Would probably go with Philippa, nickname Pippa

LilyLemonade · 21/09/2023 07:35

Any one of those names sounds good to me. if you dont agree on the first two then pick one of the second. You could use your two favourite names as middle names eg Philippa Charlotte Matilda.

QueeniePlumtree · 22/09/2023 15:16

Going by how people usually shorten names which do you and DH prefer out of the below? I'd go with that

Charlotte - Lottie

Matilda - Tilly

Isabel - Izzy

Phillipa - Pippa / Pip

KayEmAy · 22/09/2023 15:44

Team Isabel :)

I love the name whole and all the nicknames Izzy/Bell with equal measure and while classic, I don't hear it nearly as often as the others.

smallshinybutton · 22/09/2023 16:01

Charlotte is a good name if you can't think of anything else

Neverjudgeabookbyitscover · 22/09/2023 18:06

I love Matilda, like Charlotte, Isabel is okay (but LOVE Isabella).

Philippa is one of the few names I dislike (just personal taste).
I was almost called Philippa, but I'm so glad my parents had a change of heart at the last minute. I would definitely have changed my name!

MargotBamborough · 22/09/2023 18:07

I like Isabel the best.