lots of honest opinions on my girls list please!

[puddingpie]

Hi - i would love lots of honest opinions no matter how harsh .
i would like to know what you think of them as well as the sort of reputation it might have (downmarket etc), and whether there are loads of kids around with the same name that i am missing as i am one of those saddos that wishes to avoid the next Ruby or Olivia.
Thanks all

Gwendolen (nn Winnie)
Winifred (nn Winnie)
Iris
Dorothy
Cordelia
Penelope
Pearl
Polly
Prudence (i ike P's !)
Audrey
Phyllis
Enid
Sally
Mary
Esmeralda (NOT nn Esme though)
Margaret (Maggie)
Juniper
Jean

Any nice sibsets in the bunch for family planning purposes?

Thanks for your time. I'll probably remember some more later!

I don't usually vote on name threads but here's my 2c

Yes
Penelope
Polly
Audrey
Sally
Mary
Margaret (Maggie)

Maybe
Gwendolen - I quite like it (but nn Gwennie)
Iris
Dorothy
Cordelia - can be lovely
Pearl
Prudence - went to school with a nice one. But not for me.
Phyllis - I like but perhaps not a baby name these days
Enid - maybe
Juniper - maybe
Jean - middle name with a pretty first name, perhaps

No
Winifred
Esmeralda - no (but I like Esme)

Not that my maybe and nos are not nice, just not names I'd use.

Agree with those who say they are old-fashioned and harsh. DH's aunt has a whole album full of family pictures from the late 1800's, and that is what those names conjure up in my mind.

I only really like Pearl, although Gwen is nice too, but definitely not Gwendolyn. And I have to admit I really don't like Winnie as a nickname (for a child that is, would be quite cute for a pet or a cuddly toy though ). To be honest I think a lot of the names on your list sound quite old-ladyish (Enid, Phyllis, Audrey). Having said that, I know some babies who were given pretty terrible names but then the names kind of seem to grow to fit them IYSWIM.

I would say that Iris is a classic name - it has been used consistantly for ages - I would put it with names like Florence, Bearice and Rose - not overwhelmingly popular but always one or two in each generation (am i making sense?)
Violet i would say is a bit more 'of the moment'.
Have never met a Mary under the age of 35 so there cant be many of those, or Pearl (someone said that was 'of the moment' - i dont see them - where are they all hiding??).
I too know a couple of Audreys.

I am loving Hilda
as i said good list.

-Gwendolen (nn Winnie) - not keen on winnie but Gwen is nice
-Winifred (nn Winnie) - not keen at all
-Iris - love it
-Dorothy - ok
-Cordelia - hmmmmmmmmm, not sure
-Penelope - like it
-Pearl - not keen, reminds me of very old women and bath things
-Polly - lkike it
-Prudence (i ike P's !) - like it, but think she'll get shortened to Prude
-Audrey - like it
-Phyllis - don't like it
-Enid - like it
-Sally - like it
-Mary - don't like it, personal reasons tho
-Esmeralda (NOT nn Esme though) - no
-Margaret (Maggie) - like it
-Juniper - not keen

Winifred (nn Winnie) - not keen
Iris - I prefer Ivy
Dorothy - Yes love it and would use Dot to shorten it...
Cordelia - not for me this one
Penelope - really love this one too
Pearl - no
Polly - put the kettle on? no
Prudence (i ike P's !) - OK
Audrey - really like this, very sophisticated
Phyllis - definite no
Enid - I like
Sally - know one of these and she is sweet little girl
Mary - yes unusual so like nice take you anywhere name
Esmeralda - why not Esme????
Margaret (Maggie) - OK
Juniper - No don't like at all
Jean - not for me this one

If you like older style names I really love Verity.

I like Margaret, especially Maggie (but never Peggy).
Polly and Penny are OK.
Winifred is unfair on child!
Pearl is like Ruby-don't like them.
Prudence-very open to teasing.
Juniper -the child would need to be quite confident to carry it off!
Esmerelda OK if known as Esme.
Phyllis, Enid, Audrey and Cordelia-don't like at all.
The other 3 not keen on.

I like:

Gwen
Iris
Polly
Mary

and I really don't like any of the rest.They will really date.

Don't like any of them except Cordelia and Sally. Polly is ok but it reminds mioe of a victorian maid. They are all a bit 50 something womens institute names, so probably due for a revival.

Gwendolen (nn Winnie)No
Winifred (nn Winnie) No
Iris Yes
Dorothy No
Cordelia Maybe
Penelope No
Pearl No
Polly Maybe
Prudence (i ike P's !) Definitely no
Audrey Yes
Phyllis No
Enid No
Sally No
Mary No
Esmeralda (NOT nn Esme though) Yes - I know a baby esme too and it is actually a lovely name.
Margaret (Maggie) maybe
Juniper yes
Jean No

Very Enid Blyton names!

I really think they are all awful.

DO THE TEST (which is what I always do with names!)

'This is Hilda Stewart, News at 10, in Iraq.'

'This is your Captain, Phyllis Maynard, speaking....'

They sound like old women! and not someone I would have confidence in flying my plane! LOL.

what about Coral? Am not keen myself but a little girl in ds2's class is Coral and it has grown on me.

Catriona is my dr's name which is quite pretty?

They all sound like something out of a 1920's girl's school book! Akin to calling a boy Ronald or Reginald.I think collision has an excellent test. The Freda that I know has always said that at least her name would never make a comeback, I must tell her that she was wrong! Up to now it has only been a Blue Peter tortoise.

Sorry-getting confused on threads-I thought I was on the Else, Freda, Ethel, Winifred one! Mind you-I still think Enid, Cordelia etc come straight from 1920's school heroines!

What about Olwen with Winnie for short? I know Bronwen has already been suggested, but white footprint is nicer than white breast!!

Absolutely love Penelope though, it has so many brilliant nns. Poppy, Polly, Lupe, Nell, Penny.....

Phyllis is the only one on the list that would make me WINCE if I were introduced to a baby called this. I would have to use my hands to rearrange my face.

I think Iris, Cordelia and Sally are okay.

Penelope
Polly
Sally
Maggie

I don't like any of them, sorry

What about Edith or Edie instead of Enid so a bit less twee? I was toying with idea of enid fr a girls name too but every now and again it just seem a bit too old lady-ish!

I ADORE the name Sally, always wanted it to be my name.
Can't use it myself as the surname it would have go with is Stone
Please use it for me!!

Oh, I thought wen/wyn on the end of anything meant white. I bow to your superior wisdom though Calisteregg!!

Only read OP.

Love Dorothy (on our short list) and Cordelia (would be on our shortlist if dh hadn't vetoed!).

Really like Penelope, Prudence and Sally.

Think Pearl, Margaret, Winifred, Phyllis and Jean are all quite old lady sounding.

Indifferent to the others.

I quite like Cordelia, nn Delia.

Gwendolyn is nice but nn Winnie makes me think of Pooh.

Jean is actually ok but not Jeannie.

Someone suggested Gretta, that is lovely but Greta is the (proper? German) spelling.

What about Martha?

Gwendolen (nn Winnie)-noooooooo
Winifred (nn Winnie)-noooooooooo
Iris-lovely very pretty
Dorothy-i like it
Cordelia-like it but would be shortened to cordy which dont like.
Penelope-like
Pearl-love,i know a pearl,very pretty name
Polly-like it
Prudence (i ike P's !)-not sure,dont hate but dont love
Audrey-no
Phyllis-no
Enid-no
Sally-no
Mary-like
Esmeralda (NOT nn Esme though)like esme but not esmeralda
Margaret (Maggie)-love
Juniper-nooooo
Jean-no