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Baby names

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

Original poster

Tallulah or Jessica?

111 replies

SweetTea · 21/04/2008 12:11

Our baby is due any time soon and we are still not decided on a girls name (have chosen a boys).

Jessica we like as it's traditional and flexible (able to shorten), but maybe a little too 'safe' as a choice.

We also like Tallulah, again an old traditional name and flexible, but we are not sure if it's a little bit too unusual.

Please shared some opinions with me to help us decide!

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NotABanana · 22/04/2008 17:21

I don't like either name.

One of your names is held by a child in my DD's class along with her double barrelled surname. Poor child.

Ineedsomesleep · 22/04/2008 17:22

Don't think Tallulah is unusual at all, in fact we know quite a few, especially born in the last 12 months. We do one who is about 4 and has put me off the name for good, but don't let that influence you.

Jessica is a nice name and I've never met a horrid one yet.

unknownrebelbang · 22/04/2008 17:34

Jessica.

I always sing the Bugsy Malone tune to myself when I hear of a Tallulah - and that's not a Good Thing when one of my sons' classfriend's sister is one.

Aarrgghh, going to be singing it to myself all night now.

JessJess3908 · 22/04/2008 22:46

I'm a Jessica and have always loved it... but i think it's getting just a little too popular now (number 5 or 6 in 207?)so I think you should be brave and go for the equally lovely Tallulah.

I had my heart set on Emily... until i found out it had been no. 1 for the last few years. You need your name to be uncommon enough feel like your own.

Original poster
SweetTea · 23/04/2008 08:24

Interestingly my midwife, who obviously hears of many names, said both names were nice......Jessica is very popular so she would go for Tallulah as it's equally as nice and a little more unique and definitely not that 'out there' in comparison with some strange names she hears!
And what is so bad about the Bugsy Malone song, i'm sure there are many songs out there we could associate to a name we've heard!

OP posts:
sophiebbb · 23/04/2008 09:58

I think of Tori Amos's song Talula which I love!

jellybeans · 24/04/2008 13:21

I MUCH prefer the name Jessica.

SandyDennyWasAGreatSinger · 24/04/2008 13:25

tallulah reminds me of Bugsy Malone...

DD was going to be Jessica. she now has a friend with the name and i still think it's lovely

amitymama · 25/04/2008 23:01

I know about a million Jessicas so wouldn't use it myself.

I like Tallulah but am not sure how I feel about the nicknames for it. I always go for creative over boring though.

nobodyputsBBinthecorner · 27/04/2008 17:17

i know a tallulah and she is a divin lil thing so intelligent and sweet i think its lovely!

nobodyputsBBinthecorner · 27/04/2008 17:18

*divine

Original poster
SweetTea · 28/04/2008 09:31

I'm getting the impression that Jessica is liked more by Mumsnet users, but I think perhaps it's because Tallulah is not a commonly heard name.

I'm starting to think that there are just too many Jessica's though, i'm going off it a bit! I think Tallulah is a name that really grows on you the more you hear it, if you can get past your initial reaction to it!
I really don't have a problem with people mentioning Bugsy Malone....for me it was a ground breaking film at the time and one of Alan Parkers best pieces of work!
And as for it being a bit 'celeb'....i think that's only because people remember the more unusual names celebrities give their children, all the common boring names get forgotten about!

(Excuse if this sounds like a rant, I'm now past my due date!)

OP posts:
tonta · 28/04/2008 11:35

jessica is exceptionally boring. so very very boring. oh my god. fit right in as a non descript grey person. give your child a lobotomy. they'll live safe in the sludge of the less imaginative realms of society

tallulah is unusual, exciting, playful, pretty. admitedly used by annoying celebs, but only rubbish ones noone will remember in a year's time. the references to tallulah bankwith a performer/singer and tallulah from bugsy malone are distant enough not to swamp your little person's space for their own life.

in short. grey drone fitting into a career in auditing or a sparky ray of sun? your choice.

brimfull · 28/04/2008 11:38

too many Jessica's

dd has about 600 friends called Jess

she is a teenager so may be different for younger ones.

tallulah is nice

MrsStig · 28/04/2008 11:40

Tonta! You are wrong! I am not grey and boring!!

But I do love the name Tallulah! Sadly DH didn't agree with me when choosing a name for DD

ButterflyMcQueen · 28/04/2008 11:45

tallulah is too poncetastic

sadly chavvy imo

cheesesarnie · 28/04/2008 11:47

i love tallulah-i wasnt allowed to use it!not even for the rabbit!!!
i do like jessica as well,its a lovely name.

Becky77 · 28/04/2008 12:05

Tallulah is gorgeous and I like the abbreviation of Lulu... Whilst Jessica is OK I dont really like Jess or Jessy, they're a bit masculine for a girl IMO.

Original poster
SweetTea · 28/04/2008 14:34

ButterflyMcQueen.........
How can Tallulah be Poncetastic (which BTW is not a word listed in the OED) and chavvy at the same time?! I'm confused!!

OP posts:
ButterflyMcQueen · 28/04/2008 14:46

i did think it was an odd mix myself!

sweetbean · 28/04/2008 14:48

Tonta Nicely put !!! very nicely put!!

pagwatch · 28/04/2008 14:54

I really really wanted Tallulah for DD but Dh veetoed ( he was allowed as i couldn't choose names after 2nd trimester as hormones made me really poncey. I agreed after my near miss with Emanulella )
I think it is fabulous and feisty and great. And would have loved that for DD amidst all her Emma and Jessica and caitlin friends. Lovely names but all safe.
I don't think it is chavvy either.

Jessica is pretty but just a little tedious. And there are two in DD's class which given that there are only 10 other girls is pretty blah.

sophiebbb · 29/04/2008 17:06

Well......my daughter was born Sunday night (at last...!) and she is now a beautiful and spirited Tallulah (which means Leaping Water)!! And oh my waters did leap!!!

I must be poncey surrey middle class and chavvy at the same time

conradblack · 30/04/2008 11:27

What are you thinking of - Tallulah is much more interesting name than plain old Jessica. More importnatly why are you asking other people for thier view - all that maters is what you like. Having had 4 children I found that the name came after the child - most of the names we thought of didn't suit for some reson. I would advice you not to get any advice just go with your gut instinct. Good luck

Rosylily · 30/04/2008 11:36

I prefer the shortened versions of both names. I like Tally and I like Jess.

What about Jessenia?