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Baby names

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

What do you do if you can’t find a name?

95 replies

purplespink · 24/05/2025 09:30

I've spent a lot of time on baby name websites, talking to DH and thinking about names but I CANNOT find one single bloody name that I’d like to call my DD (due in a few weeks). I have one DD and knew what name I wanted straight away (not a childhood dream name, it just came to me as soon as I found out I was pregnant) but I haven’t seen one name I would want to call this DD. I don’t know if it’s because it’ll be my last dc for sure or DH’s lack of suggestion (although we have different ideas of what is a ‘nice’ name!) but I seriously can’t see anything I like. What do I do? I have seen a few names that are nice enough, they’re okay but I wish I could find a name that I love as much as I loved DD 1’s name, I feel bad that hers just came to me and I loved it so much but I can’t find anything I like for this DD Sad I’ve scrolled every ‘Top 1000 girl names’ but I still can’t find anything Sad I don’t have anything sentimental that I feel the need to call her (neither does DH).

I love floral names (DH doesn’t but DD1 is a flower name), it needs to have an I in the name. Willow and Emily are examples of names I like but not enough to make me think that it’s the one. The only name I really liked is Rosie but DH doesn’t like it.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ladygindiva · 25/05/2025 21:51

Enrichetta · 24/05/2025 10:44

If you are unsure, stick to traditional.

Go through a list of Jane Austen characters. There will be at least one you both like.

I agree with this. I suggest Elizabeth; it has an i in it and has many shortenings you can choose from; Beth, Lizzie, Eliza, Betty, Bessie, Elsie, etc.

Calliopespa · 25/05/2025 21:55

MumQ8 · 24/05/2025 10:09

I really feel for you naming a baby can be surprisingly emotional, especially when you had such a clear, confident choice the first time. It makes total sense that you'd want to love this name just as much, especially with it being your last. And when your partner isn’t vibing with your style, that just adds more pressure.

Since you like floral names and names with an “I” in them.
• Iris
• Violet
• Liliana
• Marigold
• Elodie
• Briony
• Sylvie
• Mirabel

Some of those might feel like a middle ground between you and your DH’s styles too.
Also, Rosie is such a sweet, warm name maybe he'd consider it as a nickname for Rose, Rosalie, or Primrose?
Wishing you all the best and congratulations.

Oh Primrose is a great suggestion ( and I love Rose ).

I came on to suggest Iris but see it’s here already. I also love Violet. How about Viola? Very Shakespearean!

Calliopespa · 25/05/2025 21:58

purplespink · 25/05/2025 21:44

Okay so,

DD1’s name has been suggested a few times at least Grin I came up with a list of names I like and DH vetoed all of them. DH suggested about six and I really didn’t like any of them Sad there is a name that we both like but don’t love and I have a feeling that’ll end up being her name. I just wish I really loved it, but my top 5 DH doesn’t like and I wouldn’t force it because his suggestions were really not something I would want to call my DD.

Let us have it then!!

Also what about Ianthe?

Pallisers · 25/05/2025 22:02

Cordiana
Miranda
Cordelia
Juliet
Alice
Elizabeth

Calliopespa · 25/05/2025 22:02

What about Edelweiss?

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 25/05/2025 22:09

Imelda
Imogen/Imogene
Emily
Ottilie
Tilly/Tilda
Hilda
Bethanie/Bettie

Theoldholeyjumper · 25/05/2025 22:18

What names does your partner like?
Might help us suggests something that you can both agree on

NewsdeskJC · 25/05/2025 23:13

Amelia nn Millie

AnneMarieW · 25/05/2025 23:21

If you can’t find a name that you think “that’s the one” by the registration deadline (often tends to be a name you can’t let go of and would be gutted if someone close to you used?) - then imo you just do your best for your DC by giving them a “classic” name (usually something that has either been in the Top 100 for yonks or one that rarely has, yet still feels well known and like it could suit any age woman).

The benefits of “classic” names are that generally people can easily pronounce them, hopefully spell them and likely it won’t be quite as easy to give away DD’s age, social background etc as the names often aren’t as trendy and have had plenty of historical use. Preferably one with at least a couple of nickname choices in case DC (or yourselves in a month or two) prefer the sound of something slightly different. Classic name lists are always huge but something like:

Eleanor (Nell, Leni, Ella, Ellie, Nora)
Helena (as above without Nora)
Elizabeth (too many to list)
Julia/Juliet (Jules, Lia/Letty)
Josephine (Jo, Josie, Effie, Sephie, Gigi)
Emily/Emilia (Emmy, Milly, Mila)
Antonia (Anya, Annie,Toni, Nia, Nina)
Annabel (Anna, Annie, Belle, Bella)
Susanna (Suki, Susie, Sunny, Annie)
Louisa (Lou, Lulu, Lola)
Isabel/Isabella (Izzy, Bel, Bella)
Claudia (Claud, Cadi, Kit)
Imogen (Immy, Ginny)
Charlotte (Lottie, Charlie, Carly)
Caroline (Carrie, Callie, Caro)

CheshireCat1 · 25/05/2025 23:30

Leilani - heavenly love

Mumofgirls2017 · 25/05/2025 23:40

Second kinder app! It was how we found #3 and #4 names! Sorry if repeats but how about

aurelia
emmeline
wren
willa
flora
clover
autumn
eloise
evangeline
juniper
meadow

ChocolateCinderToffee · 26/05/2025 04:29

Cecily
Sabine
Ondine
Caroline
Iona

MirandaBlu · 26/05/2025 08:16

Some more botanical/flowery ones with an i - some of them are out there, but taste is subjective!!

Acacia
Angelica
Cassia/Keziah (flowering cinnamon plant)
Celandine
Clementine
Giacinta/Jacinta/Jacintha (hyacinth)
Ione (violet flower)
Jasmin, Jasmine, Jessamine, Yasmin
Kielo (lily of the valley)
Liana (a flowering vine)
Linden
Linnéa
Quince
Vinca

MungoBellamy · 26/05/2025 10:32

Keziah (flowering cinnamon plant) Not true. It's a name from the Bible and is pronounced Kez-eye-ah.

MungoBellamy · 26/05/2025 10:34

Heidi?

feelingbleh · 26/05/2025 10:48

user1492757084 · 24/05/2025 10:00

Think of your favourite people. Do you like their names?
Do you like the names of any rivers?

Thinking cap on ..

Floella
Lilac
Alizee
Ellen
Mary-Ellen
Rosalind
Camilla
Lilou
Clotilde
Chloe
Dahlia
Adele
Kathleen
Alice - some Liliums, Rhododendrons and Roses with Alice in their name
Alanna
Giselle
Isobel

Hope you find what you are looking for.

🤣🤣🤣 Clotilde. Come along clot you're going to be late

Sherararara · 26/05/2025 10:50

What do you do if you can’t find a name?

Just give em a number until you can come up with something better.

feelingbleh · 26/05/2025 10:50

What about Quinn, Lily, Sophia, Hallie

OopsieeDaisy · 26/05/2025 14:22

How about Lucia?

TinyFlamingo · 26/05/2025 16:08

I love Ophelia. But I love Shakespeare names 👶🏻💖

What about Rose, instead of Rosie?

Tbh, if go with flower names and then see if they pair nicely with your other daughters name, if they go as a set. A friend has Isobel and Ivy for example. Another has Rose and Olive.

I'd see if this brings you inspiration!

My great Grandmother was Primrose Violet

You could do Violet/Viola keeping with flower/Shakespeare ;)

What's your first daughter's name, it might help with inspo

Bamboozledbylife · 26/05/2025 16:12

purplespink · 25/05/2025 21:44

Okay so,

DD1’s name has been suggested a few times at least Grin I came up with a list of names I like and DH vetoed all of them. DH suggested about six and I really didn’t like any of them Sad there is a name that we both like but don’t love and I have a feeling that’ll end up being her name. I just wish I really loved it, but my top 5 DH doesn’t like and I wouldn’t force it because his suggestions were really not something I would want to call my DD.

We were the same about dd2. Had names I liked, dp didn't and vice versa. But when she was born the name dp loved and I didn't like, suddenly just fit. She looked like the name and it just suited her.
Don't worry too much, have a list and one will fit her x

Dogaredabomb · 26/05/2025 16:17

harijes · 25/05/2025 21:41

@Norastroud totally agree.

I had picked a girl and boy name. DH announced the name to staff and I broke down. We called her something entirely different.

just enjoy her, snuggle her and it will come to you.

ours was Maisie.

from jemima.

I like Jemima very much 😂

blacksantanapkin · 26/05/2025 16:23

Cecelia
Beatrice
Ottilie
Emilia
Harriet
Isobel
Elise
Evie
Edith
Lucia
Naomi

Littlejellyuk · 26/05/2025 16:27

purplespink · 25/05/2025 21:44

Okay so,

DD1’s name has been suggested a few times at least Grin I came up with a list of names I like and DH vetoed all of them. DH suggested about six and I really didn’t like any of them Sad there is a name that we both like but don’t love and I have a feeling that’ll end up being her name. I just wish I really loved it, but my top 5 DH doesn’t like and I wouldn’t force it because his suggestions were really not something I would want to call my DD.

I haven't rtft yet, but i will.
Names that first sprang to mind with the letter i in for me were:

Lily
Ottilie
Tilly
Emilia
Daisy
Genevieve
Iris
Dahlia
Delilah
Jasmine
Violet.
Aphrodite

Edited, as forgot to say, my baby was going to be named Penelope if she was a girl, but we had a boy 😆

Emmz1510 · 26/05/2025 16:28

Don’t overthink it. A name will come to you, even if it’s not until you meet her.

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