Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Rosa 2025

26 replies

Enfield77 · 01/06/2025 10:44

Hi, please can we have your thoughts, good and bad, on the question below.
Baby girl due imminently. We already have a 3yo boy.
Thinking of Rosa as first name. Second name less important atm.

Short name. Has to be short as have a long surname
Not too common so hopefully only girl in her class with that name.
Common enough that people can pronounce and spell ok.
We've been looking at lists of the most popular (top 100) names in recent years and it hasnt been in there which is good.
Like the sound of the name and the meaning (Rose)

Could get shortened to Ro Rose and Rosie are very popular in recent years looking at the lists and people could confuse the names Rosie sounds quite child like and Rose is a bit old fashioned Could be a bit too unusual and posh sounding - trying too hard. We live in London now but we're both from small towns outside London and our daughter may not always live in Londin.

Do you come across the name often?

Any experience of knowing children and adults living with the name in England?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Butterflyfern · 01/06/2025 10:46

There's two Rosa's in the baby group I go to in my mid size Midlands town. Both around 6months old. Don't know if that's an anomaly or indicative of its recent popularity obviously

WildCherryBlossom · 01/06/2025 10:55

Rosa is gorgeous. I don’t know any school age Rosas (the occasional Rose)

other shortish options:
Nina
Ines
Clara
Lara
Georgia
Tara

Constantlyworried1 · 01/06/2025 11:02

Mia , Tilly , Lottie. Rosa is very pretty .

MovingBird123 · 01/06/2025 11:05

Rosa doesn't sound unusual or posh, and Rose definitely isn't old fashioned! If you like it, go for it. People will cope.

Pemba · 01/06/2025 12:22

Yes Rosa is my favourite of your options and slightly more unusual. Plus you have the flexibility of shortening it from Rosa to Rose or Rosie when she's little, if you want to or your daughter does. Not the other way round iyswim.

WtafIsThat · 01/06/2025 14:27

I don’t think it’s that unusual as it comes up on this board quote a lot. I know two.

Moreteaandchocolate · 01/06/2025 14:54

Rosa is lovely, I only know of one who is 13. I know several Rosie’s of different ages. I think it’s a lovely classy classic, and not too overused.

Pemba · 01/06/2025 14:58

@WtafIsThat I only thought 'slightly' more unusual. Well maybe not now then. I am going by DD (early 30s) who knew several Rosies around her age. Plus everyone was familiar with Rose in Doctor Who, beginning with the first of the new series in 2005. And every other baby girl seems to have Rose as a middle name, this seems to be ongoing. Whereas I've never met a Rosa, I don't think.

I will accept that I'm out of touch though.
😊I do think Rosa is a more elegant option.

Firebird83 · 01/06/2025 17:05

My DD has two Rosas in her nursery class, although one is short for Rosanna

Enfield77 · 01/06/2025 18:18

Thanks all! Really good feedback! Its always good to get second opinions. If anyone else has any other thoughts then please go ahead and share.

OP posts:
Firsttimebabymummy · 01/06/2025 20:45

Really like it. Very pretty name to suit baby and adult. I work in a nursery and attend baby groups and yet to meet a Rosa.

ChocolateGanache · 01/06/2025 21:19

I know 3 Rosas.

VibeCurator · 01/06/2025 21:25

I looked on the dark greener website and seems it was number 103 in 2023 so may have crept into the top 100 by now. But still pretty uncommon. I really like it and don’t think it sounds posh or try-hard at all. Simple, feminine and elegant.

AnneMarieW · 01/06/2025 22:36

No, never met a Rosa in RL. It feels similar to Elena to me - names I’m familiar with from books and TV as international names that seem especially popular in Hispanic countries or the US, but pretty and simple and obviously fine to use in the UK too.

Rose is completely different - an “English” classic, fairly timeless and reasonably popular. I don’t think it’s old fashioned as I know a few in varying age groups. I also don’t mind popularity in theory as there are benefits to it and I appreciate the elegant simplicity and romantic feel of Rose.

Rosie as a given name is different again - while I know there must be older ones about, I’ve mainly encountered it on the under 20’s. It’s a bit “cute” sounding for my personal taste.

ETA: As for other similar names to Rosa (apart from Elena) - maybe Nina, Lara, Sara, Cora or Anya?

Marcipix · 01/06/2025 22:40

I love it and don’t know of any.
They’re all still being called Aylaislaelsielolalayla-Mae round here.

salcombebabe · 01/06/2025 22:54

One of my oldest friends is called Rosa and comes from an Italian family! It's a lovely name and not much heard of

Snoodley · 01/06/2025 23:02

We're in London and only know one preschool Rosa. I think it's a great name 🙂

Similar names might be
Cora
Cara
Nina
Thea
Etta
Ida

Adams459 · 05/06/2025 15:12

We’ve just called our baby Rosa, so am biased but love it 💖

Mimilamore · 05/06/2025 19:27

Beautiful name 💐

westcott · 05/06/2025 19:29

I think Rosa a lot. Also Rosina is beautiful

Crumbelina · 05/06/2025 19:32

Go for Rosa! It's my daughter's middle name and I live in London. I don't know any others. It feels like a strong name with the connection to Rosa Parks.

mummysmagicmedicine · 05/06/2025 19:39

Surrey here and i work in paediatrics and I don’t come across many Rosa’s at all! Beautiful name and i agree with all the reasons you love it!

Some other options
Cara
Aria
Fay
Gigi
Pippa
Lara
Cove
Nora
Esme
Ivy
Wren
Tilly
Indy
Iris
Lyra
Alice
Etta
Fern
Avery
Ines
Hallie
Saskia
Opal
Lola
Lily
Enya
Eden
Stella
Tia

justgoandgetpizza · 05/06/2025 19:41

It’s nice but I’ve heard it used for a shortened form of Rosalind which I don’t like!

okydokethen · 05/06/2025 19:55

Rosa is beautiful

ChocolateCinderToffee · 05/06/2025 20:15

It's quite nice but I would go for Rosina or Rosalba and shorten it to Rosa for everyday.