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Baby names

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

Teacher struggling with names

135 replies

ARodeoQueen · 16/08/2025 07:34

I'm 25 weeks and we don't know if I am having a boy or girl. We love old man boys names like Walter, Wilfred, Oswald but we are struggling on girls names. I really love long girls names. My favourites are Genevieve and Evangeline. The problem is I have one lovely niece and her name is Evie. So I feel that they are too close to her name.
To complicate things further me and DH are teachers. I would really like a name that I haven't taught - which narrows it down significantly. Whenever I hear a name I just picture a face of a child I've taught. If that makes sense! I want a 'new' name. It was really hard naming my son 5 years ago and this one is harder. Middle name will be Joan if it's a girl. I do like Gwen so potentially Gwendolyn or Guinervere. I'd be greatful of any suggestions. Thank you!

OP posts:
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PrincessOfPreschool · 21/09/2025 02:33

Do you mean long names in number of letters or in syllables?

Olivia is short but is 4 syllables!
Clarissa is nice, 3 syllables
Guinevere looks long but is actually only 3 syllables

mathanxiety · 21/09/2025 03:02

I'm guessing since you like Oswald you're not a history teacher.

Guinevere is lovely.

How about -
Leonora
Ariadne
Arabella
Seraphina
Isadora
Celestine

Emanwenym · 21/09/2025 12:56

@mathanxiety , Oswald of Northumbria - Wikipedia

Londonmummy66 · 21/09/2025 12:59

Aurelia Augusta Cordelia Constanza Elektra Claudia Tatiana

Artifishal · 21/09/2025 13:02

menopausalmare · 16/08/2025 08:16

Look to the 1960/1970s for names that you don't hear in the classroom. I teach too and it's very hard choosing a name that you haven't taught, everyone is familiar with and deserves a come back.
Leigh is pretty.

Will be ahead of the trends too. Names seem to go in cycles - the older names are back in fashion as people name after their grandparents (we did!). In a couple of decades it will be little Gary/Tracy/Sharon/Keiths running around eveywhere

Emanwenym · 21/09/2025 14:00

@Artifishal , the cycle is usually longer than grandparents. The names popular now like Arthur and Elsie were names popular about 100 years ago.

fairycupcakes · 21/09/2025 20:10

Oh, Guinevere Joan would be gorgeous!

I also don’t think Genevieve is too close to Evie. I knew a Genevieve who went by Vieve or Gen. Such a pretty name!
Evangeline is gorgeous but likely she would end up an Eve or Evie which would be the same as her cousin.

you might also like Vivienne!

stample · 22/09/2025 20:24

Emmeline
penny
meredith
winifred
ethel
margaret

Astrabees · 24/09/2025 16:28

Cordelia is a lovely name. I know one who uses Delia as everyday name.

Shelteringfromthestorm · 25/09/2025 12:25

I don't think Evangeline or Genevieve are too close to Evie (but might upstage Evie).

Genevieve could be shortened to Ginnie.

I also love Theodora or Rosanna.

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