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.

Harlow, Winona alternatives pleeeease

37 replies

Zebraa · 21/12/2008 20:51

DP is hoping and praying I'm just being emotionally unreasonable but I really love names like Harlow and Winona but want something not quite so well known for my little girl... any suggestions?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Jas · 21/12/2008 20:53

Harlow is a (not very nice) town. Why would you want to call a child after it, or am I missing something?

CrackopentheBaileys · 21/12/2008 20:54

willow?

btw harlow isn't well known..... I've never heard it before!

thisisyesterday · 21/12/2008 20:54

i really like Winona, i think i had it on my girls list for ds1.

Harlow am not sure about because it reminds me a bit of Harlem and a bit of Harlot.

BUT... i don';t htink other people's opinions really matter, you should call your baby somethign you love.
although, obv your dp should get a say too!

how about Arlo for a boy? or Harley?

Zebraa · 21/12/2008 20:56

I love Winona but in DP's words "we are not naming our daughter after a criminal, failed actress"

OP posts:
misdee · 21/12/2008 20:59

Harlow is a place in essex. dont call your kid that name, unless you are a nicole ritchie wannabe.

paolosgirl · 21/12/2008 21:00

Agree with your DP, Zebraa!

Harlow is a surname - and also the name of Nicole Richie's (or someone similar) daughter. Is that something you want to emulate?

How unusual do you want her name to be?

Zebraa · 21/12/2008 21:02

Let me explain, I don't want to call her Harlow, but I want something along these lines. I love Winona, something a bit quirky but simple...

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 21/12/2008 21:03

I love Winona but in DP's words "we are not naming our daughter after a criminal, failed actress"

but, youi wouldn't be, would you? you'd just be giving her a name you like. unless you are a WR fan???
i mean, ds2 is called Gabriel, but he isn't named after an angel, or an actor. we just liked the name.

paolosgirl · 21/12/2008 21:07

I think when there is a very strong connotation with a name it's hard to avoid the link though, thisis - esp. when it's perhaps a less than desirable link a la Winona.

My old boss was called Gabriel - he certainly used to make references to the angel, in a tongue in cheek way. Impossible not to really.

LiffeySaysNollaigShona · 21/12/2008 21:13

I suggest quirky names like Olga or Margot or Winnie/Winifred, Meredith, Gwyneth, Olwen, Bronwen....

Harlow is so Yack and will date terribly. If you're going to do a town get out the atlas and pick anything that sounds nice, then google it, make sure it's not Merfyr Tidfyl (sp) and then you'll be original! Everybody always uses Camden or Harlow when they do this!

Lockets · 21/12/2008 21:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

paolosgirl · 21/12/2008 21:19

Depends what you named him Lockets...if it was Evander Holyfield I can see their point

tinselroundtherock · 21/12/2008 21:19

Winifred
Wendy
Wendoline
Winnie

Or how about

Harlesden...so much more classy and a bit rad even.

wrapstar · 21/12/2008 21:23

Amicia
Sabina
Parnell
Isolda
Gelle
(all medieval English names)

LiffeySaysNollaigShona · 21/12/2008 21:24

What about Harpenden??!

Lockets · 21/12/2008 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Nancy66 · 21/12/2008 21:26

Billericay? Billy for short....

wrapstar · 21/12/2008 21:30

native american girls' names like Winona

wrapstar · 21/12/2008 21:33

Harlean is Jean Harlow's real first name

In a famous bitchy exchange, wit Margot Asquith apparently said, when called MargoT by Jean Harlow, 'no dear, the t is silent...as in 'Harlow''

LiffeySaysNollaigShona · 21/12/2008 21:35

OP, you have to use Margot. There was a reason that popped into my head in connection with Harlow I thinkk.

dizzyjingles · 21/12/2008 21:37

what about

Auden
Bronte
Pearl
Ismay
Arwyn
Blyth

any of those?

paolosgirl · 21/12/2008 21:51

No no no - Margot Leadbetter. Not good, not good....

LiffeySaysNollaigShona · 21/12/2008 21:54

I love Margo and Gerry!

paolosgirl · 21/12/2008 21:57

Yes - fab comedy characters (esp the one where she was helping Barbara and Tom pick their veg and slipped in the mud!) - but do you want your child to be named after (sorry Lockets! ) Margot Leadbetter?!

LiffeySaysNollaigShona · 21/12/2008 21:59

I em, called my dd Margot!!! I love it. People say to me sometimes, after Margot Fontene? And I say gosh no after my heroine, Margo Ledbetter. I was tempted to call myson Gerry.