Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Aphra - what do you think

49 replies

tummytickler · 20/03/2009 14:15

well the title says it all really!
What do you think of the name Aphra for a bab y girl? It will be our fifth baby (but still ttc!), and one of my ds has an 'A' name, which worries me a little but . . . maybe not too much!
It is the first name of the first female to be published in the seventeenth century and i rather like that history - so opinions please!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Miamla · 20/03/2009 14:16

i've got a friend called aphra, lovely name, go for it

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 20/03/2009 14:16

Aphra Benn - great role model for a girl, why not?

Bluestocking · 20/03/2009 14:26

Aphra Behn. Most impressive woman and fine role model. Lovely name too.

midnightexpress · 20/03/2009 14:34

I like it. Sounds vaguely New England puritanical to me, iykwim, but nice. Unusual, and if you have four already, I wouldn't worry about one of them having an A name too.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 20/03/2009 14:59

Pah, Bluestocking, you are correct! Bet she spelt her name loads of different ways though!

ShowOfHands · 20/03/2009 15:01

Aphra Behn a fabulous namesake imo.

Good name on its own without the connotations.

PuppyMonkey · 20/03/2009 15:04

Never heard of the name or read this amazing book.. So that makes me unbiased doesn't it? In that case, I don't like it at all... sorry!

Blackduck · 20/03/2009 15:32

I love it! but am biased as wrote a PhD on the woman!

mloo · 20/03/2009 15:37

I don't like it, sounds like "Afro", the hairstyle of the 1970s.

RachieB · 20/03/2009 18:02

lol

dont like it sorry

jellybeans · 20/03/2009 21:43

I think it is OK< quite nice.

cyteen · 20/03/2009 22:03

I like it.

I used to know a girl call Afarin (she was Iranian) but for ages I thought it was spelled Aphren. Either way it is also quite pretty.

ClaudiaSchiffer · 20/03/2009 22:36

Love it

Leannabanana · 21/03/2009 21:42

aphra-cadabra? thats what i hear.....sorry x

Chaotica · 21/03/2009 21:43

I like it.

blithedance · 21/03/2009 21:50

It's great, I knew the provenance too.

(Adds to wish-I'd-thought-of-it-not-that-there'll-be-a-chance-to-use-it list!)

Simplysally · 21/03/2009 21:52

People will spell it Afra but other than that.... your choice.

ickletickle · 21/03/2009 21:55

no.

MediaLaunch · 21/03/2009 21:57

I think it's fab and if I were only to be granted the gift of another girl ....

elliott · 21/03/2009 22:03

I know one and for a long time assumed that it was a form of 'aphrodite'. It took a long time before I discovered where it really came from. I'd always thought 'hmm that's unusual' but quite liked it (she is a fab girl which helps) - but no more outlandish than a lot of names I've heard!

MarchNowFebMum · 22/03/2009 19:37

how do you pronounce? is it ahh-frah? if so I hear afro

MargotBeauregardesGavel · 23/03/2009 12:24

I know of one, so I don't think it's really odd or anything, I just don't love it. But it's not a bad choice iykwim.

Umlellala · 30/04/2009 22:33

Yes, it's a great name!

Original poster
tummytickler · 30/04/2009 22:43

Oh - I love Aphracadabra!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe that could be on the birth certificate and we could call her Aphra for short .
But really - that is a fabby nickname!

OP posts:
SuziSeis · 30/04/2009 22:44

absolutely lovely!