Help with girls names

[emerald10]

Hello,

We're having our first baby in January and thought we'd already got ourselves sorted with two possible girl's names that we absolutely love: Ethel and Maude.

But absolutely everyone I've mentioned these names to has either gone 'ugh!' or 'what?'. I don't want her getting a negative/non-plussed reaction every time she tells someone her name!

Are they really that bad?

I also like Dora, Elsie, Violet and Dinah. My boyfriend is quite keen on Amelia with Milly as a nickname.

What do you think of these, and could you suggest any other similar names we could consider?

Thanks very much x

I love Ethel and Maude. They are both perfectly lovely names.

Violet and Amelia are popular if that bothers you.

You seem to like old lady names (me too)...

Dorothea
Beatrice
Beatrix
Iris
Enid
Mabel
Etta
Florence
Olive
Constance
Maeve
Esther
Clara
Ruth
Hannah

Rule one of naming a baby is DO NOT TELL ANYONE THE NAME YOU HAVE CHOSEN BEFORE THE BABY IS BORN.

if you love Ethel and Maude use them.

I'm not keen on Dora, or Dinah.

I love Elsie - It's fabulous.

Tehre are lots and lots of Amelias around, shortened to Milly (much nicer than Millie IMO {wink]).

I can't sigest any other names, but will tell you rule two aofnaming a baby TAKE A LOOK AT THE BABY, AND THEN DECIDE WHICH NAME SSUITS HIM/HER THEN STUFF EVERYBODY ELSE.

Well, I like Ethel, it's a nice sound. It's image problems will obviously go in time, 15 years ago Emily was considered a little like Edith would be today.

I'm not a fan of Dora, but maybe as a nickname for Dorothea? Love that.
Elsie is gorgeous. Love that one. Also like Elsa and it could be a nn for Elspeth or Elizabeth.
Violet - quite like it. Sounds a little too like violate or violent for me though. As a middle name that wouldn't bother me.
Dinah - doll from Noddy. don't like.
Amelia with Milly as a nickname - pretty but very of the moment. Just won't have any back bone in 20 years. But htat's being over critical on a names board. My niece is Amelia and I like it. And she's the only one I personally know.. Mildred could be Millie too and it's definitely sronger. You sound like you don't shy away from a good strong name!

What do you think of Dulcie, Meryl and Lois? Love all of those. Also, Winifred with Winnie for short. I love that. I also like Penny or Polly short for Penelope. Wdyt of Greta?

Hth

Maude is okay. Violet is lovely.

I really don't like Ethel, sorry - but it is nowt to do with me so choose what you like!

Others you might consider -

Vivienne
Beatrice
Cecily
Elinor
Esme
Eloise
Hester
Clover

I love Ethel adn Maude - prefer Maude slightly. Maude was no2 (standby) name for our dd 4 years ago, but we went with Pearl in the end.
Ethel is on our long list for another dc - lovely!
Dora i like only as a nn for Dorothy (but prefer Dot),
Elsie is OK, but i know a few so it has lost its shine for me.
Amelia - no way!
Violet - very sweet
Dinah - not so!

Loved show of hand suggestions - my dd1 is on there and ds was going to be Enid, but he was the wrong colour . Mabel and Etta (Juliet) - just lovely!

What I like about 'old lady' names is that they can be so plain, whereas loads of girls names come off really flowery. That is what I don't like about Amelia- I don't so much mind it being popular.

I am really fond of Mabel, Enid, Dorothy and possibly Dolores? (am thinking of a teenager with nicknames with that one- you'd get loads that she probably wouldn't mind out of Dolores...

Martha is lovely too.

agree completely with Lynette - do NOT discuss names in RL with anyone until baby is born - everyone has an opinion and thinks they have a say

Ethel and Maude are both old lady chic lovely

if you use Dora there is a VERY popular children's characted called Dora the Explorer so she'll either have tonnes of stuff with her name on it or be sick of the sight of it

Elsie is brilliant name, have you considered iit as a nn for Elspeth?

love Violet

Amelie/ Amelia are both very popular but its because they're pretty names - don't let popularity put you off using a name

others in a similar vein could be

Celeste
Ruby
Beryl
Rita
Jean
Isa
Edith
Nell
Cordelia
Cecelia - love Cecelia nn Cece

good luck with whatever you choose

Ethel, Maude, Doris, Elsie and others of that period are ugly. I haven't found a single old lady who likes them! My great Aunt Ethel was always called Eth. Great Aunt Elsie called herself something else completely-she had from childhood and very few people knew she was Elsie. The Doris I know has a nickname.

Vivienne
Dorothy nn Dot

I think the best name on here is from janeite's list - Hester. Beautiful but certainly not overly girly. And much more attractive than Enid, Ethel and Maude which imo are ugly - they have a 'harsh' sound to me.

It's gorgeous isn't it? I have only ever met one Hester (sadly dead now - far too young) but she was the most lovely woman. It is a gentle sounding name I think.

I love Maude but not so keen on Ethel. Maude is a version of Matilda - not sure whether you like that ? Lots of nn possibilities

I really like Elsie from your list. There seem to be a fair few Millie's around

Other suggestions-

Florence
Edith
Greta
Beatrice
Edna
Enid
Bridget

I like yur choices.

I love Dorothy.

may I offer Dilys?

Our choice for a girl, we had boys, but you may use it if you wish.

exactly janeite - it's gentle without being 'girly'. Love it. Want a girl just to name them Hester now!

It is lovely, but I've got a good friend with a baby Esther so it's definitely out. From the same list I also love Clover- What Katy Did anyone?

Greta is lovely as is Mildred but sadly that one has already been vetoed by the boyfriend.

Thanks all and glad so many of you like the names!

Actually, I really love the name Emerald!!!

Bertie Wooster was in love with Emerald Stoker (PG Wodehouse) She was a corker, apparently

I love What Katy Did.

Also Harriet - Tom's Midnight Garden
Charlotte - Charlotte Sometimes
Posy - Ballet Shoes

Oh - i love Jeeves and Wooster - how about Dahlia?

I would class them as 'old lady' too, sorry but Elsie is not quite so bad or Mabel. Millie OK but very overused.