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Baby names

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Original poster

shortlist of girl's names- please could I have your comments?

59 replies

penelopestrawberry · 07/09/2009 16:59

We are trying to put together a shortlist for a baby girl. I had been v keen on Penelope but have had a couple of negative comments from family/ friends. It's still on the list but I have quite a few others on there too! We prefer something fairly unusual.

Penelope
Allegra
Vivian
Isadora
Genevieve
Francesca

Which do you all like/dislike?

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said · 07/09/2009 17:00

Penelope -like as Penny
Allegra - um, no, not really. Sort of ok
Vivian - NO
Isadora - trying too hard
Genevieve - like
Francesca - like

ScummyMummy · 07/09/2009 17:00

I like Francesca. I think Fran and Frankie are both great nicknames too.

catinthehat2 · 07/09/2009 17:13

Vivian - YES! Love it, and very unusual.

Original poster
penelopestrawberry · 07/09/2009 17:51

Said- I'm least sure about Isadora. Sometimes I think it is a bit too pretty!

OP posts:
janeite · 07/09/2009 17:53

I love Vivienne (this spelling) and Isadora.

diddl · 07/09/2009 17:55

Like Genevieve and Francesca.

MamaLazarou · 07/09/2009 18:09

I like them all - you have very good taste, IMO! I prefer the original French spelling of Genevieve.

jellybeans · 07/09/2009 18:12

Penelope DISLIKE
Allegra LIKE
Vivian HATE
Isadora LIKE
Genevieve OK
Francesca OK

boundarybabe · 07/09/2009 18:16

I could be wrong but is Vivian the male spelling and Vivienne the female? I like it anyway.

catinthehat2 · 07/09/2009 18:30

Well the Vivian I knew was a girl, and I do like that spelling. Vivienne would be pronounced differently. Also, Vivian is a bit girly for a boy IMHO.

mathanxiety · 07/09/2009 18:31

Penelope and Isadora. Allegra is the OTC name of a medicine in the US, also sounds like a car (maybe it already is a car?)

catinthehat2 · 07/09/2009 18:32

(Austin Allegro)

dizzydixies · 07/09/2009 18:32

love Vivienne too
Allegra - nissan car
Penelope - love as either Penny or Nell
Isadora - like
Genevieve - nice
Francesca - not to my taste

have you considered

Ismay
Cordelia
Cecelia
Celeste
Araminta
Eugenie
Beatrice

they all seem in line with your preferences?

BalloonSlayer · 07/09/2009 18:54

Vivian is the boys spelling. Vivien Leigh was christened Vivian and had to change it.

(Clive James' real name is Vivian. And if that doesn't put you off, nowt will )

There are a LOT of Francescas where we live, mainly aged 14-15 IIRC.

catinthehat2 · 07/09/2009 19:03

Interesting entry showing that while Vivian is limited to boys, Vivian is used for girls

and a few lady Vivians here

So, not exactly cut and dried and not a name to use if you follow the herd.

HerHonesty · 07/09/2009 19:26

i think they are all lovely but not personally keen on vivian

Original poster
penelopestrawberry · 07/09/2009 19:38

Would probably use Vivienne. You are all right- it is more feminine.

OP posts:
Original poster
penelopestrawberry · 07/09/2009 21:01

Thx dizzy- I like some of those a lot.
Thx MadameL too

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 07/09/2009 21:10

I love Genevieve.

Not keen on the others.

bethdivine · 07/09/2009 21:18

love francesca, also like isadora - but guessing it would probably be shortened to dora (the explorer) by other children (she would be very cool tho' my DS would love her!) so depends what you think about that.

ooh, francesca, now let's see if I can persuade DH about DC3 after all...

janeite · 07/09/2009 21:24

Ooh I like Ismay a lot.

Cadelaide · 07/09/2009 21:27

Like them all except Penelope.

Would choose isadora.

Tommy · 07/09/2009 21:30

Francesca was on our short list for DS1 - so I like that one.
I like Genevieve
I don't like the others

dizzydixies · 07/09/2009 21:42

janeite - Ismay is DD3's middle name

dogonpoints · 07/09/2009 21:55

Penelope - quite like it but might grow tired of it if I had to use it all the time and not keen on Penny

Allegra - no, car

Vivian - nice sound, quit elike this

Isadora - no, too much

Genevieve - no, too much

Francesca - it's ok, much prefer Frances but then I'm a simple sort of gal.

Vivian... it's nice