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Baby names

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

Original poster

Wilhelmina?

31 replies

stinkypinky · 27/03/2010 10:48

Not sure of gender - due in 3 weeks.
Was originally thinking of Willow, but thinking Wilhelmina has more options for nicknames, more 'grown up' etc...
Honest opinions please.

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caen · 27/03/2010 11:06

Don't do it please; it's too much. What about something like Henrietta? Same kind of feel but far prettier.

DinahRod · 27/03/2010 11:31

Actually am not adverse (particularly if Willow is the other option) only I don't like Willie as a nn. What nn options were you going to use?

Can you hear yourself calling out Wilhelmina in the supermarket, though?

Or do you want us to confuse you and suggest other names?

PuppyMonkey · 27/03/2010 11:35

Don't. It's very bad.

Original poster
stinkypinky · 27/03/2010 11:49

I plan to never actually call her Wilhelmina (except when she is being naughty) - was thinking of Mina or Willow as nn.

Seems I actually like Willow a lot, but is it too popular or 'tree-huggy?'

I love the honesty of Mumsnet - in RL everyone has said 'lovely', but I wonder if they mean it.

If a boy, will be Solomon (Sol)

OP posts:
caen · 27/03/2010 15:01

Mina is very very cute . Willow is pretty and popular but a bit ott girly and modern for me. I'd put it in the Summer bracket. Not sure it works as a nn for Wilhelmina either.

PlumBumMum · 27/03/2010 15:05

Any time someone in our house pretends to be a witch, they call the themselves Wilhelmina

Although Willow is lovely

fliight · 27/03/2010 15:08

It's really nice. I like it

SpeedyGonzalez · 27/03/2010 15:12

I don't like it. Also makes me think of Wilhelmina Slater (Ugly Betty - utterly brilliant character, but not one to aspire to!) or that woman from Buck Rogers - remember that?

I do like Willow, though, and though it is a bit tree-huggy I think it's in a nice way, unlike Orion or Rainbow. Mina I think is also lovely - I know a little girl with this name.

I've never met/ heard of a RL Willow, wouldn't call it 'popular' at all, but maybe I'm moving in the wrong circles!

But I wouldn't call my daughter Wilhelmina in order to shorten it to Willow; I'd just go straight for Willow. Will it work with your surname?

dizzydixies · 27/03/2010 15:21

Willow, please just Willow

bellissima · 27/03/2010 15:37

Sounds like a thunderous Wagnerian name (or okay a Dutch Queen's name). nope. In fact I forsee problems with both Wilhelmina, if she is willowy, and Willow if, well, she aint.

not being very helpful sorry.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/03/2010 15:37

In Malory Towers there was a Wilhelmina and she was called Bill.

Just a thought

mathanxiety · 27/03/2010 17:10

I love it. But I also love Hilda and Hildegard and even started warming to Brunhilda after seeing it on a thread (and meeting a little 18 month old one). I like the NN potential of Wilhelmina. It sounds softer and a good deal more feminine than most older Germanic type names. (Sounds a bit like Solomon with all those Ls and Ms too) So I say go for it.

schroedingersdodo · 27/03/2010 17:22

I like it and it reminds me of Dracula (the heroine, Mina, is Wilhelmina). It's in my list of names that I think are very nice but probably wouldn't dare to use

piscesmoon · 27/03/2010 17:40

Hate it!

Original poster
stinkypinky · 27/03/2010 18:58

Daddy has just confessed to why he likes it so much (big Dracula fan)
Thank you Schroedingersdodo!

He is adament that he wants Wilhelmina (nn Billy)

Willow is one of many 'officially recognised' shortenings of the name.

Surname is fine with it as quite simple.

Glad a couple of you guys like it at least

OP posts:
DorotheaPlenticlew · 27/03/2010 19:11

Loads of these in my family tree (all had the NN Mina, apparently) -- it was very popular in Scotland in the late 19th century and very early 20th. I therefore think of it as old-fashioned, not that there's anything wrong with that.

I do like Mina as a nn, but not so keen on Billy tbh (regardless of gender).

AliGrylls · 27/03/2010 19:14

Or it could be abbreviated to Wilma - I love the name but that is because I had a great aunt who was lovely and was called Wilma. I would not do it as a first name. Maybe as a middle.

mathanxiety · 28/03/2010 00:18

Billie is nice -- I like it more than Billy. Willa (like Willa Cather) is another possibility.

nooka · 28/03/2010 02:34

I think it's great for nicknames (Mina being my favourite), but not a very nice name in itself. It's definitely more flexible than Willow.

gmtbst · 28/03/2010 10:47

I like Willow

thesecondcoming · 28/03/2010 11:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RumourOfAHurricane · 28/03/2010 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nbee84 · 28/03/2010 11:44

I only know one Wilhelmina - and she's referred to as Willie. Every time I hear it I cringe inside!

Original poster
stinkypinky · 28/03/2010 11:53

Shineoncrazydiamond - DH loves it, and I chose DDs name(he accepted it)I would not 'use it in full' much, as it sounds a bit posh, and DD has a two syllable name. We are not posh.

nbee84 I think Willie would be great!

DD wants to call her Susan.

Thank you all for your comments

OP posts:
ShadeofViolet · 28/03/2010 11:56

She will get called willy at school.

Please dont do it to her.