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Original poster

Is Portia too weird a name for my baby girl? Sanity check...

103 replies

Apteryx · 19/06/2006 05:26

Hi,
I am thinking of naming our impending daughter Portia. I've always loved the name, but I have some reservations about it being too "out there", or her being hassled with tedious comments about it being like the car - Porsche.
What do Mumsnetters think?

OP posts:

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suzywong · 19/06/2006 05:47

you will be besieged by tedious comments that's for sure, if you think you can handle constantly rebuffing them then go for it.

Will you be replying; " Actually like the Shakespearian Heroine" or "Like the skinny bird in Ally McBeal"?

satine · 19/06/2006 07:10

Beautiful name. I was at school with a girl called Mercedes and after about a week, no-one batted an eyelid and I still think of it as a nice name. Go for it!

FrannyandZooey · 19/06/2006 07:52

I think if you feel annoyed at the mere thought of correcting people or explaining the name, best to pick something more straightforward.

It is a pretty name, though.

WelshBoris · 19/06/2006 07:54

poncey

CarolinaMoose · 19/06/2006 07:58

lol suzywong

I think it's a lovely name. Maybe one to yell in Waitrose rather than Kwiksave, but nice all the same .

Esmummy · 19/06/2006 08:00

Say it how it is WB

Personally not something I would choose but like others have said, if you're not going to get bored with the constant comments (good & bad) then go for it.

cataloguequeen · 19/06/2006 08:00

If you love it use it I say...It's lovely imo

saadia · 19/06/2006 08:04

I think it's nice. I think nowadays people are opting for more unusual names so it won't be that much of a talking point.

foundintranslation · 19/06/2006 08:06

I wouldn't use it over here in car-obsessed Germany :) - but I like it.

purpleturtle · 19/06/2006 08:39

I've known a couple of people called Portia. The important thing is you like it.

ScummyMummy · 19/06/2006 08:40

not keen personally but don't think it's that unusual. If you like it then go for it!

mazzystar · 19/06/2006 08:42

I like it. Its not outrageous, just ever-so slightly posh.

Tortington · 19/06/2006 08:44

if you haven't got an essex accent then go for it - some names and some accents shouldn't go together.

imagine yourself shouting them in for tea "POOOOOOOOORTTTTTTTTIA"

how does it sound?

Mud · 19/06/2006 08:53

only if you live in a country mansion, go riding and plan to send her to finishing school. in those circles it will fit in. but if you live anywhere else and earn a living rather than lice off inheritance then it will sound crap

Beetroot · 19/06/2006 09:01

Love it. Phoebe is popular now another character. and people asking will only show their own ignorance

tortoiseshell · 19/06/2006 09:04

I think it is a really pretty name. Do you bother about meanings of names? If so, you might want to look at the meaning of Portia (I think it means like a pig!). But it is a pretty name. Portia is in Merchant of Venice isn't she?

FioFio · 19/06/2006 09:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted

MrsBadger · 19/06/2006 09:06

Love it, but IME, as previous posters have said, it does have slightly posh connotations. If this doesn't bother you or you actually are slightly posh then go for it.

pmsl at CarolinaMoose's social shorthand - 'one to yell in Waitrose rather than Kwiksave'

loujay · 19/06/2006 09:08

Beautiful name..........use it if you like it. 33 years ago my parents called my sister Jessica and everyone who they then told went.........mmmm.....thats nice.....where did you get that from!!
Names are in/out etc all the time, nice to go for something thats not run of the mill IMO

womblingalong · 19/06/2006 09:10

I say if you like it, go for it, becuase it's not made up or anything, and although it does have posh connotations, if you like it so what. I think it's really pretty, and feminine without being too girly.

fairyjay · 19/06/2006 09:11

Go for it, if you like it. Although we crossed Mercedes off our list because of car connections!

jabberwocky · 19/06/2006 09:14

I think it's a lovely name. There is an actress who used to be on Allie McBeal with that name. First time I had heard it in a while.

Gillian76 · 19/06/2006 09:15

When I had DS 3 years ago there was a baby born about the same time called Portia. IME this is not an area to call your baby Portia but she liked it and didn't give a toss.

Not my cup of tea, but it's not my baby. Nothing to do with anyone else and if you're comfortable and think your daughter will be, go for it! :)

blueshoes · 19/06/2006 09:32

like it

MarsLady · 19/06/2006 09:38

I love the name too. I went to school with a gorgeous girl called Portia. She was one of the nicest girls I ever met.

It's roots certainly don't come from Porsche. I think it's beautiful and classy. You call your baby Portia if you want to. It's not as if you're calling her Fifi Trixibelle or anything.

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