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Choosing your name

(153 Posts)
NanKate Thu 26-Feb-26 07:34:56

If you weren’t called your designated name, what would you prefer to be called ?

I would prefer Helen, which is my middle name.

Greenfinch Thu 26-Feb-26 07:40:27

My mother considered the name Sarah for me which I would have much preferred to the one I got landed with!

kittylester Thu 26-Feb-26 07:40:31

I think Helen would suit you NanKate.

I have never considered a different name for myself - I'll give it some thought.

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 26-Feb-26 07:47:07

I am called by a different name from my given name. People are surprised when they see the name on official documents.
I like to think of myself as a woman of mystery,.

Grandma70s Thu 26-Feb-26 08:08:03

I don’t mind my name, but I’d like something a bit more unusual. My parents considered Catriona, which I’d have liked, and also Alison, which I would not have liked. It sounds too sensible, but perhaps that’s a reflection of the people I’ve known with that name.

My grandchildren have three forenames each. That gives them plenty of choice.

Ladyleftfieldlover Thu 26-Feb-26 08:19:09

I was my parent's first child and the first grandchild. They spent so long choosing my name - it’s French and people spell it wrong - that I only have one Christian name. My children have three names each as does my granddaughter.

AGAA4 Thu 26-Feb-26 08:24:21

I'm just used to my name so haven't thought about changing it. My parents called by my second name when I was a child and I liked that name more.

Fallingstar Thu 26-Feb-26 08:31:27

I quite like my name but always liked the name Constance, not sure why.

Guesswhat Thu 26-Feb-26 08:48:24

When I was a child, I had a doll that I named Rosemary. I thought it was the prettiest name ever. Why hadn’t my parents given me a lovely name like that?

I still wouldn’t mind being called Rosemary, but I think I prefer Gabrielle now.

I bet I would have had a racier, more exciting life with such a name!

My chapel-going mother and father would never have entertained the idea though blush.

Grandma70s Thu 26-Feb-26 08:51:11

Fallingstar

I quite like my name but always liked the name Constance, not sure why.

My mother’s best friend was called Constance, and so is my granddaughter’s. I don’t remember any Constances in my generation or among my children’s friends.

Greenfinch Thu 26-Feb-26 08:51:15

I named my favourite doll Jill. I would have liked that name too.

Gran22boys Thu 26-Feb-26 08:55:35

I love so many girls’ names. My favourites are Rose, Madeleine and Eleanor. When I was young, after watching flamenco dancing, I wanted to be called Carmen. But I don’t mind my name. However it is of its time and not used for children nowadays.

Calendargirl Thu 26-Feb-26 09:00:23

I’ve never liked my name.

Dated, but not old fashioned enough to be trendy. It wasn’t ‘of its time’ even when I was growing up.

Having said that, it’s short, one syllable, and I think it would be a good ‘second’ name for nowadays.

M0nica Thu 26-Feb-26 09:02:51

I love my name. It runs down the female line Great grandmother, grandmother, mother, daughter all have it. DD has not had children but DS & DDiL gave it to their daughter as a second name.

It is a longer name, which, in my case has never been shortened. I have a second name that I have never particularly liked, but as I nearly ended with a worse one. I am thankful for small mercys

dragonfly46 Thu 26-Feb-26 09:11:50

I love my name. My Gran wanted me to be called Dorothy after her! ( sorry to the Dorothys out there)

dragonfly46 Thu 26-Feb-26 09:14:08

I love flower names, Rose, Lily, Daisy …

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 26-Feb-26 09:15:26

Grandma70, and Fallingstar, I know of several little girls named Constance, usually called Connie.

Sarnia Thu 26-Feb-26 09:19:52

Like the OP I would have preferred my middle name of Elizabeth. This name with all its variations goes back a long way in my family.

Sago Thu 26-Feb-26 09:30:46

I always wanted an exotic name, I loved Calypso and all the lovely names of my Irish cousins but I was given a name I hated and one my stupid Mother couldn’t even pronounce properly!

As an adult I’m happier with my name particularly since it was used by the beautiful and charismatic protagonist in a TV sereis!

Gagagran Thu 26-Feb-26 09:30:54

My Dad was away in the army during WW2 when I was born and didn't see me until I was 6 months old. However he wrote and vetoed the names my Mum suggested - Nora Felicity and the alternative ones by my Aunt - Valerie Gay. Thankfully I was given two royal names and have always liked them both.

dogsmother Thu 26-Feb-26 09:42:00

As the third daughter my mother allowed her sister to choose my name. My two sisters had been given, my opinion lovely names, one very Irish and one very catholic nun. I was given what is now the now most maligned name! I have a younger sister who then got a beautiful name.
I would choose probably any of my sisters over mine. But I suppose I wouldn’t quite be me.

Cossy Thu 26-Feb-26 09:45:50

Often, family call me Lou (middle name Louise) I find my given first name of Mary pretty dull and boring!

If I had been allowed to choose I’d have chosen a dramatic name like Othelia or Desdemona Hahaha

twiglet77 Thu 26-Feb-26 09:50:40

My father got his own way with our first names, my mother was allowed to choose our middle names. She wanted to call me Leonie, which don’t much like but I prefer to the name I was given.

shysal Thu 26-Feb-26 09:53:29

I don't mind my name, it could be a lot worse! My only complaint as a child was that next door's dog had the same name.
Coincidently yesterday I was wondering what I would call a girl these days, but couldn't think of a name that I loved.

Greenfinch Thu 26-Feb-26 10:04:27

I love this thread . Thank you NanKate.
I wish I had studied my family history before having my daughter as there are some beautiful family names I could have used: Isabella, Sarah Jane, Kirsty and Lexy (short for the Scottish Alexandrina) I could have used.