A mum -to-be sparks debate after fearing the baby name she's picked is 'horribly ugly' - and many agree.
The woman took to social media to ponder whether her top name choice was truly awful or not.
Posting on Mumsnet the mum said she already had a daughter named Tabitha and was planning on naming her unborn baby girl "Winnie' but wanted to know if it was ok to put 'Winifred' on her birth certificate - even though she admits she thinks it's a bit 'witchy'.
She said: "Winifred.
"I know it's a bit ugly. But I like it anyway. And Winnie is one of my all time favourite girl's names.
"I'm not asking for opinions on Winnie. I couldn't care less if everyone said Winnie was the worst name they've ever heard, I'd still adore it! So only answer about Winifred please. (Or say what you want about Winnie, I don't care, but it will essentially be a waste of your energy typing! Ha ha.)
"I don't want to use nicknames on birth certificates mainly because my other children have long, full names, so using just Winnie would seem a little insubstantial in comparison. But is Winifred TOO ugly?
"I love that it's a saint name. I ADORE that she can be Winnie. But part of me still thinks the full name is just too much.
"Is Winifred like... a Dorothy or Edith of a name? These names both sounded awful when I first heard them, but they started to grow on me as they got more popular and now they´re more familiar sounding and I know beautiful little girls with these names, and it's saved the names for me. I love them both now!
"Or is Winifred a Gertrude of a name - eternally ugly and never ready for a comeback?
"My final question: one of Winnie´s siblings would be Tabitha. Is this too witchy of a combination?"
Other parents were quick to agree the name was ugly.
One said: "I wouldn't like to be called Winifred and I think it's worse than Dorothy or Edith.
"I'd put Winnie on the birth certificate."
Another said: "Sorry but yes Winifred is in Gertrude territory…Tabitha is lovely, I’d feel very shortchanged if my sister was Tabitha and I was Winifred."
"For me, I think it's a particularly ugly name. Some names grow on you, but that one never will," said another.
A fourth added: "Personally I think Winifred is old fashioned but not in a good way. I like Winnie though it's cute."
"Sorry it’s akin with Gertrude for me (ugly and old fashioned) - don’t saddle the poor kid with Winifred when her sister has a pretty name like Tabitha. Also can’t help immediately thinking of Winnie the Witch," added a fifth.
However some liked Winifred. One said: "I think Winnifred is better than Winnie- don't put just Winnie on the birth certificate! It's OK verbally, but written down it just makes me want to add, 'the Pooh'.
Another added: "I like winifred . It’s a very sensible name. However, I absolutely love love love Winifred and Tabitha together."
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