Camilla - people's view...

[kimfreeb]

If our little one turns out to be a girl we are toying with the idea of Camilla for a girl with a view to possibly shortening it to Milly when young.

What are your views on it - i think its a really pretty name but aware it could be a bit polarising... what do you think?

[cumbria81]

I really like it - v pretty

[whatwasthatagain]

I think Camilla is a lovely name.

[cumbria81]

but not Milly, I'm afraid. Too twee.

[padraig]

Don't like Milly at all, definitely too twee.

As for Camilla, I just think of the horse frequently seen beside Prince Charles, sorry.

[debaronz]

I think it's fine.

[Violet5]

I really like Camilla and Camille

[doireallywant3]

i really love it. i wanted to do exactly the same as you... shorten to milly. DH vetoed me and we now have sophia (fifi for short). maybe if our next one is a girl we will have camilla.

[padraig]

Fifi sounds like a poodle.

Horrible horrible name.

[MamaLazarou]

Love Camilla - and Camille - but can't stand Milly.

[traceybath]

I used to really like it but camilla parker-bowles puts me off it a bit.

I prefer camille.

[APassionateWoman]

Prefer Camille.

I also like Cammelia.

Camilla, I'm afraid, has the Parker-Bowles connotation for me, or else just makes me think of unattrctive, Sloaney types.

[RibenaBerry]

Camilla is nice, doesn't make me think CPB, but does make me think of those posh/public school types in ballet pumps, pearls and jumpers over their shoulders.

Camille is gorgeous.

Not a big fan of Milly/Tilly/Molly type names, so I'm not the best person to ask about the nn.

[chipmonkey]

OMG,padraig, that was rude! After doireallywant3 tells you her dd's name, you say it's horrible!

Such a coincidence, we were discussing Camilla in work this morning, as it's the name of ds's ENT doctor. The consensus here in Dublin is that it's a bit jolly hockey-sticks!

I love Millie!

[padraig]

Funny how you didn't correct me and say Fifi doesn't sound like a poodle's name

[nohockeysticks]

My name is Camilla (have namechanged to say this) and nobody ever calls me Milly. I do get called Cam, Cammy, Mils etc on an irregular basis by friends (have never encouraged this but don't mind it at all) -- but cannot recall anyone ever using Milly, fwiw. And I am half Scottish, half American, not posh at all.

People do constantly mention Parker-Bowles ; can't imagine that would still be a problem by the time your DD grows up, though.

[currycrazy]

love it! my sister is called camilla.she is 16....i have always said i wish mum and dad had called me camilla instead!!!

camille is also lovely

[chipmonkey]

No, Fifi is Bob Geldof's daughter's name, never yet met a poodle called it outside of Bunty magazine! I do think it's cute for a very little girl but probably wouldn't use it past the age of 6.
I just don't think you should have slagged her dd's name off to her ( virtual!) face when she hadn't asked anyone's opinion on it.

[5DollarShake]

I thought potential names were fair game for honest opinions, but that it's really uncalled for to be so frank on names that have actually been bestowed?

Camilla - I like it, although yes, it does have vairrr posh connotations...

[padraig]

That's the trouble with the internet though isn't it

[Prinpo]

Agree about CPB connotations. Go for Camille - it's beautiful.

[AbsOfCroissant]

Prefer Camille. Like the others, Camilla is now forever associated in my mind with Horse Face.

And, Camille could be shortened to Cami or something which is cute

[milly987]

I am Camilla, have been Milly for short since university (I didn't start it, but I encouraged it after many years at school of being teased mercilessly for my name!)

I now go by Milly in everything except a professional capacity, don't think it's "twee" just think it's slightly easier to live with on a daily basis.

However, for a kid being born now, they won't get the Camilla Parker-Bowles connection anything like as much as I did (am 26 now).

I think it's a great name, but has always seemed to me like a name I will "grow into" more than most other people had to.

Oh, and do decide on a nickname early on. Because trying at 18 to change what your friends call you, or trying to cope with two sets of people calling you two separate things, is tricky!!

Best of luck with deciding! xx

[milly987]

Oh, and FWIW, to those suggesting Cammy/Cami - children will rhyme this with Clammy and you will be Clammy Cammy....IME.

Milly and Millie and Mils are okay.

[GladioliBuckets]

I prefer Camille. I'm not into public school kind of names and Camille has a bit more continental allure, think Greta Garbo too.