What else apart from Josephine

[Olderbutnotwiser]

could I use. Love the name Posy or Posey which i wold have as a nn and I know its short for Josephine but don't like Josephine Any suggestions?

[Takver]

Rosalind (shortened to Rosy-Posy, shortened to Posy). No odder than shortening Margaret to Peggy via Meg.
But why don't you like Josephine? I am biased as that is my dd's name! We picked it because there are so many options on shortenings and because it works well in spanish (Josefina) & french which we needed.

[msappropriate]

I never knew that Posy was short for Josephine and am sure I can't be alone. Go on; be wild and daring and use it the proper name too. My dh was always called by his nickname and really hates his proper name and could not understand why his parents bothered.

[Mavornia]

What about Primrose - probably traditionally shortened to Rosy but Posy seems a viable shortening too.

[Marina]

Mariposa - a Spanish name

[Comerscroft]

Agree with you about 'Jo'---can't bear it! Very 1970s too.

'Posy' for a given name sounds a bit twee, and little-girlish. I'd be tempted to ask 'Posy of what' (flowers)?

Also a woman, 'Posy' suggest 'Posey' (strike a pose).

[LuLuBai]

Any of the rose names: Rosemary, Rosamund, Rosalind

Or how about Primrose?

Seconding Marina, Mariposa is lovely (means 'butterfly') but you should know there is a Barbie Mariposa on the market with all sorts of associated pink paraphenalia.

or you could choose any name you like and hve Posy as a middle name

[Olderbutnotwiser]

thank you for all your suggestions. I would be brave enough to use Posy on its own as think its lovely on a little girl but i feel its too twee for an adult. Warmimg to Rosemary

[msappropriate]

Joe is fab. I loathe Joseph. I have never actually met one who is called his full name. My friend hates it too and ended up calling her son Jonah to avoid it. I just called my ds Joe. I don't like it for a girl though.

You do have to explain a lot if you have a non-obvious diminutive. My nephew has and doesn't mind explaining and spelling it to everyone it but my friends daughter has one and says it really really annoys her.

[msappropriate]

Joe is fab. I loathe Joseph. I have never actually met one who is called his full name. My friend hates it too and ended up calling her son Jonah to avoid it. I just called my ds Joe. I don't like it for a girl though.

You do have to explain a lot if you have a non-obvious diminutive. My nephew has and doesn't mind explaining and spelling it to everyone it but my friends daughter has one and says it really really annoys her.

[msappropriate]

so fab I named it twice, sorry!

[cass66]

hi. I don't like Liberty, but am considering Rosemary for my nearly due baby.

Libby is often a shorten version of Elizabeth (which I'm sure you know), which we are also considering. although I like Betty as an abbreviation better.

[Flum]

Josephine is lovely:

Josie, JoJo, never heard Posy as a shortening theough

[TheOldestCat]

My DD is Josie (Josephine); I've never heard of Posy as a diminutive either. You can always learn something on Mumsnet!

Posy makes me think of Primrose or Rosemary. Or Posy Simmonds - wonder what her name is short for?