Daphne or Josephine?

[MissHavishamsDress]

I love both but dh feels that Josephine is too commonplace and we might fight over nicknames, as I love Posy and he doesn't. He favours Daphne. Which do you prefer?

Do you know any young girls with either name?

[belgo]

Josephine too commonplace? Where do you live?

Delphine is nice. Daphne is just awful.

[boogeek]

Daphne is lovely and uncommon

[LetThereBeRock]

Definitely Josephine. Daphne is utterly hideous.

[Tortington]

i have a neighbour called daphne - we (secretly) refer to her as Daffers

[MrToad]

There is a little Daphne at playgroup, known as "Daff". There have been many faces and comments about the name, even though we live in an area where all the kids have unusual names.

[MissHavishamsDress]

I like Delphine too belgo but my gut instince tells me the 'ine' makes it sound a bit cheap. Don't know why. Prefer Delphi. Don't know why not the same with Josephine.

Daphne is not awful; lovely, very elegant.

[Takver]

I have a Josephine, nn Josie - so far I've met one other little girl called Josie (not as a nn), and none others called Josephine in full.

Daphne is also a nice name, though.

[Takver]

Of course, I have met a fair few adults called Josephine/Josie/Jo - but it doesn't seem particularly well used at the moment.

[onimolap]

Daphne is the generic name for new young female officers of the British Army (the male equivalent is Rupert).

I know one dog called Daphne, and one lady over pension age. I've never (knowingly) met a Josephine, but it's quite possible it's the full version of some of the Jo's I know (aged 30 and 40s). It's also the name of the main character in the Chalet School books.

I like Posy; were you thinking of it as a free-standing name, or a nn for something?

[Caoimhe]

Not Daphne - no way - it's for Great-Grannies, dogs and Scooby Doo.

Josephine is lovely - I don't know any little Josephines.

[DilysPrice]

Either is fine, but when you put them together I am reminded irresistably of Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon in Some Like It Hot. So don't be tempted to use them both.

[MissHavishamsDress]

Interesting onimolap, didn't know that re the female officers.

Posy would be a nn for Josephine. But dh not keen on it.

[Takver]

Several other nns, though - Josie, Jo, Feenie, Seph

[MissHavishamsDress]

Caoimhe, great-granny names are the ones to pick now. Think of Ruby etc.

[MissHavishamsDress]

Dilys, is that what Tony & Jack were called in 'Some Like it Hot?'

[onimolap]

You might also want to have a look here at Tottering-by-Gently: I think this Daffy is fabulous (and probably what the Army Daphnes turn into).

[SoupDragon]

Not Daphne. It's a dreadful, weak name for someone who faints at the drop of a hat.

[Caoimhe]

Oh yes MissHavishamsdress - I know several Rubys, Mollys etc. I'm sure even Ethel and Myrtle must be making an appearance!!

Don't know why but Daphne just sets my teeth on edge but love Josephine.

[DilysPrice]

Yes I think so MissH, can't quite remember which was which.

[Showaddywaddy]

I think Josephine is increasing in popularity but it's certainly not commonplace at all. I love it and if I ever had another dd, she'd be Josephine. I like Phin as a nickname.

I do not like Daphne at all. It's hideous.

[MissHavishamsDress]

Funny Soup, I see Daphne as an extremely vivacious, upbeat kind of name
Listen to this 'Daphne' by Django Reinhart:

Here she's a Charleston-dancing 20/30s minx.

[BikeRunSki]

Josephine - Absolutely lovely
Daphne - Horrid. Will always be the physio in Frazier to me.

Don't knoe any babies with either name though.

[A1980]

Josephine is nice: I like Josie as a nickname, it's cute.

Daphne is horrible. It also reminds me of the course DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) for type 1 diabetics.

Have you thought about Stephanie?

[swanandduck]

I think they're both horrible. Posy is quite nice, though.

[millymae]

Not Daphne - sorry. I just don't like how it sounds when you say it.

Not keen on Josephine either mainly because I've never forgotten the saying 'not tonight Jospehine' which is what Napoleon Bonaparte is supposed to have said when declining sex with Empress Joséphine.