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DH says that Cecily sounds like "silly"

48 replies

javotte · 15/10/2012 19:17

I am still looking for an English middle name (I am half-French, half-English) for DD2. I really like Cecily, but DH says he hears "silly". I disagree (the stress is not on the same syllable), but strictly speaking English is not my first language, no what do you native speakers think?

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AgathaTrunchbull · 15/10/2012 19:33

Daft. They don't sound the same. Carry on!

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eBook · 15/10/2012 19:35

How about Cecilia as an alternative?

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javotte · 15/10/2012 19:45

ebook First name and middle name n°1 end in -ia. Plus Cecilia isn't immediately identifiable as an "English" name for French people.

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Sastra · 15/10/2012 19:49

I love it, but my DH hated it! How about Cecile?

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javotte · 15/10/2012 19:52

Thanks Sastra, but Cecile (Cécile) is a very French name, and I am looking for an English only name.

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Sastra · 15/10/2012 20:17

Ah, I see. Celia is very English!

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xkcdfangirl · 15/10/2012 20:22

Your DH is right, I hear "Silly" too and it's a very prissy silly sort of name too to my ears. Sorry.

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HolyAutumnGoldBatman · 15/10/2012 21:01

Cecily is in my top 5 most awful names ever.

It does sound a bit like silly. It also sounds a bit like celery.

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Ephiny · 15/10/2012 21:11

I agree with your DH. Maybe Cecilia would be better, though not really to my taste, it's a bit 'frilly'. Celia sounds very old-fashioned to me.

I don't think there are many names that are strictly 'English only', many come from other cultures/languages, or have an equivalent or similar-sounding form in other European languages.

Was it you who started a thread a while ago looking for 'royal' English names? Did you not like any of the suggestions there?

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KenandDeirdre · 15/10/2012 21:26

Very nice as a middle name. Go for it!

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javotte · 15/10/2012 21:29

Yes, Ephiny, that was me.
The problem is, DH decided on my due date that he didn't like any of the names on my list. We have settled on a first name that is already royal (it exists in French and English) and rather "heavy", so Margaret, Elizabeth, Katherine etc. would be too much.

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Bluestocking · 15/10/2012 21:35

I think Cecily is a beautiful name, and doesn't sound like "silly" at all. I hadn't thought about it until reading your post but there are lots of names around at the moment that rhyme with "silly" - Lily, Millie, Billie - would anyone not use those because they rhyme with "silly"?
Just as a matter of interest, why do you want a name that's immediately identifiable as "English"?

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javotte · 15/10/2012 21:47

Hi bluestocking
I want an "English" name to honour my English roots (my Dad is English). All DCs have a French first name, a Berber middle name (DH is from Algeria) and an English middle name.

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Ephiny · 15/10/2012 22:24

Oh well at least you got the first name sorted out :). What about Felicity? Emily, Romilly, Verity, Mary?

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CotedePablo · 15/10/2012 23:32

Not too keen on Cecily, but Cecilia is an utterly beautiful name.

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JennaLemon · 15/10/2012 23:36

I like the style of the name but not the name itself. too many essess.

Celia is nicer though.

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CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz · 15/10/2012 23:38

Cecily = so silly here. Sorry. Celia is far better IMO.

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squoosh · 15/10/2012 23:42

Not keen on Cecily.

'What does she look like?'
'She looks like Great Uncle Cecil, y'know a bit Cecily'

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RedGreenWhiteViolet · 15/10/2012 23:46

The only Cecily I know is called Silly as a nickname. Sorry.

I love it, though. Cecilia and Celia are too sniffy for me, whereas Cecily sounds friendly.

People I know who have considered Cecily were also seriously thinking of Felicity and Amelie, if that helps.

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Bunders99 · 16/10/2012 08:34

I love Cecily. If it wasn't for our surname being full of the letter s we wanted it as a first name. Really pretty name.

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EdithWeston · 16/10/2012 08:56

Well I suppose your DH is right to the extent that whether you pronounce the name Sessilly or Sissilly it does end with "silly".

Cecilia or Celia would remove the rhyme. The only Cécile I know is English with no French heritage, so it does work in UK.

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DebK2012 · 16/10/2012 18:44

Emily?

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javotte · 16/10/2012 19:17

I am an Amelie Smile, so no Amelie or Emily.
My granddad suggested his mother's name, Beatrice, but it is the same in French Sad.
Other MN on my shortlist are Margaret (a bit too much with the first name IMO) and Matilda.

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DebK2012 · 16/10/2012 19:18

Charlotte or Grace???

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DebK2012 · 16/10/2012 19:19

Ella?

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