Opinions on Jemima?

[Corsu]

I think it's beautiful, biblical but not particularly common. I think people will know how to pronounce it. What do you all think?

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

I don't like it, but as with all the name threads that is just a matter of opinion.
Unless you live in a leafy suberb then to me again matter of perception and opinion it is being something you're not.

[U8myufo]

I love it! It will get shortened to mima though which isn't so nice. If you go with it just keep on correcting people.

[timelyreminder]

I don't like it but it usually gets good comments on MN. Yes, I think people do know how to pronounce it.

[bittapitta]

Jemima Puddleduck.

[poocatcherchampion]

We considered it. Many on mumsnet seem to think it is racist because of some sauce in the US (or sommat)

We chose Georgina in the end which is similar but is less likely to be thought of as pretentious.

[florascotia]

In my experience, Jemima is not so much 'leafy suburb' in Scotland, more 'granny chic'. It's very rare here today - only 4 in 2014. However, it was popular among ordinary (for want of a better word) families north - and south - of the border around 100 years ago; I think that quite a few Scottish people of a certain age would remember elderly female friends/relatives/ neighbours named 'Mima'. I certainly can!

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I love it.

[goodnessgraciousgouda]

I really like it. I think "Jem" is a very sweet nickname (probably helps that I used to love Jem and the Holograms when I was a wee girl!), and Jemima as a whole is very beautiful.

It does remind me of Jemima Puddleduck, but I don't see that as a bad thing.

It doesn't bother me what connotations it has in America, because....I'm not American, and those connotations don't exist here.

[MadAngryGnome]

I love it and tempted to use it for a future dd. Jem is definitely a cuter nickname than Mima! Like a pp I also recall old ladies in rural Scotland known as Mima

[Zakken]

Racist?! What utter bollocks.

I've only known one Jemima, at school, and she was mostly called Jem or Jemma.

[LibrariesGaveUsPower]

It does have racist connotations in the US. Wouldn't bother me here
,

[Sophronia]

I think it's lovely and very underused.

[Corsu]

Thanks everyone. I'm not too bothered by the racist connotation thing - there is a history of the name way before that and I think that anyone who decided we were racist based on a name would have to be crazy.
I actually know a Jemima vaguely, and her classmates call her Jim. I don't think we would call her that as a family but friend nicknames don't bother me too much.
Georgina is a nice alternative, although the shortenings of that name bother me more for some reason.

[Leaflitter]

Lovely.

[Lunastarfish]

I love it! (albeit it was my childhood cat's name but i would still use it for my baby if my DP would let me!). It was a contender for the middle name but strangely enough we have decided on Georgina.

[TempsPerdu]

Not really my style, but it's a nice enough name. Like the nn Jem. My cousin is called Jemima, and she's anything but posh and pretentious!

[bluewisteria]

Very pretty. One in my DD's class, she is 4, and the only one I have ever met.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

Don't like it. Sounds quite prissy.

[RonaldosAbs]

DS's girlfriend is called Jemima but it's shortened to Mimi.


I like Mimi but I hate Jemima, it's very jolly hockey sticks to me.

[poocatcherchampion]

Glad I didn't put you off!

Strangely we most often shorten Georgina to Geor. Her sister started it. Otherwise Georgie is most oft used.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

Personal opinion...
Ugh. Pretentious. Not sure why, just an opinion.
Know a jemima, she is a bit posh, but nothing awful.
She goes by jem, which is really sweet.
Know a toddler jemima too. Her mum is always trying to fit in with the posh set. She is mima. Awful. Mima would be the downfall of this name for me!
Hamble and jemima were the dolls on a tv show when I was a kid?

[drspouse]

DH has a Jemima in his family tree and when thinking of a name for DD we went through all the family names we could find. I listed this and he said "Puddleduck!". So that's a no then.

[TorrAlexandra]

Yeah, I see Jemima, I hear Puddleduck. Sorry.

[Winterqueen]

Beutiful name with quirky English sound, rare but well known and everyone can spell it. Mimi also very cute nickname. Could also be Jem or Emi.
The puddle duck association is hardly a bad one and the same could be said of Rebecca (jemima ducks sister!).

[Zakken]

Goldsmith (Khan)