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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Amelia or Temperance?

143 replies

TransatlanticCityGirl · 10/12/2010 16:47

Hello!

I'm having a bit of an internal debate about two girl names I quite like...

I have always loved the name Amelia. I found it in my family tree many years ago before it became popular again.. one of the earliest female ancestors I could trace (back in the 1600s!) was called Amelia and I immediately fell in love with the name. I also like it because it makes me think of Amelia Earhart and I think it would be cool for my daughter to share a name with such an amazing woman. The husband loves this name too, so it sounds like a winner... except that in the last couple of years, it has become very popular in the UK, and I am not keen to give my child a name that will be very common. (How dare those other parents choose this name!! LOL)

The other name I like is Temperance. I came across it in the tv show 'Bones', where the lead character is called that, or Tempy for short. It's quite unusual / unique (a fairly important driver for me), and I think it sounds sweet. I also like it because then my daughter would share the same initials as me (as no matter which name we choose, her middle name will be Catherine, which is also my middle name).

So what would you go for?

Amelia
or
Temperance (Tempy for short)
???

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

justlikeastar · 04/03/2016 22:53

Temperance is really awful and Tempy is even worse.

Amelia is popular (there are 3 in the school I work in, in year 1, 4 and 6) but it is very pretty and Amelia Catherine is gorgeous.

juniperdingleberries · 04/03/2016 13:51

harecare

Olbersparadox · 04/03/2016 13:38

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

BertrandRussell · 04/03/2016 11:56

Prudence?

It at least sounds like a name for a human being and won't be a millstone round the poor child's neck.

How can people possibly say "I think it sounds pretty" without thinking about the implications? Lasagna sounds pretty. So do Incandescence, Ambrosia and Swirl. But nobody is n their right minds would use them as names for people.

Bloody hell, they might now. They'll make their way onto one of those bogus baby name websites as "versions of the traditional Irish name......."

doceodocere · 04/03/2016 11:50

The pitfalls put me off Temperance, but I do quite like Temple. Temple Grandin is another inspiring woman.

How about Clemency as a less difficult virtue name?

The problem with Amelia is that its popularity makes it seem a very unimaginative choice. It is pretty but I feel bored now whenever I meet another little Amelia/Emilia /Amelie

TrueBlu · 04/03/2016 09:42

Amelia is insanely popular, Temperance is very rare probably because it means tee-total. Maybe something halfway in between the two?

waxweasel · 04/03/2016 08:31

LOVING temperance beer 😄
I know of a little Temperance nn Tempy in North London. She's about 5 and friends with my friend's DS. She mentioned they were going to Temperance's birthday party one weekend and I have to admit I PMSL and said 'Temperance?!? It'll be brilliant if she turns out to be a raging drunk at uni'. Much like all the other comments here.

Tiempe - (pronounced Ti-em-pay) - which is Italian for time. just to say, it's not. Tiempe isn't an Italian word. The Italian for time is tempo.

Glastokitty · 03/03/2016 23:21

Squoosh pmsl at Prudence Crazyhorse! . She could be friends with Faith Dawkins.

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 03/03/2016 13:22

I know a little Temperance. Her siblings are called things like Emma and Kirsty - it just sticks out really awkwardly!

KatieT12 · 03/03/2016 13:10

Not being rude, but I genuinely thought the title was 'Amelia or Temperature'

MitzyLeFrouf · 03/03/2016 13:05

I know this is an aged thread but if you called your daughter Temperance, the contrary sod Gods would ensure she was necking Lambrini by 13.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 03/03/2016 13:02

I love Temperance. I know a good 10 Amelia's-it's nice to have an unusual name. My only concern would be someone shortening it to Temper.

KatieT12 · 03/03/2016 12:50

Amelia 10000000000%

squoosh · 03/03/2016 11:42

at Temperance Beer.

Mine is called Prudence Crazyhorse.

SaggingTits · 03/03/2016 03:29

I'm an Amelia. Didn't know it was a common name (15th most popular girls name apparently). Only ever met one adult and 2 children with the same name.

Amelia is definitely better than Temperance

RustyBear · 03/03/2016 02:57

I was going to suggest Millicent as a compromise, until I realised this is a zombie thread.

I wonder what the OP chose in the end...

Glastokitty · 03/03/2016 02:42

Did you really call your baby Temperance Beer? . Surely you are joking?

TheNewStatesman · 03/03/2016 02:25

Temperance is awful, sorry!

Amelia is nice but a bit overused.

Sophronia · 02/03/2016 23:37

I'm definitely in the minority but I prefer Temperance to Amelia

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 02/03/2016 21:01

I think you're a bit OOD, Beer. This thread is 5 years old.

Beer2013 · 02/03/2016 20:49

Can't believe all the awful comments about the name temperance. I love the name Temperance so much I called my youngest daughter Temperance. Born 6/4/14 Temperance Olivia Lydia Beer. 8lb5oz. Her nicknames are Tempy...yes spelt with a Y. Templetoonie. Templeton are the nicknames her brother and sister call her. She is an amazing little girl.

womma · 14/02/2011 22:13

Temperance has got a booze connection - why would you want to do that do a child?!

Sequins · 14/02/2011 22:08

Amelia.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 14/02/2011 22:07

Tempy

Imi

Why don't you just choose a name that you like in the first place?

I'm not saying that children shouldn't have shortened names but this seems to be an overriding factor in the name that you're going to choose. If you like short and snappy just go for it.

Stars22 · 14/02/2011 22:02

Sorry i dont like either name at all. I would definatley go for Imogen, much nicer and where i am its not very common atall.

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