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Baby names

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

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)
???

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saffy85 · 13/12/2010 16:06

As others have said, you're tempting fate if you name your DD Temperance. Be like naming a daughter Chastity and her growing up to be a bit of a trollop floozy.

I like Amelia though Smile

jabberwocky · 12/12/2010 17:15

Amelia

Temperance seems rather puritanical.

babynoah · 12/12/2010 17:09

I love temperance- wanted to use it if i'd had a DD.

MrsvWoolf · 11/12/2010 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsvWoolf · 11/12/2010 21:53

This reply has been deleted

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FrustratedHippy · 11/12/2010 20:34

Temperance is gorgeous.
Amelia very over used

IWouldNotCouldNotWithAGoat · 11/12/2010 15:55

Oh please tell me you are joking about Temperance

Maje · 11/12/2010 15:21

In Bones, when Angela becomes pregnant,she says she would like Temperance to be the baby's godmother and that if it's a girl they will name her Temperance.

The she adds something like "only as a middle name, we would never use it obviously as it is horrible"

Secretwishescometrue · 11/12/2010 15:19

Amelia is lovely wouldn't be gone Temperance sorry just a bit of a mouthful and Tempy just doesn't make up for it... Sorry

scouserabroad · 11/12/2010 15:07

Blush Confession time: I like Temperance and wanted to use it if I ever have another DD. Might not now. Grin

alarkaspree · 11/12/2010 14:59

I have an Amelia and, obviously, I like it but it is very popular in the UK. However we have now moved abroad so it's not a problem.

I know you have a family connection to the name but just in case it's useful, I also liked Antonia and Claudia.

Temperence is an awful name, sorry.

MadamDeathstare · 11/12/2010 14:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nancy66 · 11/12/2010 14:50

temperance is probably the worst name I've ever heard on MN - and that's fucking saying something.

It's truly truly hideous - please don't ever burden/scar a child with it.

scottishmummy · 10/12/2010 21:47

temperance is ghastly as is tempy.you are trying too hard.as for copying name of the telly.yuck thats not sweet,is corny

suspiria · 10/12/2010 21:38

I find Amelia a bit dull.Perfectly nice name, just a bit pedestrian.

I like Temperance and Clemency is also very nice.

How about Serenity or Mercy?

minipie · 10/12/2010 19:13

It may sound pretty but you can't ignore the meaning which is dreadful. I mean, Chlamydia sounds pretty, but you wouldn't call your child by that would you.

joydivisionovengloves · 10/12/2010 19:06

Temperance is awful, please don't inflict it on your child

ShoppingDays · 10/12/2010 18:43

I like both :)

LetThereBeRock · 10/12/2010 18:31

Amelia is lovely,though I like Imogen even more.

Temperance is dire. Ugly and just awful.

MoominMymbleandMy · 10/12/2010 17:54

I think Temperance is just tempting fate - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_movement

jacksgrannie · 10/12/2010 17:51

Amelia is lovely - and with your family tree is perfect.

So - it is popular. That would be because many people like it as it is a beautiful name.

Temperance would be a disaster - how can you even consider it? It would be cruel. Every time she got in a mood her friends would tease her "temper, temper!" and sure thing she would grow up to have a drink problem.

Really - it is not about the sound, it is about the meaning. You are not that cruel, surely.

weepootle · 10/12/2010 17:45

Amelia is lovely, personally I wouldn't care about it's popularity.

Temperance is just awful, nickname Temper??!!

GrimmaTheNome · 10/12/2010 17:39

I've not come across many Amelias - more Emilias (which is also pretty)

JamieLeeCurtis · 10/12/2010 17:37

I love Grace, but imagine if she wasn't very? ....

mummytime · 10/12/2010 17:35

We always avoided virtues, surely a temperance is going to end up the biggest party girl ever? Just like Chastity is the biggest......ever?