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Baby names

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

Original poster

Femi

42 replies

familyfortunes · 19/07/2014 23:08

what are your thoughts...looking for 2 dd names.

We have been liking Naomi and Phoebe.

Femi is Egyptian for love. DH really likes it and would swap for Phoebe...I'm not totally sure.

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RiverTam · 21/07/2014 15:52

I know it as a Nigerian name, but I'm sure I've only come across girls with this name, think there was a Femi at my [girls'] school.

I think unless there you have a real connection with Nigeria I wouldn't.

PosyFossilsShoes · 21/07/2014 15:50

Yep! The first one out (Taiwo) is the "younger" child (whereas in the UK we say the first one out is the older one), the "older" sister / brother (Kehinde) pushes the little one out first to check it's safe. I quite like that :)

There's more about it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibeji

HamAndPlaques · 21/07/2014 15:02

Posy interesting! Aren't Yoruba twins usually named Taiwo and Kehinde?

Original poster
familyfortunes · 21/07/2014 09:53

Thanks for all your comments.

We are in Scotland with no strong links to Africa, although dh did live in Zambia for a few years.

I'm well and truly convinced Femi will not be the name of one of my DTDs.

It certainly made me chuckle... Grin

OP posts:
PosyFossilsShoes · 21/07/2014 09:38

I know two Femis, both women.

It's a Yoruba name meaning "love me." I read a paper on Yoruba names for work once (and now know way more about how to name Yoruba twins than I ever thought I needed to) and you can get composite names e.g. Olufemi means "God loves me."

There's also a Yoruba actor called Femi Ogudengbe who has just called his twins Hollywood and Nollywood.

HamAndPlaques · 21/07/2014 09:34

Femi is usually short for Oluwafemi and is a very popular Nigerian name. I have taught a lot, all boys.

lanbro · 21/07/2014 07:36

I know a Famy, full name Uphemia. Femi makes me think of feminine hygiene I'm afraid!

sleepywombat · 21/07/2014 07:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catinbootz · 21/07/2014 07:29

Femidom

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 21/07/2014 07:24

I have a female second cousin called Femi, in her early 20s. She is of Scandinavian origin. We all called her Dom. I would avoid.

cheesecakemom · 21/07/2014 06:57

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Pangaea · 20/07/2014 23:06

I've known one. A 26 year old Nigerian male prostitute my friend lived with at uni.

Really.

Chewbecca · 20/07/2014 20:43

Definitely an African man's name ime.

AntoinetteCosway · 20/07/2014 20:41

Ah, I didn't know that Ehric!

MamaPain · 20/07/2014 18:34

Femi is a really popular name in West Africa. It can be either but I'd say it's so strongly associated with people of that region for me it sounds strange. I can only see it working if you have some link to this area. Am surprised you haven't heard of it before, do you live in a very white area?

Also, aside from the cultural associations, I always thought it was a name that didn't transport well in that it does sound like either Feminax or Femidom and that these products must not have such names over there.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 20/07/2014 18:26

Femi was the father of Fela. Or was it the other way around?

AntoinetteCosway · 20/07/2014 17:28

I thought it was Fela Kuti?

But yes, I know a male Femi.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 20/07/2014 16:49

Femi Kuti is the only one I've ever heard of and he was a man.

SueBridehead · 20/07/2014 16:40

I've taught a few Femis, both boys and girls, all Nigerian heritage.

Trondheim · 20/07/2014 13:33

Have met 2 male and 1 female femi so it can be either.

Methe · 20/07/2014 13:30

I know a Nigerian lady called Femi.I quite like it!

beijaflor · 20/07/2014 13:30

I love Femi - very pretty. Naomi and Phoebe are also great names.

Koothrapanties · 20/07/2014 13:29

Sounds like sanpro.

Sleepyfergus · 20/07/2014 13:29

Arf at baby Femidom!

SleepyPanda · 20/07/2014 13:28

Um, ginger, I'm not sure people were suggesting Femidom as an alternative name for the baby...more pointing out that Femi makes them think of the commonly used term for a female condom!

I didn't make that connection myself, but like PPs, the only Femi I've met has also been an African male.

Phoebe and Naomi are both lovely though, but not overused in my experience.

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