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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Stuck for a girls name, making me very upset now!!

89 replies

ACM88 · 20/07/2014 22:35

A few weeks ago I posted a thread about the name Jean for a girl. It was met with lots of lovely positive remarks, which made me feel good about the name, but when I sit and think about it, I'm not at all convinced.

My OH suggested the name, he loves it, and it has huge significance. My beloved nans names, and baby is due on her birthday. I get really annoyed and defensive when people critise it, but I'm not sure if I'm honest. I've not mentioned name choice to any friends or family yet, and I'm sure it will be sneered at, at least to begin with.

Don't really want to go back to drawing board, because OH and I don't agree on many girls names. He likes Michelle (?), Judith, and Greta. I like Nancy, April, and Evelyn, but these are met with grunts and snorts. Feel like crying. I don't want to chose a name I don't love, and then regret it! Any advice? Genius name suggestions?

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Original poster

ACM88 · 21/07/2014 22:29

...meant to say my OH and I have rarely disagreed...

OP posts:

Original poster

ACM88 · 21/07/2014 22:27

Yes will keep open mind, may well stick with Jean, it's tough to decide. If I think on it too long I get upset because this isn't the wonderful name choosing scenario that I had imagined!! OH have rarely disagreed in our decade together as much as we have choosing a girls name these past months!!

OP posts:

Coconutty · 21/07/2014 12:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

settingsitting · 21/07/2014 12:53

I know someone who chose Lucy as a sort of compromise name that suited both partners.

myotherusernameisbetter · 21/07/2014 12:47

I like Jean. i know a thirty something one so don't have it badged as an old persons name.

If you are looking for alternatives in the same vein, I like:

Melanie Jean
Linda Jean
Laura Jean
Lillian Jean
Heidi Jean

Mammanat222 · 21/07/2014 10:52

I like Jean, it's my Mum's name but not something we'll use (sadly) as OH dislikes it.

Original poster

ACM88 · 21/07/2014 10:44

I love Nancy, still holding out for that!!

Not a fan of gina, or Joan, or Georgina. But good suggestions based on Jean! It's frustrating not to love the name, I'm sure baby will grow into it, and once they are here, people won't critise as much, at least not to my face!! I just don't want to regret it!!

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burgatroyd · 21/07/2014 09:59

I like Ruby Jean but am not fond of Ruby as fn. jean is lovely as first name, really it is.

rootypig · 21/07/2014 09:57

If you don't love Jean, I wouldn't. I went for a name for sentimental reasons and that I liked on paper (I liked the meaning, that it's traditional but not widely used) and I have never grown to love it. DD goes by a totally different nickname.

But I agree that Jean is a great middle name. How about Nancy Jean?

ILoveCoreyHaim · 21/07/2014 09:57

And its her great nanas name

florascotia · 21/07/2014 09:56

Wildcards here, but how about Georgina or Eugenia? As previous poster said, Gina is a good name and sounds very similar to Jean.

Alternatively, because Jean, Jane, Joan are all forms of the same ancient name, you might like to consider some of the other variations. You can see a list here, for example: www.behindthename.com/name/jean-2

ILoveCoreyHaim · 21/07/2014 09:56

Jean is my dds middle name. Not sure i would have used it as her first name though

Allalonenow · 21/07/2014 09:48

Ooh I love Ruby Jean!

Original poster

ACM88 · 21/07/2014 09:43

Thanks all- I think I need to sit on it, and see what baby looks like when they arrive!

I do like the name, but can't say I love it, not as much as our boys choice, and that's why I'm so doubtful I think.

OP posts:

wonderpants · 21/07/2014 09:31

I know a Jeanne which feels a prettier spelling!
Never be swayed by other peoples opinions, it is one of my regrets in life with DD2!

rockybalboa · 21/07/2014 09:23

Stick with Jean, it's lovely and the significance of it means so much. Jeanie is a cute nn. With my younger two DC I wasn't entirely sure about their names to start with but they def grew into them.

Hedgehog1977 · 21/07/2014 09:14

I would stick with Jean. If you both like it and it has a family connection then it's a perfect choice, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks! Jeanie is very cute for a little one. x

InSummer · 21/07/2014 08:21

I would stick with Jean, it's lovely.

Or...
Ava Jean. I think that's meeting somewhere in the middle of your OH's Greta and your April.

Florrieboo · 21/07/2014 08:18

I agree that children do grow into their names, DD is called a name that was DH's first choice, it wasn't mine, but, I didn't feel strongly about any other name either so we went with it. 2.5 years later I cannot imagine her being called anything else. I grew to love it as part of her iykwim?

ElizabethMedora · 21/07/2014 08:11

Jean is lovely - especially little Jeanie!

I like all of the names you & your DH like apart from Michelle. Doesn't seem to me that you have that different naming styles?

I felt doubts about DC2 name, we went with it because it was the only one we could agree on & the baby needed a name - it's also a 'marmite' name. Feel fine with it now.

ICanTotallyDance · 21/07/2014 07:16

I really like Jean. I think I remember your original thread.

If you can't settle on Jean, here are some more suggestions that I think might fit with you and your husbands list:

Elizabeth
Winnifred
Vivian
Constance
Beatrice
Phoebe
Julia

Or for a short, classic name, how about Mary? Grace, Alice, Lucy and Claire (or variation thereof) are all also popular, classic names.

If you like Jean but want a variation, how about Jeanne (French), Janine, Joanne, Joanna, Jeannette, Gina, Jane or Joan?

Jean was often used as a short name for other names, usually Jane (admittedly this was few centuries ago) so you could always name her something else and nickname her Jean/Jeanie.

Personally I think you should stick with Jean if it's the only name you and your DH have agreed on. If you give your DD a more popular/common middle name she can always use her middle name if she ends up not liking her first name.

However, I have found that children grow into their names and you can't really imagine them being called anything else. I imagine that if you do name your DD Jean, in a few years you will associate the name with your DD and so love it lots even if you have a few misgivings now.

cheesecakemom · 21/07/2014 06:56

This reply has been withdrawn

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

blackandwhiteandredallover · 20/07/2014 23:22

I have a Polly Jean, I love it, the names go together so well. Jean was my mum's name but I do think it works better as a middle name.

nilbyname · 20/07/2014 23:19

Jane, nn Janey
Jessica
Leisle
Lyra
Maggie
Cora

Original poster

ACM88 · 20/07/2014 23:11

Definitely like more traditional, nothing too flowery that it wouldn't suit a grumpy teenager, or an adult. But also not too common- Jean fits criteria perfectly, yet I'm still not jumping for joy!!

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