Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Unflip

1 2 3

Original poster

Husband changing his mind at last minute!

63 replies

Nightstar · 16/01/2015 09:50

Well, not quite the last minute but still only a month to go... I know it means we have lots of time but I felt happy to have the name nailed.

We had decided on Holly Clementine.

But! My silly DH mentioned Holly to someone, and they said "But it has no meaning behind the name." Then he started thinking...

Now he wants to go with Jemima, which he thinks is cute shortened to Mimi and also means "Dove" in Hebrew.

Of course that doesnt go with our middle name of Clementine, but we did have a fall back middle name of Rose, which works (I know EVERYONE uses Rose, but it is my grandmothers name and she's really old and sick and it would make her happy)

So now I like: Holly Clementine
and he likes: Jemima Rose

Are we supposed to wait until she is born and see what she "looks like" to figure it out? I've always thought this was a bit daft as babies rarely look the same even two weeks later.

Sigh... any thoughts gratefully received

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

KatieKaye · 16/01/2015 17:03

Jemima Rose is lovely
Not keen on Holly Clementine.

burgatroyd · 16/01/2015 17:01

I like Jemima.
How about middle or first name with a Rose theme, so that way it honours nan. Like Rosamund, Rosalind, Primrose, Rosalina (my fave), Rosanna, Rosa, Roisin, Briar Rose, Rosetta.

Or Rose is lovely as first name

Sarsaparillajones · 16/01/2015 16:56

I like Mimi Clementine or Mimi Rose Clementine.

For what it's worth my DH changed his mind absolutely once we saw DD. He had an absolute 'no botanical names' until he held her then he agreed she looked like a Lily ....... So frankly I wouldn't worry about picking in advance if you can't agree

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 16/01/2015 16:54

I like Jemima Clementine.

Deerhound · 16/01/2015 16:51

I like all your names, my favourite combination being Clementine Rose.

Have you considered
Olivia (olive branch...)
Or Irene (peace)?

IsadoraQuagmire · 16/01/2015 14:51

I prefer Jemima to Holly because it's a bit more uncommon. I do think Clementine sounds fine as a middle name for either though.

toomanytolist · 16/01/2015 13:07

I have 16 years of Jemima experience! What I've enjoyed about the name is that everyone knows it (though it quite often gets spelled with a G) but very few people are actually called it. We've probably met fewer than 10 Jemimas in all that time. On the occasions we do, it's clear that's a common experience as the Jemimas get really exicited!

As far as I'm aware no one has ever shortened it to Mimi but she does get called Jem at school at lot. I've never shortened it to anything and still really like the name

squoosh · 16/01/2015 13:07

What about Robyn/Robin? There is a story that the robin got his red breast because he plucked a thorn from Jesus' brow and some blood spilt on the bird's breast.

squoosh · 16/01/2015 13:03

Rhubarb has the meaning issue sewn up!

Kitsmummy · 16/01/2015 12:58

My DD's middle names are Clementine Rose! i wasn't allowed clementine as her first name

Rhubarbgarden · 16/01/2015 12:57

Holly the plant is laden with Christian meaning, hence its association with Christmas. Have you ever listened to the words of the carol The Holly and the Ivy? It's all about the thorns representing the crown of thorns, the red berries representing the blood of Christ, and in the final verse even talks about the holly bearing a 'gall' representing the bitter wine Christ drank on the cross.

So if he's a Christian rather than a Jew, Holly and it's Christmas and crucifixion symbolism should have far more meaning for him than a Hebrew dove.

There you go. Case made.

BabyX · 16/01/2015 12:55

But caring about supposed meanings in languages you don't speak is daft. Even dafter is caring about meanings in languages nobody speaks!

NeedABumChange · 16/01/2015 12:52

Holly is cheap sounding IMO. I like jemima rose.

Also holly clementine is very xmassy and a bit of an ugly mouthful.

Guyropes · 16/01/2015 12:51

Jemima is too puddle duck for me. If he wants to veto holly, i'd go back to the drawing board, personally.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 16/01/2015 12:46

Ah ok squoosh, makes sense now. Should have just googled it!

BabyX · 16/01/2015 12:43

Jemima Rose for me.

BabyX · 16/01/2015 12:43

or is he very fond of Dove soap?

squoosh · 16/01/2015 12:41

Yes there are doves in the bible. The dove is big in Christianity, dove of peace and all that.

MrsHathaway · 16/01/2015 12:40

Would you not use Clementine as a first name? Etymological connections with peace, dove, saints, etc. I think you could certainly use "Minnie" from Clementine unless you live in one of the regions where it's slang for the vulva.

Clementine Elizabeth/Martha/Susannah/Faith?

sonniebonnie · 16/01/2015 12:38

I like both Holly and Jemima, but prefer Holly. I wouldn't worry about middle names as they are so rarely used! The main thing is to find a first name both you and your dh love! Perhaps you need to continue looking?

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 16/01/2015 12:37

Are doves biblical?! Still a little confused over the meaning thing.

Original poster

Nightstar · 16/01/2015 12:36

Oh yes, I should explain about why he wanted the "meaning name" his family are all quite Christian and he always wanted something more Biblical than my choices. So the fact that Jemima means Dove in Hebrew sort of ticked that box for him I think.

I had not thought about how Christmassy Holly Clementine sounded, but now some people have pointed it out, I tend to think that yes it is a bit.

I'm still not sold on Jemima though...

OP posts:

MrsHathaway · 16/01/2015 11:26

DH was changing his mind constantly before DS2 arrived, most notably in the car on the way to hospital, so under an hour before he arrived.

All babies look the same as far as I'm concerned, and you're right that they look completely different a few weeks later.

Your choice is better, because Rose, Grace and May are the default middle names for the 2010s, like Louise or Jane were in the 1970s/1980s.

TooMuchCantBreathe · 16/01/2015 10:53

Fwiw we had dds name picked out very early. It had meaning for us both etc etc. The birth went well and we both cuddled up to her and said she's not an X is she? She wasn't, the name we finally settled on suited her perfectly and still does now she's an adult. Maybe wait and see, one may be the obvious choice once she arrives

squoosh · 16/01/2015 10:46

or is he very fond of Dove soap?

Unflip

1 2 3