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Baby names

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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

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squoosh · 16/01/2015 10:45

So holly means 'holly' and Jemima means 'dove'. How does that make Jemima more special? Does he own doves? Coo like a dove? Live in a dovecote?

Notso · 16/01/2015 10:34

Sorry if that was a bit ranty maybe my name means grumpy

Notso · 16/01/2015 10:33

What I don't understand is when people say the name means X in Hebrew/French/Welsh/Arabic etc, when they have no connection to that language. So essentially to them it means nothing.
Also if a parent wants her name to mean Dove/Star/Princess/Sunshine call the child Dove/Star/Princess/Sunshine.

Bowlersarm · 16/01/2015 10:23

Jemima is lovely, and Mimi too.

I prefer it to Holly, although Holly is a perfectly nice name.

HowCanIMissYouIfYouWontGoAway · 16/01/2015 10:23

Why does he think a name has to have a meaning behind it? Surely what matters is that you both like the sound of it?

So Jemima means dove?And? doves have some significance to him personally?

holly is a plant. A dove is a bird.

My name apparently means hidden. Or possibly star, depending on which source you read. And? I have a name that my parents gave to me because they liked the sound of it and which may or may not mean either star or hidden.

I think he's really overthinking things. To choose a name just because it means another word in a different language? Is it that any word will do or is there some deep meaning for him?

That said. I think Jemima is a lovely name. Holly is nice too.

Sophronia · 16/01/2015 10:21

I quite like Jemima Clementine.

Notso · 16/01/2015 10:17

Holly Clementine is very Christmassy, and it's not Christmas. It sounds like a bit of a comedy name to me, though both names are lovely separately.

I really like the sound of Jemima Clementine but even more I like
Jemima Rose Clementine, it has a lovely ring to it.

ByTheWishingWell · 16/01/2015 10:16

I think Holly is a lovely name, but Holly Clementine is so very Christmassy. I really like Clementine Rose.

stripedtortoise · 16/01/2015 10:15

I personally think Holly is a really boring name - sorry! And that's coming from someone who doesn't like unique, unusual names and gave my DC names that are quite plain and traditional.
I prefer Jemima myself.

MehsMum · 16/01/2015 10:09

Holly Clementine had me thinking about Christmas fruit bowls too, with a sprig of holly to the side...

I prefer Jemima Rose, but would Jemima Holly make you both happy?

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 16/01/2015 10:07

I took Rhubarb's approach, when the midwife asked what she was called I just told them her name Smile. Don't think this is guaranteed to work though! I wouldn't stress too much with a month to go, I know it's nice to have it all sorted in your head but there's no harm in waiting until she's born and then discussing it again.

VainVulva · 16/01/2015 10:04

What about Clementine Rose, that would be very pretty.

Holly imho is very blah, plus the combination of Holly and Clemrntine are very very Christmassy!

Jemima Rose is also lovely!

Rhubarbgarden · 16/01/2015 10:00

Wait till he's watched you go through childbirth, then when the midwife asks what her name is just say 'Holly Clementine' with a happy smile and he won't want to argue.

I think Holly is much nicer than Jemima, fwiw. It's the name of a beautiful plant - there's your meaning.

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