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Baby names

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

Original poster

Minerva

41 replies

mrscatmad31 · 29/05/2015 17:45

I absolutely love this name before I realised it was in harry potter (I'm not a fan!) does it remind people of Harry potter or the goddess?
not sure if we are having a boy or girl yet but this is still my favourite girl name so far

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ThatDidntQuiteGoToPlan · 07/06/2015 14:00

Contraception.

Rhubarbgarden · 06/06/2015 07:39

Beautiful name. Goddess.

TattieHowkerz · 05/06/2015 20:07

I think "goddess", but also " pretentious".

wesH · 02/06/2015 09:54

Fuddy duddy imo. The nickname Minnie is also terribe

susurration · 01/06/2015 17:56

I think of both HP and Goddess. I love the name Minerva.

MagentaVitus · 30/05/2015 17:46

I think its a cracking name and you should us it.

JasperDamerel · 30/05/2015 17:43

Goddess first, then Harry Potter. I know of little Athenes, so a Minerva would be a nice change. And I have no real objection to Harry Potter names - DS would have been Ginevra had he been a girl, so I say go for it.

ceebelle83 · 30/05/2015 17:38

"You're getting on Minerva-s"

WutheringFrights · 30/05/2015 15:53

I asked MN about my choice of name for DS and pretty much everyone said don't do it!
In my experience people aren't quite so opinionated after your baby is born and named (well, actually, they are, just normally not to your face)
To be honest the name makes me think of HP but nevertheless it's a nice name.

Original poster
mrscatmad31 · 30/05/2015 15:42

Thanks :-) I've never heard Minnie as slang for lady parts so much be an area thing
I was just saying there's no need to be harsh about the name as I like the name, just didn't want people thinking it was from harry potter, I'm well aware it's not everyone's cup of tea.
won't be asking again Smile

OP posts:
IsadoraQuagmire · 30/05/2015 15:10

The Roman goddess. Not Harry Potter at all, although I've read all the books. No idea what this contraception thing is, but Mirena doesn't sound at all like Minerva to me.
Minerva's a lovely name.

unluckycat · 30/05/2015 15:09

I like it. She's hardly ever referred to by her first name in HP so that certainly wouldn't put me off.

I think it's a name a child would adopt quickly enough, even if pre meeting that child people would have thought of different things.

ChannelingFlop · 30/05/2015 14:59

Goddess. A big name to live up to

reuset · 30/05/2015 14:57

I didn't actually ask for opinions on the name itself btw...

Well, you specifically asked whether it reminded of HP or goddess. You didn't say other answers, of what the name put people in mind of, weren't allowed. Sorry if that sounds harsh. People are just being honest, you don't have to take the advice.

YonicScrewdriver · 30/05/2015 14:56

Harry potter first, then the goddess.

CommonplaceMagic · 30/05/2015 14:44

You don't want opinions on your baby name? Don't post it in MN then. Confused

For most people, it will be associated primarily with Harry Potter. If that's not a problem for you then go for it.

Around here, 'Minnie' is synonymous with 'Foof' as a euphemism for vagina. So I would be loathe to saddle a child with it. Understand this isn't the case for all parts of the country though.

Becles · 30/05/2015 14:38

I thought of the goddess in the first instance. Love the name.

scarlettsmummy2 · 30/05/2015 14:37

Made me immediately think of contraception. Sorry.

reuset · 30/05/2015 14:37

'Will ' isn't derogatory alone.

reuset · 30/05/2015 14:35

As an adult I think of classical reference first rather than Harry Potter. I can't imagine it suiting or fitting in most average families in the UK though. There;s also the problem with the most natural and likely shortening of Minnie, as somebody has already pointed out.

mrspremise · 30/05/2015 14:21

No. Just no.

SylvaniansAtEase · 30/05/2015 08:12

I know two, one a teenager one a toddler.

I think it's lovely. Older one is Minnie or Min, younger is generally shortened to Mimi.

Minnie is slang for girls' genitalia in lots of areas, but I've never known either have that reference made- certainly the teenager has never had that as an issue. I think in practice it's like a boy being called Will - not a problem.

I suppose it might depend whether you move in Roman goddess circles or health centre/contraceptive pill circles!

TheoriginalLEM · 29/05/2015 20:34

You asked what it reminded people of, it reminded me of neither harry potter or greek goddesses as it seems to been hijacked by commercial companies.

Tame is good, please don't saddle your DD with an "out there" name, she wont thank you for it

silveroldie2 · 29/05/2015 20:30

Neither, it reminds me of the contraceptive pill.

CPtart · 29/05/2015 20:16

Minerva is the name of a large health centre in our city.