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Baby names

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

Original poster

Please say something nice about Rosemary

67 replies

ImNotTheLadies · 09/07/2015 21:19

I've only ever got negative feedback on my much loved Rosemary which I'm adamant to use on dd! Her grandmothers' names are Rose and Mary and I like the etymology/literary references and the herb. She'd go by Romy mostly.

or should I just lay it to rest?

(also how do you personally say it; ROSE-mare-ree or rose-mree?)

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Mrsfrumble · 09/07/2015 22:38

Funnily enough I've ever seen Fred West mentioned as an argument against using the name Freddie here. And Freddie gets suggested a LOT!

As a pp said, you can find an evil-doer to associate with almost any name if you try hard enough.

Original poster
ImNotTheLadies · 09/07/2015 22:29

Ooh thank you so much! Definitely feeling encouraged.

(on the Rose West note, I also had no idea her name was Rosemary. also the mn love of bringing the Wests up in all conversations is rather peculiar... not something I've heard discussed in real life yet they creep up everywhere here!)

OP posts:
maitaimojito · 09/07/2015 22:20

It has very negative connotations for me I'm afraid as the two I've known have been possibly the most horrid women I've ever encountered.

LauraChant · 09/07/2015 22:17

I think it is lovely. I think of "Rosemary, that's for remembrance" and the girl in the Carbonel books, for some reason.

FraggleHair · 09/07/2015 22:15

Rosemary is the kind of woman who mans three stalls at one at the village fete, brings platter upon platter of sandwiches to your door when there's been a death in the family, and once fought a mugger off by hitting him with a copy of The Lady magazine.

You can always depend on a Rosemary (pr. rose-mree)

If you love it so much though why are you already planning to call her Romy, a name with a completely different vibe?

DramaAlpaca · 09/07/2015 22:14

It's a beautiful name, which I would pronounce rose-mree.

It would be a lovely way to honour both her grandmothers, and I'm sure they'd be thrilled about it.

I adore Romy as a nickname.

BothEndsBurning · 09/07/2015 22:10

I'd struggle to find any points against Rosemary. It's traditional, has a lovely meaning and being a herb, is useful as well as attractive!

Romy is a very chic contraction and would serve her well all her life, but there's also the option of riffs on Rose and Mary, so as a name Rosemary is very good value indeed.

A little bit retro just now, but no harm there because it's a name that's never been in or out of fashion really.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 09/07/2015 22:03

Anyone I ever met called Rosemary has been exceptionally nice to know.

Pleasant abbreviations too.

RosaliesGinBottle · 09/07/2015 22:01

Lovely name, lovely herb, good shortenings, uncommon but easy to spell. What's not to like?

daisydalrymple · 09/07/2015 22:00

Beautiful name, Rosemary for remembrance. (Actually learnt that from an Agatha Christie book Smile but also quoted in hamlet I think!!) ... Off to google to double check...

Reignbeau · 09/07/2015 21:59

It's nice. I wanted Rosie for DD but DH said it was old fashioned, I don't agree with him though.

mrstweefromtweesville · 09/07/2015 21:57

Rosemary is a beautiful name. Don't shorten it to Rosie.

MarinaCoyle · 09/07/2015 21:54

Beautiful. I say rose-mree and also know one who goes by Rosie (she is lovely).

Yellowbird01 · 09/07/2015 21:48

I know two young rosemaries, both go by Rosie

Nice name

KanyesVest · 09/07/2015 21:46

I love it. My very good friend's lovely mum is Rosemary. Friend's dad has a bad stammer though, so he calls her MaryRose and it melts my heart every time I hear it.

AndIAlwaysComeBack · 09/07/2015 21:45

Love it! Beautiful name with lots of nickname possibilities too. Humming that Edison Lighthouse song to myself now....'love grows where my Rosemary goes...'

ThomasRichard · 09/07/2015 21:41

It's feminine without being sickly-sweet, fresh and beautiful.

BiscuitMillionaire · 09/07/2015 21:41

The song 'Rosemary' from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

I love the name.

Yika · 09/07/2015 21:40

Beautiful name, a classic, and the fragrant herb is a beautiful plant with lovely associations in its own right.

I say rose-mree.

TheCowThatLaughs · 09/07/2015 21:39

I didn't even know rose west was called Rosemary

It's a lovely name with plenty of nickname options Smile

Mrsfrumble · 09/07/2015 21:37

It's a gorgeous name! It's also a lovely smelling plant and tasty herb. What's not to like?

MythicalKings · 09/07/2015 21:35

I love it. It's a proper name and not so trendy as to be common.

Hassled · 09/07/2015 21:34

Lovely, lovely name. Use it.

TheFutureSupremeRulersMum · 09/07/2015 21:34

I love it and have a fab auntie with this name. Personally I think nicknames evolve over time but lots of different options with Rosemary.

HarrietVane99 · 09/07/2015 21:33

It's a lovely name.

Almost any name you can think of will have some kind of negative association. I've just Googled 'Rosemary' and got lots of highly qualified professional women with that name; the author Rosemary Sutcliff, among many others. So no shortage of role models.