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Baby names

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

Original poster

Adeline or Zosia

34 replies

marshallzumarubble · 04/09/2015 12:52

We had our baby girl a week ago and,having had a shortlist of 12 going in to hospital, have managed to get it down to these two.

And now we are stuck!

We have pros and cons for each -

Adeline, pros: love the nickname Addie, it was the front runner for a long time so seems harder to reject. Cons: worry about spelling and pronunciation; we would say Aduh-line, not Aduh-lynn or Aduh-leen, we don't like either of those, not keen on any other nickname either, I worry it is going to leap in popularity and get a bit daddy.

Zosia, pros: it was the only name I loved immediately when I was pregnant, love all the nicknames and would be happy if she decided she wanted to call herself Zoe in the future. It means 'wisdom' which I like as well. Cons: again, worry about spelling and pronunciation; it is pronounced Zoh-sha which I imagine many people would get wrong to start with.

Both go equally well with the middle names we have chosen and our surname.

What is the general consensus? What would you think if you met a small baby called each of these?

The other name in the top three which we just discounted as it is a bit grown up is Zelda.

Thank you!

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scatterthenuns · 06/09/2015 13:56

I love Zosia, and am familiar with the name due to Zosie Mamet, who I think is fantastic.

BertrandRussell · 06/09/2015 13:52

Why discount a name because it's a bit grown up? She will be grown up for 60 years!

ComingRoundTheMountain · 06/09/2015 13:43

Love Zosia.

reuset · 06/09/2015 11:50

Zosia for me. Adeline is fine, but on the fussy side

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 06/09/2015 02:19

Definitely zosia. I love the pronunciation and I love the look of Z names. Adeline is nice but zosia is better.

sleepyelectricsheep · 06/09/2015 02:15

Zosia is a lovely name. There was a lovely girl.in DS's reception class called Zosia, pronounced Zosh-a.

squoosh · 06/09/2015 02:14

The other name in the top three which we just discounted as it is a bit grown up is Zelda.

I like Zelda. She'll only be a baby for a tiny fraction of her life. A grown up name is exactly what you should be looking for!

squoosh · 06/09/2015 02:08

I would have assumed Zosia was pronounced zo-see-a but consider me educated. Zoh-sha is lovely.

Adeline doesn't appeal to me at all. It's in that 'fussy but unappealing Edwardian name' bracket along with Harriet and Emmeline.

AvaCrowder · 05/09/2015 23:19

Have fun with your new baby girl by the way Flowers

AvaCrowder · 05/09/2015 23:18

Yy to Zosia as a Polish name. I know a lovely little one, she has the handle Sofia as well, but we all call her what her mum does which is Zoshi

PermetsTu · 05/09/2015 23:10

Adeline makes me think of Bread too!

I grew up with a Zosia and know one as an adult too. Both are Polish, both pronounce it Zo-sha. Beautiful name and the two I've known are beautiful, kind, witty women. I really, really like it. Smile

Ham69 · 05/09/2015 23:05

Adeline is gorgeous (I do keep hearing the Bread theme tune but that's probably my age). Not sure about your other choice. It's ok but I know an awful lot of Zoes ranging from 8 to 48!

IMurderedStampyLongnose · 05/09/2015 20:49

I prefer Adeline,easier to pronounce and a 'proper' name IMO.Congraulations on your daughterFlowers

thenightsky · 05/09/2015 20:40

Love Adeline!

CruCru · 05/09/2015 20:39

I like both. Perhaps Adeline a bit more.

triathlon · 05/09/2015 16:38

Zosia

CakeRattleandRoll · 05/09/2015 01:55

Definitely prefer Zosia, it's beautiful. I have taught one who pronounced it Zoh-sha.

SmugairleRoin · 04/09/2015 21:24

Oh I forgot Zelda - I like it, even though you've discounted it. Surely a grown up name isn't a problem? She'll be a grown up most of her life anyway!

SmugairleRoin · 04/09/2015 21:22

I would have guessed Zosia as being pronounced Zoh-zee-ah. I do like the proper pronunciation though!

Adeline is nice, easy to spell and say (I think), but out of the two I'd pick Zosia. The retro names are very in and so I think Adeline would be more common (as in frequent!). While retro names like Pearl etc are popular now people will tire of them and look for others with the retro feel - such as Adeline!

BreeVDKamp · 04/09/2015 18:05

Ps reading it is says Ada-leen, but only takes one time to learn you want Ada-line and then people will remember.

TyrionLannistersShadow · 04/09/2015 18:04

Zoshia makes me think of the character in Holby City but I love love Adeline and would pronounce it like you .Adeline Zoshia is gorgeous

BreeVDKamp · 04/09/2015 18:03

Zosia!! Such a gorgeous name. I do like Adeline, but much prefer Adelaide which is my future DD's name if I ever have one!

PallasCat · 04/09/2015 17:51

Two great names! On the basis that you seem to be looking for an unusual name, I'd say Zosia rather than Adeline.

I went to school with a Zosia, and I don't think the pronunciation was really a problem in her experience. In a way I'd say the pronunciation for that is more straight forward than for Adeline. If people don't know how to say Zosia, once they are told they will know how to. With Adeline, since there are a few ways to pronounce it, you're more likely to get them sticking with the version they are already familiar with.

Congratulations, and good luck choosing!

Original poster
marshallzumarubble · 04/09/2015 16:44

Meant to add, thank you for all your thoughts, they are all really appreciated and helpful x

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Original poster
marshallzumarubble · 04/09/2015 16:43

Do you think Adeline is getting popular? There were 21 born last year, exactly the same number as the year before. It is too hard! DH has just announced that he would like Adeline but I am now veering the other way! We also had Juno on our list which we love but we don't like June as a shortening and I am not sure that she is a Juno if that makes sense!!

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