opinions on our chosen name: Heavenly Joy

AllPizza -
I am aware that the OP asked for comments - what makes you think I am not?
And you keep going on about the "twee" comment - I never quoted it.

Also, you know very well that "twee" is not the worst of the comments that were posted, so stop being disingenuous.

Hariasa
thanks for your apology, I appreciate it although I honestly wasn't angry or upset with you.
I was just surprised that people hadn't read back over their comments and thought that some of them were overstepping the mark, that is all. That's why I said "casual racism" because it all seemed very offhand, without any thought given to the stereotypes that were being perpetuated etc.

Individually I think you'd get away with either name on its own. Together - I would, like a lot of PPs, assume the parents were very religious. Depends if you're ok with that or not I suppose!
For me the problem lies in the fact that Heavenly is an adjective - it's hard to get to grips with it as a name when it just sounds like you're describing whatever comes after it! Would be like me being called Awesome GlenCoco. And I think it rules out a LOT of middle names for that reason.
However, if you love it, go for it. It's not the worst name out there IMO, not by a long shot. It definitely makes a difference that you're in London too. Her teachers will have heard weirder!
I'm currently pregnant with a boy and we haven't told a soul his name as we know people won't be hugely keen. But we like it, so we're just waiting til he's born and then no one can say anything! Think hard about it, but if you really truly love it, don't let people put you off.

What are you defending? The 2 are not mutually exclusive.

I wasn't trying to 'defend' anything; I was saying that the OP asked for comments and some of them are that the name is awful.

I will clarify for you, it is fine to say you think it is an awful name because it is twee but it is not OK to say it is an awful name because it is used by certain cultures.

Heather instead of Heavenly?

Celeste and Joy are both fine.

Nobody wants to be called Heavenly!

Eninado we seem to have got off on the wrong foot.

I'm not angry with you (or anyone), I didn't mean to single you out, I was responding to you that's all.
I don't think you were rude not mean to imply that you were.
I'm happy for you to disagree with me.
I acknowledge that you have a right to be annoyed by comment of this thread.

I apologise if I have upset you, it was unintentional.

I'll take myself off now

Revolting! Still, a friend of mine once met a high-flying academic called Heaven, which I think is even stranger. Better than that nauseating "Nevaeh" trend from a few years ago (if that wasn't an urban legend).

I'm roaring at someone shouting "heavenly" as they orgasm

Haven't RTFT but ugh how twee.

I don't know why you would burden your child with such a name!

Joy is lovely.

" just giving my opinion and politely engaging in debate. "

Have I been rude to you, or anyone, Hariasa?

I said I found some comments on the thread rude, racist or both.

You referenced my name in your response. I responded.

I gave an example of what I meant.
What are you debating?
As a person with the heritage being referenced in some of the posts, I am stating that some of the comments were out of order.

And I wasn't the only one.

Eminado, I wasn't attempting to speak for any other poster, just giving my opinion and politely engaging in debate.

You are completely entitled to disagree.

Well X-post, clearly I missed that comment...

That is your opinion Hariasa

You cant speak for other posters - so and so "mischaracterised" and you cannot speak for me. I don't agree with you.

Actually Roundtable and Eminado I've reread the thread.

Poo mischaracterised earlier when she said that the thread implied "ghastly unless Afro-Caribbean" and I think that Roundtable is mischaracterising in saying that the thread can be summarised as 'don't use it unless you are Afro-Caribbean/Nigerian'.

No one has said either of those things. In fact more people have said that the name sounds as though the parents are strongly religious.

Lots of people have said they really dislike the name but I don't think any of them mentioned race.

Several people mentioned knowingly little 'Heavenlys' (or similar names) within those communities and therefore having a positive associated with the name.

As I mentioned in a previous post we've had several threads over the years where strongly Irish, French or Scandinavian associated names were queried when the OP had no cultural connection.

So Anorak because you've met a handful of Nigerians you now feel qualified to make sweeping statements about a whole country's names?!
And call it "fact".

Don't be so ridiculous.

"It's ghastly, OP. Unless you come from a naming tradition that uses this kind of name - I would associate it with Nigeria, perhaps other African-Caribbean countries too? - it smacks of some demented female tele-evangelist calling down the Holy Spirit with a gospel choir going wild behind her and a 0800 DONATE number scrolling across the bottom of the screen."

^^
Rude and racist comment above, fyi.

It's not racism to refer to the name more likely to be used by certain cultures, it's fact. I've come across a God'spower and Godsspeed plus plenty of Beauty's and Glorious's within my line of work who were all Nigerian.

Some of you need to Rtft fgs.

It could be shortened to Ley/Lea/Lee or Ven.

allpizza

What are you defending? The 2 are not mutually exclusive.

Love it!

I believe you referred to casual racism and rude comments, two totally different things.
I responded to 'rude' comments as the OP had invited them.

AllPizza

It's being "honest" to say a name is fine IF you are Nigerian?

What?

I love it!

She can always choose to go by Joy if she finds it a bit much but personally, I think it's fantastic.

It's a ridiculous name for a person.

Better you're upset now than your child be saddled with a silly name forever.

Eminado

The OP asked for comments on the name, so people are commenting that they think it's twee/ridiculous/sickly sweet etc. I think they are being honest rather than rude.

This thread!

Rude comments and casual racism - is it necessary?

The problem is, every time she meets someone she's going to have to say "I'm heavenly". And at least half of them are going to reply "Are you really". And that's without the leering men who say " I bet you are". So, on the off chance you are actually serious about this - no.