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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can I call my baby Jessica?

112 replies

RedPepperOrangePepper · 11/06/2018 19:01

I’ve name changed as this is quite outing. My partner has a DD called Holly. I am pregnant with our DD who I did want to name Jessica. This has been my favourite name for years. Growing up all my dolls had the name Jessica and I was thrilled when I found out we were having a girl and I could use that name. But having heard OH say the names together I am starting to worry about what people will say! Are we going to have to pick a different name?

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Buddyelf · 12/07/2018 14:21

Sorry OP but the second I read Holly in your first sentence I put it together. Of course you can name your DD whatever you like but maybe reconsider if this is already something that's playing on your mind.

KiplingAngelCake · 12/07/2018 14:18

Totally fine IMO

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 10/07/2018 15:26

I think it's a very tenuous connection. I think it's fine.

AnneWiddecombesHandbag · 10/07/2018 15:25

Me and my sister have those names and no one has ever made that connection!

Mousefunky · 10/07/2018 15:23

I wouldn’t, it was the first thing that sprang to my mind and I imagine it would for many people. Young people wouldn’t make the link but anyone past their mid twenties would.

dinosaurkisses · 10/07/2018 14:53

I’m late twenties and thought of Soham straight away- I’m not English either.

I’m not sure the link is going to be forgotten so quickly either- unfortunately the perpetrator has very recently been widely reported in the media regarding his desire to transition to a woman. Every time his name is mentioned in a news report or article, the two girls names will follow.

GlitteryTwat · 10/07/2018 12:25

No. I immediately thought of Soham. Those two names together, you can't. It's going to be in the media quite regularly because now that evil bastard wants to be a woman.

Someone upthread said Rebecca, that's lovely.

upsydaisydah · 09/07/2018 22:55

I did immediately think of Soham but only I think because you mentioned there was a problem with the names - otherwise I wouldn’t have even noticed - I’m sure I’ve come across a lot of sibling pairs called Holly and Jessica before.

Pudding01 · 07/07/2018 13:17

Just go for it, if that's what you like 🙂 Don't over think it x

AuntieStella · 06/07/2018 19:20

Jessany is a boy's name, and a fake 'nearly-but-not-quite' Jessica might be more irksome than a completely different choice.

And i'mmanother who really wouidn't put those two names together

Sessy19 · 06/07/2018 19:06

Depending on how often you have your OHs DD, you wouldn’t necessarily have that many reasons to announce both children’s names together...

DontMentionTheWar · 13/06/2018 01:30

No, just no. The Soham murders came into my mind straight away, sorry.

BlueUggs · 13/06/2018 00:20

I have sisters with these names in my family. They were born prior to the soham murders. At the time, it was mentioned a few times. Since, it never crosses my mind.

oojamaflipsy · 13/06/2018 00:12

It's not like you're calling them Fred and Rose - I agree with this.

If you decide against Jessica though, how about Rebecca?

JessicaJonesJacket · 12/06/2018 23:05

I thought of Soham and my stomach fell. It's been so long. I didn't expect to have such a physical reaction.
Perhaps practise saying the names in the opposite order? It lessens the connection because the coverage used their names in a particular ordee.

DramaAlpaca · 12/06/2018 23:00

I saw the connection immediately & I would not use those names together.

AlbaFloss · 12/06/2018 22:56

I knew straight away from just the title you were going to ask about Holly.
They are such mainstream names I think it's really ok.
But if you don't want to, how about JESSAMY - it's an established name, super pretty, less mainstream than Jessica (in my book, a good thing).

Enko · 12/06/2018 20:33

I knew it was going to be the connection from the title OP. However I still would if you love it.

SemperIdem · 12/06/2018 19:58

My mistake, they were 3 years younger than me. I’m 29, they should be 26 year old women now.

SemperIdem · 12/06/2018 19:55

FASH

Holly and Jessica immediately make me think of those poor little girls. They were a year younger than me, I remember the news coverage of people searching for them and them being found.

Of course it isn’t like naming sibling Fred and Rose, becaude Holly and Jessica were victims not an embodiment of evil.

BikeRunSki · 12/06/2018 18:17

The Soham murders came to mind straight away. I’m 47. I doubt that many people under 35 would make a connection between the names.

PalePinkSwan · 12/06/2018 17:38

Sorry, I did think of the soham murders immediately, so I don’t think I could use those names together.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 12/06/2018 17:34

It's fine OP. They are just names. Names that belonged to two girls that were sadly murdered.
If DP didn't already have a Holly, you'd choose Jessica, yes?

YerAuntFanny · 12/06/2018 15:52

I know 2 sets of Holly and Jessica's.

Soham has never once came to mind when I speak to them or their parents.

I would use it.

As for those saying that it won't matter as much because the eldest isn't the OP's, sort yourselves out. Siblings are siblings. Horrid attitude.

Agent13 · 12/06/2018 15:45

I thought of those poor girls straight away so personally wouldn’t use it as it would always have that connection in my mind but I wouldn’t think badly of anyone who did use those two names. I don’t think it’s a total no no but just I personally wouldn’t want to. Similarly I wouldn’t use Madeleine but that doesn’t mean I don’t think anyone should use the name ever again. So basically I think it’s ok to use but it depends on your own feelings about it really.