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Baby names

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

Original poster

If you had named your first child Hosanna...

155 replies

hosiesmum · 27/08/2018 21:45

I've name changed for this, because with a kid called Hosanna I'm hardly one of thousands in the UK (!)...

My husband is Zimbabwean and we were living over there when our daughter was born. It's more normal over there to have, what in the UK would be considered, unusual names, and we both liked the name, so Hosanna she is.

We're now in the UK and get a lot of "Susannah? Savanna? Rosanna?" type responses when we introduce her... which is fine, people tend to be able to cope with her name once they've worked it out!

We're imminently due our second, no idea of sex, and I'm wondering whether to go "weird" (in UK terms) again, or something more mainstream...

We've got a bit of a list going, but I'm curious to hear what others would do. (Obviously, going by stats, most of you wouldn't name your firstborn 'Hosanna'! But please for the sake of this question pretend you did!).

So, what would you name your next child, based on this info?!

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Original poster
hosiesmum · 28/08/2018 11:18

Bertrand I've said up thread that I have no intention of using a traditional African name with just a white Zimbabwean link to the continent. I do think it would be odd, and no, in my experience white Zimbabweans don't tend to use traditional names.

Some names here would be too "african" for us to use...but my question was more what kind of names would go with Hosanna - should I go normal, or stick with more unusual. As I've said, I know more Hosannas outside zim/ Africa, so wouldn't say I've overstepped boundaries of what is acceptable use of another culture's name?! It just seems to fit better in that context than over here.

So names like felicity or joy or hope - would you say they should be off limits for a white person like me because they are more like the virtue names used in many African countries? Just curious! (I wouldn't use names like tafadzwa, for example, but how far does your rule reach?).

OP posts:
WomanWise · 28/08/2018 11:10

@Bertrand you are starting to sound very silly now. I am African if that helps youHmm. Did you think you were being clever by asking what language they speak in Africa?

BertrandRussell · 28/08/2018 11:06

"People haven’t stopped naming their children ‘Fred’ because of Fred West whatever the news says about that name"
And you think using Zion as a name is comparable?
Incidentally, what language do they speak in Africa?

Original poster
hosiesmum · 28/08/2018 11:06

Thank you all for your thoughts. I think it seems the consensus is that we don't necessarily have to play it "safe" this time either... and actually a lot of the names I've had on my list have appeared in this thread, so you've clearly worked out my style pretty well ;)

I've added a few, so thanks for those ideas. Still got a couple of "regular" names on our list, so may end up with a different feel, but it's good to know most wouldn't be too shocked by another less usual name in the family!

OP posts:
HopeGarden · 28/08/2018 11:03

I’d consider Zion to be a very politically loaded name.

WomanWise · 28/08/2018 11:01

@Bertrand you really need to get off your high horse. Triumph and Zion are good African names regardless of what is going on in the news. People haven’t stopped naming their children ‘Fred’ because of Fred West whatever the news says about that name.
I’m not sure why you seem to think you know more about African names than Africans themselves. I’m yet to meet a white British person called ‘Triumph’, it is an African name in English, just like ‘Precious’ or ‘Innocent’.

The OP already has a child called ‘Hossana’ so both names suggested are well in keeping with the spirit of that if she likes them.

BertrandRussell · 28/08/2018 10:59

I'm not absolutely sure that white Zimbabweans using names more commonly associated with black people is necessarily a good or respectful idea, frankly. Is it a regular thing?

Veterinari · 28/08/2018 10:57

Yes I know two boys by both names, just because they are not explicitly in African language doesn’t mean they are not African and what has the news got to do with it?

I suspect Bertrand is Hmm at your use of ‘African’ to describe both a nationality and a language!

IAmLurkacus · 28/08/2018 10:52

I went to school with a Hosanna, I always loved the name.

I’d call your child a name you both like but make sure it’s pronounceable (Hosanna is)

lottiegarbanzo · 28/08/2018 10:50

The first name that jumps to mind is Emmanuel, which could also be Emmanuelle for a girl.

Or something Old Testament - there are a lot of those around and many are lovely names, like Elijah or Micah.

I am assuming some religious angle to your preferences. If that's wrong well, anything goes!

CaitlinsYellowSocks · 28/08/2018 10:49

Hosanna is a beautiful name by the way - I think I'd expect their sibling to have a similarly beautiful and unusual name, rather than something more run of the mill (not that there's anything wrong with popular names - my son has a top 30 name and DC2 probably will as well).

BertrandRussell · 28/08/2018 10:49

You are not aware of the significance of Zion/Zionism in the news?

WomanWise · 28/08/2018 10:47

I do know that Zion is a name. I was just flabbergasted that anyone would suggest using it......

Flabbergasted? Why? Get off yourself.

WomanWise · 28/08/2018 10:45

Bertrand what are you on about? Yes I know two boys by both names, just because they are not explicitly in African language doesn’t mean they are not African and what has the news got to do with it?

CaitlinsYellowSocks · 28/08/2018 10:43

@MerryMarigold I really like Loveday which I think might be Cornish?

Hopeoverexperience · 28/08/2018 10:36

I know a little boy of Zimbabwean heritage called Gift . Other family names include Precious . Good luck with your choices - love Hosanna Smile .

Nameeeeeechangeeeee · 28/08/2018 10:22

Oh yeah, I wasn't trying to imply it was a good name or advisable in any way (as demonstrated by the other names chosen by that family).

BertrandRussell · 28/08/2018 10:20

I do know that Zion is a name. I was just flabbergasted that anyone would suggest using it......

MerryMarigold · 28/08/2018 09:51

I know a Zionn. His sister is Saleem. The parents are Black British (ex Christian) and African American (ex Muslim). Go for what you like.

Nameeeeeechangeeeee · 28/08/2018 09:20

BertrandRussell
I know of a boy called Zion. His sisters are called Eartha (ok) and Bluebell-Fawn (imagine being a 40 year old woman and introducing yourself as that). The family are white British but very "alternative".

NoSleepTil2030 · 28/08/2018 09:12

I think Gloria would be perfect Smile

BertrandRussell · 28/08/2018 08:57

"I once met an African boy named ‘Triumph’. Lovely name.
‘Zion’ is very nice too."
"African"? Seriously???
And you're not seriously suggesting Zion as a name, are you? Do you not pay any attention to the news?

Quangot · 28/08/2018 00:42

Boys

Moses
Elijah
Aaron
Samson
Gabriel
Zebulon
Saul
Cassius
Michael
Tobias
Prosper

Girls

Carita
Aisha
Aaliyah
Melissa
Naomi
Belinda
Marcia
Abigail
Bethany
Natasha
Estella

WomanWise · 28/08/2018 00:31

I once met an African boy named ‘Triumph’. Lovely name.
‘Zion’ is very nice too.

Sophronia · 28/08/2018 00:16

Aphra
Damaris
Hephzibah
Jerusha
Keturah
Talitha
Keziah
Selah
Tirzah
Vashti
Zipporah

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