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Baby names

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

Original poster

REALLY want your opinions - Josephine or Paloma??

65 replies

Clewlesss · 25/11/2018 21:31

Our baby really needs a name (she’s a month old) and we’re being indecisive.

Don’t want anything too common, and like a nice meaning. And want it to sound okay with other dd’s. Already have a Talia, Evangeline and Phoebe-Noelle.
We are currently between Paloma and Josephine... (list previously had Florence, Penelope, Laurel, Davina so you can see our style).
Worried Josephine is too long? We would prob give her a nn (Josie or posie) but worried others would automatically shorten to ’Jo’.
And is Paloma not a good choice as will then have 2 dd’s names starting with P??
And which goes best with my sibset?
THANX!!

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0lgaDaPolga · 03/12/2018 20:20

I much prefer Josephine but it’s quite similar to Evangeline so I’d probably choose Paloma if I was torn between the two

pipilangstrumpf · 03/12/2018 19:56

I prefer Josephine

Flamingosnbears · 03/12/2018 12:24

Josephine not so keen on Paloma

HouseworkIsASin10 · 03/12/2018 09:28

Have you named her yet?

Ipanema01 · 03/12/2018 09:23

Paloma - this was on my list but I keep having boys Smile
So gorgeous

Agustarella · 02/12/2018 18:21

Both great names. I prefer Paloma as a name but I like Josephine too. I had a lovely friend called Josephine who sadly passed away last summer, and she was always known as Josée, which is a sweet name.

Quite like Millicent nn Millie. And my husband has suggested that name before too but I think I wasn’t sure if I liked the ‘cent’ part of it. Think it has a nice meaning too.

I always think Millicent sounds like the name of a really really big number :) Melisande is pretty too and doesn't have the "cent" part.

MeganJ93 · 02/12/2018 15:48

Josephine is nicer.

LegoPiecesEverywhere · 01/12/2018 07:10

Josephine but not keen on the nn Josie

Icklepup · 28/11/2018 10:54

Paloma

cakegoblin · 28/11/2018 10:37

Josephine! Very pretty and more options for nicknames.

RedRoseReb · 28/11/2018 10:32

I agree that mail with the same initial is irritating.

Been there and done it! But still like the names we chose.

MamaDane · 28/11/2018 10:25

Never heard of Paloma before. Makes me think of meat/food. Don't like it.
Josephine is very adorable

Original poster
Clewlesss · 28/11/2018 07:10

Quantumblue- Valentina ❤️
But I wouldn’t want to hear it shortened to Val or Tina and think there’s no avoiding that..

OP posts:
Original poster
Clewlesss · 28/11/2018 07:07

Thank you all for suggestions and opinions.
It’s helped gauge my own thoughts on it.
I’m swaying towards Paloma and still considering Serena. Still like Josephine, but have decided one of the other two may go better with the sibset. And because it’s derived from a boys name, I don’t want her to wonder if I wanted her to be a boy.

OP posts:
RedDwarves · 27/11/2018 07:57

Josephine is much nicer than Paloma.

Quantumblue · 27/11/2018 01:09

Love Serena. Or Valentina. Also love Paloma. Have you considered
Sylvia
Maud
Celeste

SleepWarrior · 27/11/2018 00:52

Really like Cordelia with no Coco but no good if DH doesn't like it!

What about Constance or Corinne?

I do really like Josephine, although prefer Joey to Josie as a nn. Serena is lovely too. Less keen on paloma.

YourWinter · 27/11/2018 00:40

I think Serena is a beautiful name!

Sessy19 · 26/11/2018 22:36

I’ve known 3 adult Josephine’s and they were all frumpy lumps! 😂
Paloma is very cool, and works better with your sibset imo (all awesome names btw), Josephine sounds a bit like you ran out of cool!

Laurel and Serena are definitely more fitting with your other children.

WildCherryBlossom · 26/11/2018 21:09

I prefer Paloma but Josephine fits better with your other names which all have Greek and /or French heritage.

Original poster
Clewlesss · 26/11/2018 20:36

So surprised, from all your feedback, Paloma seems to be a marmite name, you either love it or hate it. And I think most of you like Josephine.

RuthW- I hadn’t thought about the two names ending in ‘ine’ so thanks for pointing out.

I’ve been telling the dh about the other names- thanks smiledtotherisingsun & slappinthebass.
Perdita and Fern are gorgeous. BUT we know a Perdita which gets shortened to Perdy - so cute, and dh doesn’t like Fern 🙄
And like Alba & Isabella - we know a baby Alba tho and Isabella is V V common around here.

And dh isn’t fond of Cordelia.

Back to the short list , Serena is also on it which I’m warming to a bit more. Do you think it’s too tame, i.e, not a good match for the Sibset?

Ninjagosaysno - Paloma Pavlova 😋 yep see your point.

OP posts:
Astronica · 26/11/2018 09:45

I like Josephine best of those.

RuthW · 26/11/2018 09:39

I love Josephine but think two -ine names not ideal

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 26/11/2018 09:35

I also really like:
Alba
Emiliana
Isabella
Ophelia
Camille
Delphine
Lucinda

slappinthebass · 26/11/2018 09:33

Also what about Cassia, Tabitha, Perdita, Persephone nn Percy, or Phaedra, Fern, Ottolie or Theodora? Sorry I know it's not really helpful when people suggest new names when you are already struggling to cut down a short list but maybe you haven't landed on the right one.