Is this really horrendous?

I actually think Lemon is nice. But I am a bit bonkers. Lemmi for nn???

My parents named me an unusual name and it definitely made my life so much harder, especially since it's impossible to shorten.

If you like the nickname, that's fun and great, because nicknames are easy to change and casual. But birthnames that are legal and unusual... that changes a lot.

Kids can be teased unmercifully, always feel different, and oh my god - the number of times I've had to repeat myself or spell it out for people. You get these awkward looks like it's your fault you were given an unusual name. People always want to know why I have an unusual name, and they seem confused when I say, "My parents just liked the name." They blink at me like, that can't be right - why would anyone give you an unusual name unless they had a good reason?

And don't get me started on coffee shops. They ask for my name. I say it. They look at me like they just don't know what to do. So I say, "Sarah. My name is Sarah. Whatever. Just write Sarah!!" I just make it up so I don't have to explain myself.

To be clear, my name isn't terrible. It's absolutely on par with Lennon. Something that is only a little unusual. But every day I hate that my parents named me this name instead of something normal.

Like others have said before, can you name her something else? Could even be a classic name that is a little out of style if you want her to be "special"? You can always go wild on the nickname. As wild as you want. Nicknames can be anything.

But do consider the frustration of your child in the future on something she has no control over. Names really do make a difference.

Love the name Lennon, but pretty sure it’s a boys name! Really don’t like for a girl and also dislike Lennie as nn for a girl.

If you like it though who gives a crap.

The child might well give a crap and they are the one who has to live with it.

@ChrisPrattsFace I'm intrigued now, can I ask what you called your son?

OP - if your a GoT fan, would you consider Olenna? I absolutely adore this name and Lennie would be the perfect NN.
Also, to the original question, Lennon I think is quite sweet. A friend of mine in Aus has a Lennix, NN Lennie for a girl xx

I don't mind Lennon, and certainly much prefer it over suggestion of Leonie. Since names like Eleanor, Leonor etc don't seem to be your style I'd stick with Lennon. I don't much like Lennie on its own, though fine as a nn for Lennon.

Some of the comments are so mean on here 😂

My first thought op when I saw the name, was a boys naming thread. If you like it though who gives a crap.

I think it's lovely.

I'm really keen on names that can be used for boys or girls and I especially love girls with slightly boyish nicknames.

I don't know why, but I love a good lennie, frankie, danni, andy etc.

My god daughter is lenor with no Lennie, Lennon always linked with John Lennon and he’s wasn’t the most respectful man

What about Lainey as a nickname for Elaine?

I think Leni, or Eleni are nice or even Lena which you could nickname leni

OP you can see from this thread how marmite it is... honestly, I would give Lennie as a nickname for a longer name and give her the choice. There are HEAPS of great names which would allow you to have Lennie as a nickname.

Personally I think it's cool as a nickname for something longer but a bit crap on its own - to be honest, it's not actually that interesting just as it is.

Leonore
Leonora
Elin
Ellen
Helena
Lena

My friend's daughter is Leni (the family are German) and I've always loved it. But Lennon / Lenny definitely reads as a man's name to me....

I like it! But – was the book The Sky is Everywhere? I loved that book too and think I might be biased towards the name because I like the book and style of writing rather than the name itself IYSWIM? Could you pick another, less out-there name from the book to give you the same good feelings about it?

I like it, one of the actresses in Nashville is called Lennon

I know an Eleni always known as Lennie

I don’t like it, especially for a girl. Will forever be associated with John Lennon and everything will think The Beatles.

It makes me think of Lennie Henry and Lenny the Lion.

There are lots of real names suggested on here from which a pet diminutive of "Leni" or similar might naturally come.

Personally I think choosing the diminutive name over the real name is very odd when the full name gives so much more potential for a pet name that might fit the person at different stages in their life. Elizabeth for example can give Beth, Liz, Lizzie; Betty, Betsy, Bet, Bess, Bessie ;Katherine- Kate, Katy, Cath, Cathy, Kit, Kitty, Cat, Margaret- Meg, Mag,Maggie, Peggy, Peg.

you'll be calling it her for the rest of your life so pick one YOU love

No, the key is, will the child themselves like being called Lennie? They are the one who has to live with the name in question.

Lennon sounds like a boy's name and also like Lemon, sorry.

I like Lennie but not Lennon. Not keen on John Lennon personally, and it will remind everyone of him.
Leonora, Leonie, Helen, Helena, Eleanor etc could all have that cute nickname.

I love it for a girl.

Leni is lovely and could be a name in its own. Prefer it to Lennie which seems a bit cheap and masculine although I usually like unisex names.

Leonie or Leona also lovely and unusual.

Well I love Lennon/Lennie/Leni (like Leni best) - and yes of course Lennie/Leni would be fine as full name. I wouldn't be keen on Eleni/Leni because I don't like diminutives with different initial to full name ( I knew a Beth who hated it when her name turned up on lists at work as B Smith rather than E Smith), but that's my feeling not yours so it doesn't matter for your child's name...

I also know a Lizzie and a Sid that have those as their full names and it doesn't bother them - occasionally it turns up as Elizabeth or Sidney but they just correct it. I also had an uncle Bert who would get annoyed with people assuming he was Robert - he was actually Cuthbert but could have been Albert too.

As I say I love Lennie/Leni and a Lennon is fine too.

My goodness, I cannot believe the comments I'm reading from grown adults.....they sound no better than the bullies in the ground. Just ignore them.

I have a little boy called Lennon who is amazing AND I also know a five year old girl called Lennon, shes an awesome kid with a great personality. You've grown that little lady in your womb for nine months, your the one who's gonna be looking after her, teaching her right from wrong, teaching her to be kind to everyone (despite what their name might be) so call her what you want to call her.

When we named our little boy Lennon did I for a second think everyone would love the name? No, but my friends have called their children names I'm not particularly keen on, would I tell them that? No, that's there choice, it's their child. As long as she's born healthy and grows up happy it doesn't matter what her name is, you'll be calling it her for the rest of your life so pick one YOU love :) xxxx