Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Is this really horrendous?

147 replies

mabiee · 21/09/2019 13:15

Lennon, nn Lennie for baby girl. I read a book a while back and there was a girl in there called Lennon and it’s stuck with me since.
I think Lennie is a cute and pretty nn too. I typically like slightly more unisex names.
OH likes it too. I was pretty much decided on it but decided last night to do a which MN search on the name just to see the general opinion / check for any issues in it etc. Bad idea. The pinnacle was a recent thread on Lennyn... didn’t go well.

So is Lennon / Lennie that bad? It would be Lennon Rose probably.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Mumma1984 · 22/09/2019 07:13

I like it - but I only like different names - I'm not a fan of the normal or traditional!

MissHenty · 22/09/2019 06:59

Has this helped you decide at all @mabiee

Ohmygod123 · 22/09/2019 06:32

I knew a Lenia and her nn was Lennie

1forAll74 · 22/09/2019 05:52

Lennie sounds like a male name to me.. like some character in a mafia film. but whatever, you should have the name that you like, and don't ask others what they think,

NatashasDance · 22/09/2019 05:32

All of
Helen
Helena
Hélène
Eleanor
Leonie
Leona
Are perfectly nice, non- embarrassing names
Lennie/Leni are awful.

MontyDyson · 22/09/2019 05:25

Leona
Leonie

HeronLanyon · 22/09/2019 05:20

For me Lennie (Lenny) will always be Leonard Cohen (rip).
I do think of it very much as a boy’s name. If I met a woman called Lennie I would struggle to know what her full name might be - Leone, Helen or Helene, Madeleine would be my guesses.
On finding out it was Lennon I would think parents had saddled her with overly music referenced name and got the sex a bit wrong perhaps.
Good luck op and congrats.

Peachee · 22/09/2019 05:17

Lennie can be short for Lenor like the lady from the film taken. I really like it. I quite liked Lennon too though

seeyounexttime · 22/09/2019 05:17

As PP have said people will assume it's because of John Lennon (or Neil Lennon depending on your location) who wasn't a nice character. I knew a boy called Lennon (after Neil), his peers called him Lemon.

NatashasDance · 22/09/2019 05:13

Short for Helene. That's nice I think it's pronounced Hel-een

Hel-een sounds like a mispronounciation of the French name Hélène.

NatashasDance · 22/09/2019 05:05

Lennon just about gets by for a boy but for a girl it is as you say "horrendous". As is Lennie.

LoreleiRock · 22/09/2019 04:33

Lennie is lovely. Lennon is too try-hard and a bit ugly.

UndomesticHousewife · 22/09/2019 03:35

Short for Helene. That's nice I think it's pronounced Hel-een

UndomesticHousewife · 22/09/2019 03:31

I'm sure I read that Heidi Klum has a daughter called Leni but it's short for something which I can't remember I will have to google it.

ariamontgomery · 22/09/2019 03:06

I like Leni - short for Eleni maybe?

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 22/09/2019 02:40

I really like it

BeTheHokeyMan · 22/09/2019 02:39

My cousin called her little girl 'Leni' it's commented on negatively constantly Confused People nearly always say "What like as in Lenny Henry !?!)

OkPedro · 22/09/2019 02:29

It’s all well and good saying “if you and your dh like it” Does anyone think of the child who will become a teenager and then an adult?
What happened to choosing a name that actually means something to you or will suit a baby and an adult.
FWIW Lennon sounds better than Lennie..
If you don’t know Lennie from the Simpson’s or Lennie Henry I suppose it doesn’t matter

SquintEastwood · 22/09/2019 02:13

I know quite a few Lennon's, all boys - usually named due to its Celtic FC association in these parts rather than John though!

It's not a name I would use as a Gers fan for a girl but it's definitely not the worst name I've heard, I prefer Lena/Leonie/Elena.

WillLokireturn · 22/09/2019 02:01

Lori is a lovely name too. I still like Lennon , or if you want to go girlier but similar , Leonie.

What do you like OP? It's your baby and you don't need to please everyone at all. Your daughter will live (work it) and love the name she has. Give her a safe middle name incase she decides otherwise.

Joeybee · 22/09/2019 00:53

Wouldn't say its horrendous, but it's for sure more a boys name. Can't see Lennon on a girl, but Lennie kind of works.
How about Leonie, nn Lennie as an alternative?

Tillygetsit · 21/09/2019 23:32

Leni is ok. A friend has a baby Lori which I was a bit Hmm about but it's grown on me.

Heh1991 · 21/09/2019 23:15

If you and your other half love it then that should always be enough. You’ll never please everyone, especially if you’re choosing a slightly unconventional name. I personally really like it.

Lennon as a full name, Lennie as a super cute nickname and if your DD ends up being girly and feels it is too unisex/boy-ish she could go by Lena instead which is also lovely! Go for it!

Original poster
mabiee · 21/09/2019 22:35

Thanks all... feeling v torn! Could I use Lennie as full name? I say this as someone with a long ‘proper’ bc name and has only ever been called by a nickname for it. (think Katherine -> Kitty)
But obviously I want a name that will carry her through life.
I quite like Elena and Eleni and have not 100% ruled out Lennon but probs won’t use it.

OP posts:
user1493494961 · 21/09/2019 22:14

Dreadful, change your name to Lennon.