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

sofia vs jemima

40 replies

toughgetsgoing · 23/05/2020 12:15

Obviously love them both, but Jemima's just got this public school vibe that gives Sofia the edge as it blends in better if you get me? Like Sofia also travels better and works in America - Jemima doesn't quite so well apparently - and other cultures too. However, Sofia is more popular but in certain circles Jemima can be more so. Popularity doesn't matter that much though. Also Jemima has nn potential whereas Sofia has Sof which is OK but will she be 'Sofia with an F' and get mixed up spelling wise - really annoying? I just don't like how Sophia looks tbh. If anyone has any thoughts I'd love to hear them.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
BatleyTownswomensGuild · 24/05/2020 20:28

Prefer Sofia, but Sofie/ Sophie is even nicer....

123Dancewithme · 23/05/2020 23:42

Jemima is lovely

DukeOfEarlGrey · 23/05/2020 22:51

Sofia is lovely. I’ve known three Sofias and all were very beautiful, lovely people that I slightly envied!

Gremlinpoop · 23/05/2020 22:46

Jemima is more unusual and pretty. Sofia is everywhere ( with both spellings).
Both nice but I would go with Jemima.

georgialondon · 23/05/2020 22:43

I Iike Sofia. I think Jemima's just dreadful.

borntohula · 23/05/2020 22:36

Sofia

Chickoletta · 23/05/2020 18:22

Prefer Jemima but also like Sophia. Sofia looks too try-hard to me - like you’re trying to be more exotic, and she would spend a lifetime spelling it. I know a teenage Sofie (her mother is German) who finds it very annoying.

Confusedbutheyho · 23/05/2020 18:12

Sofia is lovely

TildaTurnip · 23/05/2020 18:11

Sofia

Littlepoppet1 · 23/05/2020 18:11

I prefer Sofia/Sophia. Jemima is a cats name.

Lordfrontpaw · 23/05/2020 18:08

I remember Play School... Jemima (rag doll) was one of the scary toys that looked like they’d been rescued out of a skip.

peanutsandcream · 23/05/2020 18:05

I prefer Jemima because it is the more unusual name. I really like the nn Jem. I prefer Sophia to Sofia.

Edenember · 23/05/2020 17:07

I prefer Sofia but even more prefer Sophia.

Iwalkinmyclothing · 23/05/2020 15:30

Sofia

daisypond · 23/05/2020 15:26

I can't abide Jemima. Unless you're upper class it's just trying to be something you're not.
See how people regard names differently! Jemima isn’t an upper-class name to me at all. It’s the opposite, a slave name from the past, with that Aunt Jemima association. Nice name, though.

effiehabb · 23/05/2020 15:12

We originally chose Jemima for our dd, but the 'Aunt Jemima' issue made us feel too uncomfortable, particularly as we travel a lot to a states. It is a beautiful name though.

Ellmau · 23/05/2020 14:34

Jemima makes me think of a rag doll.

Sofia sounds quite exotic. If you don't have a family connection with a culture that spells it with the f, I think the ph spelling is more classic.

Peachbubble · 23/05/2020 14:14

I prefer Jemima

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/05/2020 14:11

Sofia without contest. I can't abide Jemima. Unless you're upper class it's just trying to be something you're not.

daisypond · 23/05/2020 13:56

They are both nice.
Sophia, not Sofia, unless you have links to a country where it’s spelled that way. I think it’s odd otherwise.
Jemima is nice, but the Aunt Jemima figure might put me off.

daisydukes7576 · 23/05/2020 13:54

Sofia c

LondonTowers · 23/05/2020 13:46

Sophia/ Sofia is much more of a toff name if you ask me, but who cares if you like it!

Personally, I don't like the name. I think it sounds awkward Hmm and dull. Jemima is much better.

milkysmum · 23/05/2020 13:32

I prefer Sophia, with that spelling, but I'm biased as that's my daughter's name. I don't like the nn Soph though ( I neither does she!) and she is generally know as a Phi, or Phia

SionnachRua · 23/05/2020 13:21

Sofia.

Jemima is dreadful - fussy, frilly and racist in the US too!

elfran · 23/05/2020 13:17

Jemima by about a million, Sofia (no matter the spelling) is a bit boring and run-of-the-mill to me.

However, I am biased - my best friend's daughter is called Jemima and she is the CUTEST kid ever. She lives in North America, for what it's worth, and her mum gets great feedback on the choice there. People find it surprising and adorable, not problematic (that I know of).