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Baby names

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Is Imogen that bad?

158 replies

baitandtackle · 22/08/2020 23:25

I think Imogen is a beautiful name and it's top of the list if we have a girl (i'm due in March). But why do so many dislike it? It's making me want to take it off the list!

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shesellsseashells99 · 24/08/2020 20:38

I think it's a beautiful name

Hirewiredays · 24/08/2020 17:34

@Whatsyourflava @HeronLanyon

Thank you for your lovely comments! 😘😘

Whatsyourflava · 24/08/2020 15:44

A beautiful name and one of my favourites. Such a classic but also very underused these days if you look at the statistics. Love it. Congratulations @Hirewiredays , so glad it's even passed the in law test! Can't say I'm surprised, it is a lovely name with many good qualities

HeronLanyon · 24/08/2020 15:10

hirewire congrats. Beautiful name.

PoodleMoth · 24/08/2020 15:00

It's not my cup of tea but I can never put my finger on why. Imogen and also Freya I just can't like no matter how many lovely ones I meet. Don't let others put you off though as everyone has their own personal prefences

EggyPegg · 24/08/2020 11:32

@Aria20

I love Imogen! Really wanted it for dd but DH hated it, said it reminded him of a character off Big Brother who slept with a famous footballer years ago... I said it was a ridiculous association but he couldn't get past it!
My DH wouldn't let me have Joseph because he associated it with the scene in Last Boy Scout where Bruce Willis says 'he calls me Joseph'. I told him that was a pretty niche association, but he wasn't having it.

Though he did then agree to James, which is the name mentioned literally the line before the Joseph one in the same scene so 🤷‍♀️

Hirewiredays · 24/08/2020 10:58

I just called my three week old Imogen. I am floored by the amount of people saying how much they love the name and how beautiful it is. My in-laws are hard to please and they love it. It's a beautiful name. Go for it!

orangeblosssom · 24/08/2020 09:50

Don't like it

HeronLanyon · 24/08/2020 09:40

Love Imogen - I too remember that big brother Imogen but always felt she was not a ‘true’ Imogen iyswim Grin

Aria20 · 24/08/2020 09:38

I love Imogen! Really wanted it for dd but DH hated it, said it reminded him of a character off Big Brother who slept with a famous footballer years ago... I said it was a ridiculous association but he couldn't get past it!

PointeShoesandTutus · 24/08/2020 09:32

@remainin interesting you discounted it because of being in a French speaking place - our DD is an Imogen and my French parents love it - and it sounds lovely in a French accent (although most things do!)

It’s definitely not a French name though - so many people have asked if it is, because I have French parents and DD has a French middle name.

Obviously it goes without saying I love it as it’s DDs name. We wanted something that wasn’t cutesy and didn’t end in either -a or -ie, but that was still pretty.

SnakesOrLadders · 24/08/2020 08:57

It’s a nice name- I wouldn’t have considered it for dd as too popular but it’s nice and pretty sounding. I’m surprised people have strong opinions on it I’d put it in the same category as Isabella/Amelia/Amelie/Sophia

Megan2018 · 24/08/2020 08:54

It’s lovely. We have one in the family hence it wasn’t on our list. But it’s beautiful.

Lavenderblues · 24/08/2020 08:53

I hate the sound. So unfeminine.

vinoelle · 24/08/2020 08:52

Very surprised that a lot of people think it’s posh. I know we aren’t allowed to say ‘chavvy’ on MN but that’s how I’ve always viewed it - people trying to be aspirational but completely missing the mark, another example would be Darcey ...

MyMomisaplumber · 24/08/2020 08:41

@FluffyEggsontoast, fair enough. However, I work in a school (ages 2-11)and we have at least one Imogen and one Matilda in every year group. Regional variation I guess. X

BellsaRinging · 24/08/2020 07:34

I love it, and the woman I know with the name. Totally dont get the hate!

HairyToity · 24/08/2020 07:33

I like the name Imogen. A lovely classic name IMO.

Pippilangstrumpfie · 24/08/2020 07:31

I don't like it.

It sounds like 3 different syllables randomly put together. I find it harsh and unfeminine.

remainin · 24/08/2020 03:01

I love the name so much! Imogen would have been my DD's name but for two reasons: it doesn't work in French (we were living in a French-speaking country when she was born) and also, my Swedish stepfather famously said, "What the bloody hell kind of name is that?!"

CircleofWillis · 24/08/2020 02:48

I love it. I think it is soft and musical. I wonder if it sounds harsher in different accents as I can't understand the posters who think it sounds ugly.

mathanxiety · 24/08/2020 01:01

The name of the character Innogen/ Imogen was derived form the Irish for daughter - en.wiktionary.org/wiki/in%C3%ADon etymology here.

It seems a little like stating the obvious, like Colleen (meaning girl).

EggyPegg · 24/08/2020 00:31

I knew it was that thread that sent you here! Mine, DHs, both DC, my middle name and DC1 middle name (and every single pet we have) appeared on that thread. Try not to let it bother you.

I love Imogen, and it was on my list for both of my DCs, however I only had boys so no opportunity to use it. I think it's classic and timeless (like my boys names, which on the other thread are declared boring)..

Tavannach · 24/08/2020 00:15

Love Imogen - don't let a bunch of random (sometimes very random) strangers put you off it. It's a great name.

TwizzledTurkey · 24/08/2020 00:06

I personally love the name Imogen

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