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 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!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Sew3stitch · 23/08/2020 09:23

I love it! I think it works for all ages and is strong and feminine.

lottiegarbanzo · 23/08/2020 09:19

Who says it's bad? They're wrong, it's lovely Smile

GinWithASplashOfTonic · 23/08/2020 09:16

I like it
I was almost called Imogen and sometimes I think I'd prefer Imogen to my actual name

MikeUniformMike · 23/08/2020 08:59

It's Shakespearean, so it should be a classic name.
I don't love it but it's ok.
I don't like Immy or contrived diminutives like Genny or Mimi, but as a full name it is fine.

Actually, thinking about it, it is quite nice.

daisypond · 23/08/2020 08:50

@ImaSababa

It's very private school leavers' hoodie.
Many, many years ago maybe. Not for years now, though.
ImaSababa · 23/08/2020 08:48

It's very private school leavers' hoodie.

Valambtine · 23/08/2020 08:38

I am a 70s girl with a sensible 70s name (along the Claire, Sarah, Susan lines) and Imogen is my middle name. I always wished it was my first name as it's more romantic and pretentious than my utilitarian first name. I would have been a more wafty willowy sort of person if I'd been Imogen Sensiblename rather than Sensiblename Imogen. Mind you back then no one had ever heard of it and I used to explain it to my friends as "sounds a bit like Emma-Jane".

In short, I love it and wish it was my first name :)

Foxinthechickencoop · 23/08/2020 08:37

Oh I think it’s an absolutely beautiful name. I know a lovely little girl called Imogen whose about 7.
It’s making a bit of a come back I think, but it’s pretty timeless.
Really lovely name

PlantPotting · 23/08/2020 08:34

Love the name Imogen

What makes you think it's so unpopular on here OP @baitandtackle ? It seems pretty well liked on Mumsnet to me but as others have said , no names receive universal approval on here.

I think it's a beautiful Shakespearean classic name and I love the nickname options too

@ToyKitchenSink that's interesting there's 2 Imogen's in a class but I suppose not too surprising if you look at the statistics as the name was more commonly used 10 years ago. The name peaked in 2010 when it reached number 26 in the charts. Since then the numbers of babies called imogen has been declining each and every year for the last 10 years. So it's a great name to pick popularity wise as it's on a big downhill trajectory and looks set to be well outside the top 50 names by the time the official 2020 statistics are released.

daisypond · 23/08/2020 08:31

Not for me. In theory,I should look it, it being Shakespearean and all. However, the fact that the name has come about from a spelling mistake or printer’s error bothers me. In practice, also, it’s a name that’s the opposite of posh now. I know a few Imogens who are not the nicest, so its associations aren’t good.

jackstini · 23/08/2020 08:12

Love it, ds would have been Imogen if he had been a girl

I think it's strong, feminine without being fussy and I like the nicknames

ILoveStickers · 23/08/2020 07:27

Really nice name, nice and Shakespearean. There's a few people on this board who have taken against it for some reason - that's not the same as the world disliking it.

We all have our own taste! I don't like Charlotte at all, for example, but I'd never say there was anything intrinsically wrong with it. Don't doubt yourself.

pilates · 23/08/2020 07:27

I like it, it’s a beautiful name

whiteroseredrose · 23/08/2020 07:22

I like the name. Neither posh nor common. I know 2 Imogens, both nice intelligent girls.

thegoatwhisperer · 23/08/2020 06:47

I'm not overly keen, it's too much like imagine to me

It's not awful though, there's definitely worse names out there!

Newdaynewname1 · 23/08/2020 06:35

There are so many of them! each class seems to have at least 2.
but if you like it!

Dinosauraddict · 23/08/2020 06:31

If we'd had a girl not a DS, she would've been called Imogen.

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 23/08/2020 06:29

It’s a clumsy name in my head but it’s ok! I don’t like how Charlotte looks - and Imogen is the same. But it’s fine and won’t date and certainly isn’t ghastly.

What about Kala-Mae?

Whenwillow · 23/08/2020 06:24

I like it, was on my list along with Charlotte if I'd had another girl.
People are very odd about names, at least judging by the threads on here.
A name is just a name.

seriousandloyal · 23/08/2020 06:18

I think Imogen is a lovely name.

mathanxiety · 23/08/2020 05:37

Liking it or otherwise is a matter of personal taste.

I don't like it. I think it sounds like 'engine'.

Weirdly, I sort of like Imogene. It's virtually the same name, but maybe a case of 'Vive la difference'.

trappedsincesundaymorn · 23/08/2020 05:32

DD's middle name is Imogen. I think it's a lovely name. Oh and she's definitely not posh. Grin

Saltyauntiepoop · 23/08/2020 05:09

It's so unposh. Dislike very much.

NeverHadANickname · 23/08/2020 02:42

I really like it.

WildCherryBlossom · 23/08/2020 02:38

Posted too soon. Was trying to say I love it. One of the best Shakespearean names IMO

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread