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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby girl name - which one?

39 replies

MummyJune2017 · 12/12/2020 19:56

Baby girl due in Jan. We love long names that can be shortened to lots of different nicknames, currently torn between Genevieve and Dorothy.
Currently have a Josephine, what do people think?

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Gherkin32 · 13/12/2020 12:11

LOVE Josephine and Genevieve together. Not OTT, they sound perfect together! Smile

MerchantOfVenom · 13/12/2020 04:41

Definitely Genevieve.

Boymumzy · 13/12/2020 04:30

Genevieve. I love Evelyn/ Eve for short.

CakeRattleandRoll · 13/12/2020 04:18

Love Genevieve. Don't think it's 'too much' with Josephine (love that too) if you are shortening the names for everyday use.

Mally2020 · 13/12/2020 03:41

Not keen on either but not genevieve

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 13/12/2020 01:17

Not keen on Dorothy - it feels dated to me, unlike the more classic Josephine (Dorothea or Theodora is marginally better but I still don't love it). Genevieve is lovely and would be my choice but is a tiny bit "soundalike" to Josephine.

Other suggestions to match Josephine (long classic names that have several shortenings):
Adaline (Ada, Addie, Allie)
Caroline (Carrie, Callie, Caro)
Charlotte (Charlie, Lottie, Callie)
Cecilia (Cece, Cissy, Lia)
Beatrice (Bea, Tris, Trixie)
Madeleine (Maddie, Lainey, Della)
Helena or Eleanor (Nell, Leni, Ellie, Ella)
Elizabeth (there's dozens! but I'd be tempted by Beth for the Little Women pairing)
Louisa (Lola, Lulu, Lou)
Catherine (Kitty, Kate, Cathy, Trina)
Georgina (Gigi, Gia, Georgie, Ginny)
Harriet (Harry, Etta, Hattie, Hetty)
Alexandra (Lexi, Sasha, Xandra, Alex)

Awrite · 13/12/2020 00:38

I have always loved Dorothea.

MercyBodle · 13/12/2020 00:35

I love Genevieve. I like Dorothy in a vintage chic kind of way. I feel Dorothy works better at Josephine's sister.

christmasmiserymary · 13/12/2020 00:26

Evangeline
Catherine
Annabella
Samantha

Firebird83 · 13/12/2020 00:08

I prefer Genevieve but Dorothy goes better with Josephine

grandmasterstitch · 12/12/2020 22:59

I love Dorothy, it's on my list. Could be Dot or Dotty

DramaAlpaca · 12/12/2020 22:01

Love both, and both are perfect with Josephine. If I had to pick it would be Dorothy.

Cam2020 · 12/12/2020 21:59

Dorothea nn Thea?.

Nicer than Dorothy but I'm scarred by Middlemarch. Probably means nothing to most people though!

Lobsterquadrille2 · 12/12/2020 21:43

Definitely Dorothy.

AntiHop · 12/12/2020 21:33

Or Jocelyn

AntiHop · 12/12/2020 21:31

What about Elizabeth?

karenlovesherkidsxx · 12/12/2020 21:29

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Spied · 12/12/2020 21:27

Genevieve

AltJ · 12/12/2020 21:25

Genevieve has too many 'e's, it looks messy.

Dorothy is awful.

Any others on your list?

If you like three syllable names..
Imogen
Violet
Annabel

Chilldonaldchill · 12/12/2020 21:23

Dorothy.
Genevieve is too much of a mouthful with Josephine.

Whatsyourflava · 12/12/2020 21:22

Dorothy by a mile and more

TomorrowsPrincess · 12/12/2020 21:14

We have a Francesca, who we call Frankie

springdale1 · 12/12/2020 21:02

I’ve met three baby Genevieve’s at my 6 month old daughters various baby classes recently if that’s the type of thing you are concerned about! Same for lots and lots of Willow’s and Lyra’s!

Margo34 · 12/12/2020 20:37

Dorothy.

LilacSloth · 12/12/2020 20:35

Genevieve is lovely. Vivienne or Madeleine sound nice with Josephine too.