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Baby names

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

Original poster

Vinnie for a girl

113 replies

Bettieboogie · 07/01/2021 00:51

So me and my partner both absolutely love the name Vinnie. Originally we were both dead cert if we was having a boy we would call them vincent. But when we found out we were having a girl we settled on the name emma but neither of us was really that in love with it. A month or so ago my other half turned round and said what about Vinnie for a girl. We both agreed we liked it so much more than Emma but I can't decide whether to just go for it and call her Vinnie or whether to give her a more 'formal' name on her birth cert.
I've been trawling the net, neither of us like lavinia, lavina, lovina, alvina, elvina, davina. I quite like vivenne but he doesn't.

Any other suggestions and thoughts on Vinnie in its own right welcome 😊

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Original poster
Bettieboogie · 07/01/2021 06:40

@CodenameVillanelle

Someone suggested using winnie instead. No idea where you got winnie with vinnie as a nickname from.

OP posts:
CodenameVillanelle · 07/01/2021 06:37

Winnie nickname Vinnie? Are you serious?

lockedownloretta · 07/01/2021 06:31

Winnie the witch

Be glad you can't have it.

Original poster
Bettieboogie · 07/01/2021 06:25

It's amazing how many people have automatically said Vinnie is a boys name. When it is an old english girls name in its own right, even though it is old and barely used. I suppose that is food for thought.

I've also found myself feeling quite defensive reading some of the comments which has only made me realise more that I really love the name.

One suggestion is winnie which i absolutely love but we cant use as someone else has.

OP posts:
CodenameVillanelle · 07/01/2021 06:21

I don't like the name much for boy or girl but if you really like it then you must give her a proper name on her birth certificate. Either Lavinia or Davinia would would ok.

Oreservoir · 07/01/2021 06:17

I had an Aunty Vin, short for Lavinia.

If you and your dp like the name then go for it.

Aerielview · 07/01/2021 06:15

Please don't call your daughter Vinnie. She'll resent you for it when she grows up

tyranny · 07/01/2021 06:14

All I can think of is Vinnie Jones and thuggery. It’s associated with overtly masculine violence in my subconscious so I couldn’t use it for either sex. Without that connotation it’s a cute nn. But I can’t get rid of the association.

Housewife2010 · 07/01/2021 06:11

How about the spelling "Vivien" like Vivien Leigh?

AngelDelightUK · 07/01/2021 06:07

How about Verienne?

Flabbymcnally · 07/01/2021 06:03

I have a female Vinnie ancestor from 1800s in my family tree!

lockedownloretta · 07/01/2021 05:40

Vinnie is bloody awful for a boy never mind a girl!
But Vincenza could work?

calimommy · 07/01/2021 05:34

I really don't understand the trend for giving girls boys names. It feels like we are saying they should aspire to be more male. Being feminine/female is not enough.

That aside, Vinnie seems more like a NN than a given name. So picking a full name which can accommodate it would be preferable. Lavina, Davina and Lavinia are options.

interest12 · 07/01/2021 05:28

I like Vinnie. Nn might be best though. Genevieve is great or any V name, say Valentina

Coldwinterahead1 · 07/01/2021 05:22

Genevieve. Then nn Vinnie

polkadotpixie · 07/01/2021 05:16

Vanessa?

ColdCottage · 07/01/2021 04:55

No

Unfairestofthemall · 07/01/2021 04:24

My DD is called Hattie all the time. However her name on all legal documents is Harriet. Her dad didn't like Hattie as a stand alone name so we compromised. I don't dislike Harriet it has grown on me but Hattie just sounds nicer to me. If you think the Vivienne/vinnie compromise would work go for it! No one needs to know her full name and having it to fall back on when they are naughty helps too Wink

missmouse101 · 07/01/2021 04:07

I think calling a girl Vinnie is terrible. Trying to come up with a longer name you don't even like just to make it fit is even worse.

Growingyou · 07/01/2021 03:53

I'm in Australia but have a lovely (female) friend who gets Vinnie and Vin. Her long full name is of Indian background but she always introduces herself as Vinnie and I imagine most people think that's her full name. She is beautiful, intelligent and quick witted, so I have such warm feelings for the name. I don't think it's too masculine sounding at all. Go for it.

Mally2020 · 07/01/2021 03:51

I'm conflicted I like Vinnie but I agree with above about choosing a longer name for them to choose from. Also no-one might have thought of this yet but she might not even like your name you have chosen, also she hasn't been born yet, my best advice would be to wait till she is born then if she is a Vinnie you would know when she is born

SmeleanorSmellstrop · 07/01/2021 03:34

You could even use something like Sylvie or Jovie and have Vinnie as a nickname

SmeleanorSmellstrop · 07/01/2021 03:32

I would chose Vivienne or Winnie - giving a little girl a well-known boy's name as her full name might upset her when she's bigger, would be nice for her to have a full name she can use just incase she doesn't like to use Vinnie with friends or colleagues or whatever. But as a nickname it is cute.

maddsclairelouise · 07/01/2021 01:55

@Bettieboogie I'm glad you like Vina, I think it's pretty also.
So cool that our nana's have the same name! I don't think Vinnie is typically associated with Veronica, usually its Ronnie!
Please let me know what you decide! Smile

SleepingStandingUp · 07/01/2021 01:50

What about Vanya? Same letters