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Baby names

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

Thanksgiving? It is too much?

212 replies

Cma1988 · 01/05/2021 10:12

Hiya, I’ve name changed here as I’m giving my child’s name so just using this username for this thread.
I’m due baby girl in a few days, (Dd3) and my DH and I are trying to pick a name.

We are really looking for a virtue name - we have Dd1 who is Honour, and we also had dd2 who sadly was born sleeping, due to lots of complications in pregnancy, who we also gave a virtue name.

We are looking for a name that marks the joy of having another girl after our loss and for what has been thankfully a good pregnancy.

We can’t use Joy though as a baby in our very close friendship circle has just been name Joy. Also can’t use Grace for a similar reason.

We are thinking ‘Thanksgiving’, as this conveys thankfulness and a sense of giving back for our blessing. DH loves it and wants it to be a done deal but I am thinking - it’s quite a mouthful and a big name to give to a little girl, what if it’s too much? And what would we shorten Thanksgiving to?

Can I have your thoughts on Thanksgiving, or if you think it’s too much, do you have any other suggestions?

We are Christians if that gives any context.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
M0rT · 01/05/2021 13:14

What about Hosanna?
Thanksgiving is just not a name and if your DH loves it so much he can introduce himself as Thanksgiving if he likes .....

Wabe · 01/05/2021 13:08

No, OP. It sounds like a minor character character in The Crucible — those Puritan naming traditions where people were called things like Obedience Smith, Be Thankful Grimes or WashedinthebloodoftheLord Jones.

superking · 01/05/2021 13:01

I like Faith and Felicity, I think Felicity goes better with your other daughters' names.

pinkyredrose · 01/05/2021 12:54

It's not great. You can use Grace or Joy if you want, it really doesn't matter if you know people that used those names.

SoMuchForSummerLove · 01/05/2021 12:54

I think you need to find a name that represents what she means, but subtly. I don't think I'd want to carry a name my whole life which was so representative of my parents' sadness turned to joy. It might be something of a burden.

Ninkanink · 01/05/2021 12:53

Peace might be an option too - one of the fruits of the Spirit, and always a good thing to wish/pray for on behalf of one’s children.

Notgotanyidea · 01/05/2021 12:52

Faith and Bliss are gorgeous. Although not to my taste, Trinity fits perfectly.

MitheringSunday · 01/05/2021 12:49

Naomi is Biblical, means something like 'sweetness' or 'pleasantness', and goes well with Honor.

Ninkanink · 01/05/2021 12:49

Grace was going to be my suggestion as I think it’s beautiful, but I’ve seen that you can’t use it.

Faith would be lovely too, or Promise.

MitheringSunday · 01/05/2021 12:46

I once knew of a Moreblessing.

Eliana, as suggested by a PP, is beautiful. I also think Felicity and Gloria are extremely apt. Laetitia means joy or gladness.

weegiemum · 01/05/2021 12:43

My church is about 50% white British and 50% black African.

Girls in the church include Prayer, Hope, Angel, Blessing, Grace, Patience and Constance. Boys are Patient, Genuine, but mainly more British names.

I can see why you like Thanksgiving,and the meaning of it is lovely, given your loss of baby Hope. But it's quite a name to live up to and I don't think she'd thank you for it.

Mamadothehump · 01/05/2021 12:43

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I don't think I've ever commented in a baby names thread but please don't call your daughter Thanksgiving. It really is not a name and she will be laughed at her whole life.

PattyPan · 01/05/2021 12:42

Sorry for your loss OP Flowers
I agree Thanksgiving isn’t suitable though - it’s not a name. I love Prudence and Constance, they would be on my list but I can’t use them for various reasons. Felicity and Verity are nice too. If you liked Joy but can’t use it then I think Felicity is a good alternative.

elliemara · 01/05/2021 12:36

I knew someone called Blessings once, and everyone (including me) thought that was such a lovely name, and really suited her too.

crabette · 01/05/2021 12:34

I came to agree with @ViolaValentina - Felicity is a lovely virtue name meaning happiness or bliss.

I think Thanksgiving is a bad idea OP, though I'm really sorry for your loss 💐

Others I like are Hope and Faith.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 01/05/2021 12:30

Also, don't worry about using names that friends have used, no one owns a name and you should absolutely use the name if you want to!

zigaziga · 01/05/2021 12:21

I really, really don’t think you can. Would you like to go through life as Thanksgiving?

Faith works well - through the tough journey to get to DD3 you and your DH kept “faith” in it all and this is your outcome. I think it’s lovely.

Gift - really grew to love this name on a girl I once knew at school. Your DD3 could be your gift after what you’ve been through?

Or I also thought of Abigail - Father’s Joy.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 01/05/2021 12:21

How about Hope, Grace or Joy? Agree that Thanksgiving is a mouthful though the sentiment is nice.

FeatheredHope · 01/05/2021 12:11

but to ask if it’s a joke is actually quite hurtful and rude

I appreciate this is a subject close to your heart, but when you are proposing such an OTT name, it’s really not surprising that people ask if it’s a genuine question. If anything, the reaction from posters should show you and Your DH just what you’d be saddling you’re daughter with for the rest of her life if you choose this. She’ll need a far thicker skin than you.
There are some lovey suggestions on here though.

MooseMoose · 01/05/2021 12:01

So sorry for your loss.

I agree with the other posters - Thanksgiving is truly awful. I'm personally not a fan of matching sibling names, at least not in an obvious way. If you really want a virtue name, then I think Felicity, meaning 'happiness', would be nice. Otherwise my choice would be Beatrice - 'she who brings happiness'. Or possibly something a bit different with a similar meaning, like Farrah or Ilaria.

clary · 01/05/2021 11:59

OP I am sorry for your loss.

I agree with others tho that Thanksgiving is a bit much. I love Felicity and Blessing also goes well with your other DDs' names. Honour, Hope and Blessing - lovely. Verity tho it has a different meaning is another lovely name and was used by a friend after a loss of a child.

SoMuchForSummerLove · 01/05/2021 11:54

I think that would be a hard name to handle.

Celeste?
Patience?
Merryn means joyful, and you could shorted to Merry too

Rainbowqueeen · 01/05/2021 11:50

I don’t see Thanksgiving as a virtue name so for me you wouldn’t be achieving what you wanted by choosing it

Do you like Prudence? Or Constance?
There have been some other lovely suggestions. Best wishes

Disfordarkchocolate · 01/05/2021 11:50

Blessing or Precious seem more fitting to me. Good luck.

Angelica789 · 01/05/2021 11:43

Charity or Mercy would be my choice for something more unusual. Otherwise Faith is lovely and very classic.