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Baby names

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

Original poster

Genevieve

55 replies

Thefaceofboe · 31/05/2021 10:40

What are your first thoughts when you hear this name? We have decided on it (I think) for our baby girl, but now the more I say it I’m becoming unsure and don’t know whether to go for a ‘safer’ name.

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Marcipex · 02/06/2021 10:40

I love it and don’t know any.
I would assume Genie was Jeanie though.

cariadlet · 02/06/2021 10:53

I've never met one in real life and can't think of any apart from the vintage car in the old film. I think it's a lovely name.

KirstenBlest · 02/06/2021 11:45

I only know two IRL, one French, one English.

It's probably popular on here because of the -eve ending.

Greendaisydays · 02/06/2021 16:27

Just to add to the confusion it can be pronounced two ways in French. My godmother is French and it is her name but pronounced Je-ne-vee-ev

Lemur12 · 02/06/2021 16:42

I think it's ok, but loses something with an English accent. I know of two. One uses her full name, the other goes by Gevi (Jevi).

zingally · 02/06/2021 17:03

It's pretty, but will undoubtedly end up being shortened in all sorts of ways, not necessarily of your choosing!

CherryonBiscuit · 02/06/2021 17:22

Really classy

CargoBobbie · 02/06/2021 17:52

I have a Genevieve, shortened to Vivi (Vee-Vee) Smile

Missmonkeypenny · 02/06/2021 18:36

I have a friend called Genevieve who goes by Fi Smile

Tillygetsit · 02/06/2021 22:55

Pretty name. My dds friend goes by Jenna.

DelilahTheParrot · 02/06/2021 22:58

Love it

Recycledblonde · 02/06/2021 23:05

I know someone whose dd is called Genevieve, it’s shortened to Gigi which I think is lovely. Mum is half french.

JellyBellySmith · 02/06/2021 23:12

A Genevieve I knew was nicknamed both "Jen" and "Vivi".

MojoJojo71 · 02/06/2021 23:16

Love it but we couldn’t agree on pronunciation. I wanted Jenna-veev but DS who was 16 at the time insisted it should be Jon-vee-ev so in the end we called her Jennifer instead. I’ll be outed by this if anyone who knows me reads it but DS stuck with calling her Jon-vee-ev anyway and has never, ever used her real name even though she is nearly 9yo now.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 02/06/2021 23:26

Pretty name imo and has a lot of nn options if for some reason she dislikes the full version when older (Ginny, Gen/Genny, Vivi, Eve/Evie, Neve etc). To me Genevieve is already the "safe" option - the lovely Guinevere would be the brave one (because of it's rarity and strong association with the Arthurian queen).

Violetlavenders · 03/06/2021 11:59

I like Geneviève pronounced the original French way. Beautiful name.

I don't like the English way of saying it.

Violetlavenders · 03/06/2021 12:01

I wanted Jenna-veev but DS who was 16 at the time insisted it should be Jon-vee-ev

How on earth to you get those pronunciations from Geneviève? ShockConfused

KirstenBlest · 03/06/2021 13:46

All the more reason to leave the name alone

French

I hear the French version as 2-syllables not 3

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 03/06/2021 14:48

The only two I've met (in South East/London area) were "Jenna-veev" - interesting to know that wouldn't be the correct pronunciation in France!

KirstenBlest · 03/06/2021 14:59

I met a Geneviève (Zhonv-yev) first so Genevieve (Jennuh-veev) sounds quite different.

User629202 · 03/06/2021 15:00

I absolutely love it. I had a friend called Genevieve growing up, she’s the only one I’ve ever met. I always had name envy, it’s so pretty and unusual!

KirstenBlest · 03/06/2021 15:02

I don't understand the need for a nn. Just pick a name you like enough too use.

Dollywilde · 03/06/2021 15:03

I love it, we decided against it as my sister is Jenny and we thought it was too similar.

applespearslemons · 03/06/2021 15:04

Great name. Go for it

Original poster
Thefaceofboe · 03/06/2021 17:59

I don't understand the need for a nn. Just pick a name you like enough too use

I don’t want a nickname? My point before was I’m worried as it’s a long name it’ll get shortened, which ideally we don’t want. It’s a lovely name as it is

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