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Baby names

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

Girls name help

37 replies

Babalish · 22/07/2021 11:26

Hello, please can I have opinions on the following names:

Joni: love but can't tell if it's old fashioned, or maybe it's more Joan that has that vibe. There will definitely be an old-fashioned type middle name so not sure if need something more modern as contrast.

Autumn: love this but don't like any of the nicknames really although that's not really a deal breaker I know.

Vivienne: would probably mainly go by Vivi. Something holding me back on this one but not sure what!

Sapphire: absolutely love this but have had several people say it's a stripper name. Would probably use Saffy/Sapphy day to day.

Thanks!

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bolivia · 22/07/2021 22:08

I would name the child sapphire its a good name

Synchrony · 22/07/2021 22:07

Personally I like Sapphire but I also know a Sephryn, nn Seffy if any good?

I've never heard of Joni Mitchell and pronounce Joni the same as Johnny.

Thehouseofmarvels · 22/07/2021 21:52

Sapphire Elisabeth Joanne is nice I think !

Thehouseofmarvels · 22/07/2021 21:51

No I meant going by a middle name if the child disliked Sapphire. Saffy Jo or Saffy Anne at a push but not Sapphire and something else.. too long !

TwatyKaty · 22/07/2021 21:06

Oh yes, @Thehouseofmarvels, that's actually quite common (I have several friends who are known by their middle names). I was thinking more of calling a child by their first and middle names (in this case, Sapphire Anne). If the child were to be known as Anne, that would be very different,

Thehouseofmarvels · 22/07/2021 20:51

Boris Johnson and Meghan Markle do, those are their middle names. MIL boyfriend goes by his. I use a short version of my middle name alongside my first name on social media so pupils can't find me!

TwatyKaty · 22/07/2021 20:47

But does anyone ever use their middle names? My DC have several, but they are only ever called by variations on their first names.

sorryiasked · 22/07/2021 20:46

How about Genevieve nn Vivi?

Thehouseofmarvels · 22/07/2021 20:46

Shame about Ruby yes! My partner doted on his exes kid for years but ex went back to the bio father (unsucesfully). Ruby was her name so would be wierd for him.

garlictwist · 22/07/2021 20:44

I don't mind Joni. Autumn is a bit hippyish and Vivienne sounds like some dreary headteacher from the olden days.

Thehouseofmarvels · 22/07/2021 20:42

I deffinately think something like Sapphire Elizabeth Anne or Sapphire Mary Anne could tone the name down and make it usable. Saffy Anne is sweet !

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 22/07/2021 16:19

My fave of your choices is Vivienne - a pretty retro/vintage name (although I personally prefer the simpler Vivien spelling - like Vivien Leigh).

Joni is cute but to me it sounds like a nickname (for Joanna or even classic Josephine if Joan is too old?). I also agree you might get the odd "Johnny?" even though Joni Mitchell is fairly well known.

Autumn is okay - don't love/don't hate (and probaby the most popular/safest of your choices).

Sapphire is too brave for me I think, although I'm trying to work out why it sounds slightly downmarket when Emerald doesn't. It's a shame because objectively it's quite pretty! Maybe Stephanie could have the nn Saffy?

Pigeonorcoot · 22/07/2021 14:48

Joni is great. I would have considered it but my friend has one (she'd be about 7 now I think and I've never heard of another). Personally I prefer Joanie but it's great either way.

Babalish · 22/07/2021 12:54

@Thehouseofmarvels good suggestion for middle names just not sure if I have the guts to use Sapphire if it's such a negative reaction everywhere. I wouldn't want it to have a negative effect on her life in the future with jobs etc and people making assumptions. That's a shame you can't use Ruby if you like it!

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Babalish · 22/07/2021 12:52

Sorry hit send too soon. I know what you mean about Pearl, not a fan. I guess Diamond is another one that would be frowned upon.

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Babalish · 22/07/2021 12:51

@SnakeyTakey I know what you me

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SnakeyTakey · 22/07/2021 12:42

Yes it is funny that Ruby is totally unremarkable whereas Sapphire is eyebrow raising. Personally I think Pearl is the worst of those gemstone names. I always picture a Pearl as being hard as nails.

Thehouseofmarvels · 22/07/2021 12:38

If you really wanted Sapphire you could have 2 very traditional middle names, Elizabeth ect. She could always use them if she was very conventional as an adult.

Thehouseofmarvels · 22/07/2021 12:35

I can't even use Ruby because of something ( long story). I might use Emerald, but why is Emerald ok and Sapphire stripper lol

DirtyDancing · 22/07/2021 12:26

Love Vivienne!

Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 22/07/2021 12:20

@Cbeebiesrehab

Really like Joni. Like Saffy as a diminutive but prefer it for Saffron. Not too keen on Autumn and ‘Viv’ really puts me off Vivienne.
Agree with all this! Joni is a great name and sounds fresh.
Babalish · 22/07/2021 12:18

@SnakeyTakey I find Seraphina a little fussy, I do like Seraphine though but not sure enough to use it.

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Babalish · 22/07/2021 12:13

@Thehouseofmarvels it's annoying isn't it! How come Ruby is ok but Sapphire is always a stripper name, ha!

@DotDotDotDotDot I love Emerald, nickname Emmie, I'm sure my DH didn't like this but I'll run it past him again...

I hadn't thought about people saying Johnny, I figured most people know who Joni Mitchell is so would know how to pronounce it but I guess after a certain generation maybe not. I agree Joanie loses the cool vibe of it and autocorrect keeps wanting to change it to Joanne so worried people would think it was that.

I do like Safiya but it doesn't go with our other daughter's name at all unfortunately.

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SnakeyTakey · 22/07/2021 12:12

sorry, didn't notice that @Cbeebiesrehab and @DotDotDotDotDot had already suggested Safiya.

SnakeyTakey · 22/07/2021 12:11

What about Seraphina with nn Saffy? And there's Safiya (although think that might be predominantly used by Muslim families)

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