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Baby names

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Original poster

Do you prefer Joy or Mercy?

104 replies

Flutterflybutterby · 25/01/2022 11:37

Smile
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lottiegarbanzo · 25/01/2022 12:45

Anything except Mercy, sorry.

It sounds like she's 'begging for mercy', whereas Clemency sounds like someone offering clemency. Grammatically incorrect but true.

I just 'hear' a voice saying 'mercy! mercy!'.

Tullig · 25/01/2022 12:44

@Happenchance

Joy. Mercy sounds like a safe word in S&M. I prefer Joyce to both.
God, I always assumed in my naivety, knowing less about S and M than I do about medieval philosophy that safe words were something completely out of context that couldn't sound like part of the S and M situation. So you'd say 'Canteloupe!' or 'Nuneaton!' or 'Spray Foam Insulation!'
Ikeabag · 25/01/2022 12:37

Joy. I've known a lovely one, and also there was a Bigger Girl at school called Joy who played guitar and sang in assemblies and I wanted to BE her when I was teeny tiny. But they are very specific and personal reasons. It's the closest to a virtue name I'll go - I don't like Mercy or Grace or Honour (or the u-less spelling, blegh), Faith sometimes appeals as it has a cooler edge but it depends on my mood. I also like a short name for a girl, and Joy totally fits there.

Happenchance · 25/01/2022 12:26

Joy. Mercy sounds like a safe word in S&M. I prefer Joyce to both.

RuthW · 25/01/2022 12:23

Joy

TrashyPanda · 25/01/2022 11:59

Mercy always makes me think of Pretty Woman!

Fatherliamdeliverance · 25/01/2022 11:59

Joy! What a lovely meaning. Yes to the Mercy Dulbottle reference and clemency being a nicer variation on the meaning

CornflakesOnTheSolesOfHerShoes · 25/01/2022 11:58

I love Mercy - never really liked Joy as a name, though obviously the meaning’s lovely.
I also love Faith, Charity, Verity and Grace. Not quite so keen on Hope or Patience...

DramaAlpaca · 25/01/2022 11:57

Joy, by a long way.

Tullig · 25/01/2022 11:57

@ritalinda

Joy. Mercy unfortunately makes me think of someone pleading for mercy during torture or something
Yes, ever since I read Michel Faber's (remarkably nasty) novel Under the Skin, 'Mercy' has given me the shivers. I agree that Clemency is nice, if it's the meaning that appeals.

I don't care for Joy, though -- I think it's too close to Joyce for me, and that feels dated. Plus the only Joy I've known well was a prurient gossip with eyebrows plucked into semi-circles that made her look perpetually astonished.

Synchrony · 25/01/2022 11:56

Joy because I just don't like the sound of Mercy as a word. It sounds lispy somehow.

SirSamuelVimes · 25/01/2022 11:56

I love Joy- reminds me of the brilliant Joy from Drop the Dead Donkey.

Yes!

Don't like Mercy as a name. Joy is lovely though.

Lockdownbear · 25/01/2022 11:53

@ritalinda

Joy. Mercy unfortunately makes me think of someone pleading for mercy during torture or something
Same here. Joy or Joyce but not Mercy.
DartmoorChef · 25/01/2022 11:52

How about Mercia?

notangelinajolie · 25/01/2022 11:52

Joy.
'Begging for mercy'', is the first thing that came to mind for Mercy.
Whereas Joy sounds like a nice happy name.

lopape · 25/01/2022 11:52

Joy!

Fl0w3ry · 25/01/2022 11:52

Joy

SageRosemary · 25/01/2022 11:51

Joy, but I would choose Hope or Verity if you are set on a virtue name

bossyboo · 25/01/2022 11:50

Joy for definite. Lovely name - always makes me smile Smile

stickygotstuck · 25/01/2022 11:50

I like both, but I think Joy has the edge.

I've met two Joys, they were so, well, joyful! Grin

FolornLawn · 25/01/2022 11:49

I don't like either, but if I had to choose, then Joy. Mercy sounds very earnest indeed.

niceupthedanceagain · 25/01/2022 11:49

Mercy

RedCandyApple · 25/01/2022 11:47

I don’t like either but if I had to choose then joy

ritalinda · 25/01/2022 11:43

Joy. Mercy unfortunately makes me think of someone pleading for mercy during torture or something

SirChenjins · 25/01/2022 11:43

Joy - it’s a very happy sounding name Smile