Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Clementine

33 replies

jrt2022 · 13/09/2022 15:43

Pronounced 'Clementeen' like Winston Churchill's wife, not 'Clementyne'.

I thought it was really popular and that was putting me off, but just looked on DarkGreener and it's really not - number 256 or something which is less popular than my other children's names (except Jemima!).

Had previously liked Clemency but a lot of people said it reminded them of Death Row.

Other names on the list but unsold on - Esther, Naomi, Phoebe, Iris, Imogen.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Helgadaley · 15/09/2022 22:25

Clémentine is lovely. Also Clemmie and Clem for short.

DurdleSnore · 15/09/2022 22:24

I love Clementine but I’m not sure now after a pp mentioned the Jem and Clem thing.

Jemima is a tough one to pair with I think. How about Cecily or Verity?

ChillysWaterBottle · 15/09/2022 21:19

Beautiful name x

Fivebeanchilli · 15/09/2022 15:45

I like it.
I think it's that holy grail of a name which is classic, nice, heard of, not overused...
I naturally pronounce it the same as you but do know people who pronounce it the other way too (I pronounce the fruit -teen but assume they say -tyne for that too).
It goes well with Jemima and the only thing I would be wary of is a Jem and Clem combo!
Having said that, Mumsnet is obsessed with nicknames and insistent that everyone with a long name will have it shortened.
My children have 3 syllable names with very obvious nicknames (think Benjamin, Nicholas, Beatrice, Abigail) and are now older teens/young adults and they still go by their full names and have done their whole lives. It's really not a given.

JellyfishandShells · 15/09/2022 15:35

Love Clementine - classic, and works well in full or shortened. Like Clémence as well. Lots of 30 year old +/- Naomis about in my experience, l like Phoebe but very, very popular.

caitlinrose · 15/09/2022 15:00

I think it's pretty.

It reminds me of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" which is a good movie.

I do pronounce it clem-en-tyne though and I think most people will due to the song. So if you pronounce it -teen you will correct people a lot.

I don't like it as much as -teen it reminds me of teens or teenagers.

I had a feeling that it was about to get really common a couple of years back but then it just never happened.

Clemency - it's pretty
Esther - I like old fashioned names but this is just okay to me
Naomi - a bit too 90s
Phoebe - cute but this is common so if you don't want a popular name this is not one you should pick
Iris - trendy and dislike the sound
Imogen - this is okay but it's common from my experience, I know a few

shreddednips · 15/09/2022 14:50

I quite like it, but only in its full form. Not a fan of Clemmie because it makes me think of 'clammy.'

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 15/09/2022 14:49

I know a Clementine (child), pronounced Tyne. I believe that she is the only one at her posh boarding school BUT there is a tik toker who does impressions of posh Chelsea mums, shrieking about "Clementine..." much to her mum's chagrin.

Original poster
jrt2022 · 15/09/2022 14:47

A580Hojas · 13/09/2022 19:42

She very likely become known as Clem or Clemmie so your weird pronounciation will fall by the wayside.

I have a 3 syllable first name and I know not one person who gives me the full 3 syllables. Even a really simple 3 syllable name like Natasha becomes Tash or Tasha. I know a Miriam - she is Mim.

Clementyne is so much nicer than Clementeen mind you.

It's not a 'weird pronunciation' 🙄Just because you might be less familiar with it doesn't make it weird. It is a very normal and perfectly acceptable pronunciation of the name. In fact, it's the traditionally British pronunciation. 'Clementyne' is American.

OP posts:
Original poster
jrt2022 · 15/09/2022 14:46

Wannakisstheteacher · 14/09/2022 17:02

Very popular here so I think it will date badly.

Terrible nickname options… Phlemmy, Clammy etc I know one 11 year old called it and she absolutely hates it and insists on being called by a middle name.

As for hating it and using a middle name - i know an Emily who hates her name and goes by her middle name and 'Emily' seems so harmless to me as a name! Liking a name is personal preference and not specific to certain names!

OP posts:
Original poster
jrt2022 · 15/09/2022 14:44

Wannakisstheteacher · 14/09/2022 17:02

Very popular here so I think it will date badly.

Terrible nickname options… Phlemmy, Clammy etc I know one 11 year old called it and she absolutely hates it and insists on being called by a middle name.

While it might be common in your particular area, it is not common in the UK (ranked 256th) and in the country where we currently live it's basically unheard of!

We also don't plan to use Clemmie as the nickname although I like it. We have another nickname for the name in mind. And in the country where we live nicknames are assigned rather than chosen by peers so we very much have control of that aspect.

OP posts:
AdoraLovesCake · 14/09/2022 17:17

Clementine as you pronounced it

Wannakisstheteacher · 14/09/2022 17:02

Very popular here so I think it will date badly.

Terrible nickname options… Phlemmy, Clammy etc I know one 11 year old called it and she absolutely hates it and insists on being called by a middle name.

Tootlingalong · 13/09/2022 23:10

Clem is a slang word for fat or heavy weight where I live in the North East. So for example "ooh he's put on a bit of clem", said in a derogatory way.
So sadly it's a no from me, but you'll probably be fine with it in other areas of the country. Does remind me of Mark Owen's song though.

TabithaTittlemouse · 13/09/2022 22:03

I love it. Not keen on the others!

Purplemoons2827 · 13/09/2022 21:49

I don’t like Clementine, much prefer the rest on your list. Phoebe is my favourite.

DubLynn · 13/09/2022 21:48

Not a fan, i just think of the fruit. And nickname Clemmie would surely turn to clammy

Mummytobe333 · 13/09/2022 21:11

Really dislike the name Clementine sorry!
Imogen is my favourite from the list - lovely name 😊💓

Snugglemonkey · 13/09/2022 21:09

I like Clementyne so much better than Clemanteen.

Luredbyapomegranate · 13/09/2022 21:02

I do like it, it is slightly twee, but in a sweet way - it goes with Jemima.

I slightly prefer Esther or even Naomi in that I’d rather be called one of those as an adult.

Phoebe and Iris are overused. Imogen is alright.

Others maybe -
Lois
Ines
Marianne
Frances
Fernanda
Cassia
Ianthe
Ismene
Verity

TightDiamondShoes · 13/09/2022 20:04

Was digging in the family tree yesterday and found a Clementina. Two birds- one stone. If the numpties can’t pronounce that, there’s no hope. 😉

middleofthelittle · 13/09/2022 20:01

Love it, on my list. I like Clemmie too

ProperVexed · 13/09/2022 19:53

Love it, and I would pronounce it Clementeen. It was top of my list .....but I had boys!

BigSidLittleSid · 13/09/2022 19:44

I hate the nicknames Clem and Clemmie so wouldn't use it for that reason.

I much prefer Esther, Naomi or Phoebe

A580Hojas · 13/09/2022 19:42

She very likely become known as Clem or Clemmie so your weird pronounciation will fall by the wayside.

I have a 3 syllable first name and I know not one person who gives me the full 3 syllables. Even a really simple 3 syllable name like Natasha becomes Tash or Tasha. I know a Miriam - she is Mim.

Clementyne is so much nicer than Clementeen mind you.

Swipe left for the next trending thread