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Baby names

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

Original poster

Yennefer

57 replies

Nurserynewbie · 25/10/2022 08:47

I love it and my husband loves it and it goes really well with our surname but I can't actually use it can I?

It will just always be associated with The Witcher and look like we are crazy superfans, which we aren't really. But I do think Yennefer is a great, strong character.

Anyone got any similar ideas?

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DozyFox · 25/10/2022 12:13

Oh also to people saying it's a Welsh name - is it? Certainly not spelt like that, surely? And the single 'f' wouldn't be pronounced as an English f sound.

DozyFox · 25/10/2022 12:08

Petronus · 25/10/2022 08:51

Before I opened the thread I thought ‘the Witcher’. Just go with Jennifer. The Witcher is not even great literature/tv to make it a bit more reasonable.

I agree that my first thought was "the Witcher", and I've never even watched/played it. Just had to put up with everyone going on about that cringeworthy song for months on end 😭

Kanaloa · 25/10/2022 11:42

I’ve never heard of the show and presumed it was some mutation of Jennifer. I wouldn’t use it, I think it’s just waiting for misunderstanding/mistakes/annoyances.

misteriosa · 25/10/2022 11:41

I think it's a bad idea, sorry. I find it a bit cringeworthy to use a name that's solely associated with a particular fantasy franchise. There's no guarantee that your daughter will like the Witcher or appreciate getting endless comments about the games/TV series/books. It's not like the series is some kind of literary classic that will never date. And people who haven't heard of The Witcher will think it's an odd pronunciation of Jennifer.

GADDay · 25/10/2022 11:15

We had a chicken called Hennifer.

Hopelessacademic · 25/10/2022 10:51

I would immediately think of the Witcher sorry
Then probably that you were German or Dutch

Skiphopbump · 25/10/2022 10:16

I would first think The Witcher and then think Polish. I like the name.

HoppingPavlova · 25/10/2022 10:16

People will either think you have a speech impediment or can’t spell.

magaluf1999 · 25/10/2022 10:13

Jeneva=dutch gin.
Depends if you are a fan i guess!

RandomMusings7 · 25/10/2022 10:11

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 25/10/2022 10:09

Yothing yong yith yit.😉

😂😂😂

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 25/10/2022 10:09

Yothing yong yith yit.😉

VerifiedBot2351 · 25/10/2022 09:47

I don’t know what the Witcher is, so I would assume you were just trying to be different with a weird version of Jennifer.

ChagSameachDoreen · 25/10/2022 09:42

I haven't watched the Witcher so I would just presume Yennefer was a Slavic version of Jennifer.

Guessie · 25/10/2022 09:41

I have a very close friend called Yenifer and I love it! Nobody has ever said anything to her as far as I know. She was born in the early 90s. I much prefer this spelling to yours. I say go for it! (but I'm biased as my Yenifer is the best person I know).

Luredbyapomegranate · 25/10/2022 09:34

I would use if you want to - it’s just a Welsh name (a version of Jennifer / Guinevere). It’s not like the Witcher is game of thrones - most people wouldn’t have a clue, and her peers certainly won’t.

Genevieve or Ysella (ee-Zella), or just Guinevere, might be alternatives.

WaltzingWaters · 25/10/2022 09:30

Not seen the Witcher but I agree with others that said it just sounds like someone can’t say Jennifer. Sorry, not a fan personally.

Malfi · 25/10/2022 09:29

I’d assume, if heard, it was a foreign variant of Jennifer -German or Dutch. Jennifer is a great name, and not common these days. It’s a form of Guinevere, if you like a bit of magic/myth.

threegoodthings · 25/10/2022 09:25

Not heard of the witcher.
If somebody told me their name was Yennifer I would assume Jennifer with a speech impediment.

daretodenim · 25/10/2022 09:18

I know a "Yennifer" and "Yessica" and "Yoanna". All written with a J. All German.

ErinAndTonic · 25/10/2022 09:17

Not a fan at all! Also think it would be a bit grim when shortened?

icelollycraving · 25/10/2022 09:16

I haven’t seen the Witcher. I’d think it was a mix of two names like Bennifer for Ben Affleck and JLo 😁

Original poster
Nurserynewbie · 25/10/2022 09:14

Yeah, I think I'm going to put this one down to pregnancy hormones.

Especially as I don't actually like the name Jennifer 😂

OP posts:
SirSamVimesCityWatch · 25/10/2022 09:13

Oh god no.

RandomMusings7 · 25/10/2022 09:12

Unusable. People will either think "the witcher" or think it's a youunique misspelling of Jennifer.

In the same boat as Daenerys/Arya/etc.

Ikeabag · 25/10/2022 09:04

I hear it in his voice. Sorry. Can't do it. I've had this before with characters and find the attraction fades, I know not everyone is me but I think it's a bad idea unless the name sticks in your head and you can barely remember why you liked it, just that you like the name itself. Also, Yennefer is a bit of a dick in the Witcher sometimes, it must be said.