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Baby names

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

Original poster

Tansy

87 replies

Cassiehopes · 19/03/2023 13:28

What do you think of this name? It’s always been my guilty pleasure name although I’m not sure why it makes me feel guilty. From Nameberry:

“The name Tansy is girl's name of Greek origin meaning "immortality".

Tansy is a flower name rarer than Rose, livelier than Lily and a lot less teasable than Pansy.

Tansy is a perennial herbaceous plant of the aster family that has clusters of small bright yellow blossoms. It was cultivated by the ancients for medicinal purposes, and has found a variety of other uses over the ages, associated with health and immortality.

There have been a couple of eponymous novels titled Tansy, and it was the name of a character on Hart of Dixie.”

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AllOfThemWitches · 19/03/2023 20:34

Makes me think of beetles.

HouseFullOfChaos · 19/03/2023 20:32

Tansy is a male character on The Last Man on Earth on Prime. I thought it was a made up name to be honest but I can see it working for a female.

MagicClawHasNoChildren · 19/03/2023 19:48

I thought of Tanith, with Tansy as a nickname. But I love both names!

PaulaVerlaine · 19/03/2023 19:37

I immediately thought of gorillas and didn't know why. I was wondering if there had been a 'famous' gorilla called Tansy but when I googled, I discovered Tansy Aspinall, daughter of Damien , who was "brought up with gorillas"
www.apost.com/en/blog/child-raised-with-gorillas-twelve-years-later-she-has-an-incredible-reunion/32774/
Through the brain fog, my mind creaks towards making links in my memories...

WorkOfTheDevil · 19/03/2023 18:54

I have a 40 year old friend called Tansy. She really suits it.

Her mum was a bit of a hippy sort!

wishingitwasfriday · 19/03/2023 18:51

I used to work with a Tansy. She was a lovely colleagues and I'd never heard the name before. I always presumed it was short for something but never asked what. Lovely name, go with it if you like it

joan12 · 19/03/2023 18:38

So strange...to me it sounds strong and individual. Interesting to hear other responses.

whatausername · 19/03/2023 18:30

Abortion herb springs to mind

HangingOver · 19/03/2023 18:17

I ADORE it

EscapeRoomToTheSun · 19/03/2023 18:14

MrsMoastyToasty · 19/03/2023 13:37

I think a lot of people would mispronounce it as Tammy.

What why would they?

I think it's lovely, as is the plant. Traditional sweet smelling strewing herbs.

GoodVibesHere · 19/03/2023 18:10

Oh dear it's twee and weak, whilst not particularly pretty sounding either.

It brings to mind someone a bit 'ditzy'. Sorry!

LavenderLaughs · 19/03/2023 18:05

twointhemorning · 19/03/2023 17:52

Tansy is a character in Elsie J Oxenham's Abbey series of books for girls written in the first half of the 20th century.

EJO’s Tansy was really Tanis, I think. Would Tanis be an option with Tansy as a nickname? She could use Tanis for professional purposes if she thinks Tansy is too informal

KirstenBlest · 19/03/2023 18:05

I know a Tansy. She doesn't like her name. I do.

Poppins2016 · 19/03/2023 18:04

I don't mind it. But beware, the description 'member of the aster family that has clusters of small bright yellow blossoms' makes it sound quite pretty, and I personally don't think that it's as pretty as it sounds (here are some pictures of tansy for reference. Of course, that might not matter to you and that's fine!

Viviennemary · 19/03/2023 18:00

Its awful. People wll think it's a nickname.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 19/03/2023 17:58

TheBermudaTriangle · 19/03/2023 17:48

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g oh how wonderful

Well, if that's what floats your boat, yes, it was wonderful. Not too many women in firms like that back then and having just found her by the magic of the internet I see her 'cute hippy name' didn't hold her back from securing some very senior and responsible jobs.

halfsiesonapotnoodle · 19/03/2023 17:55

It's lovely.

twointhemorning · 19/03/2023 17:52

Tansy is a character in Elsie J Oxenham's Abbey series of books for girls written in the first half of the 20th century.

Turtles4543 · 19/03/2023 17:50

I know a very nice Tansi

TheBermudaTriangle · 19/03/2023 17:48

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g oh how wonderful

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 19/03/2023 17:47

TheBermudaTriangle · 19/03/2023 16:53

I think it's a bit... pathetic and twee? Very cute for a tiny baby or toddler as a cute hippy name, but not sure I could imagine being taken seriously as a professional, grown-up Tansy.

And yet the one I met in 1984 was a chartered accountant working in what is now a Big Four firm in London.

TempsPerdu · 19/03/2023 17:46

I think it’s great, which surprises me as my taste is usually the opposite of cutesy and twee. Definitely not having any more DC so I’m saving it for a hypothetical future dog!

There was a Tansy a couple of years below me at school; she was very cool and works in quite a glamorous artistic field now.

AnOldCynic · 19/03/2023 17:40

MrsMoastyToasty · 19/03/2023 13:37

I think a lot of people would mispronounce it as Tammy.

Really?

Amadeaa · 19/03/2023 17:27

Sounds a bit like a nickname to me…how about Tamsin nn (although maybe a stretch) Tansy

Cloudhoppingdancer · 19/03/2023 17:22

IglesiasPiggl · 19/03/2023 17:10

It's a bit wet lettuce in my opinion, and not a name for a serious adult woman.

Does she have to be serious? What about Blythe, Joy etc?