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Baby names

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Sorry to ask for help again....Joe not Joseph

60 replies

notbloodybranston · 23/02/2008 22:16

Yes I am 32 years old and I should have an opinion of my own but I am tired, am carrying a huge baby (apparently) and I have to mark 100 exam scripts before I start maternity leave- just need someone to tell me what to do!

Surname - still Pickles

Sex of baby - still a boy

Husband - still an arse

We both like Joe but I would prefer to give him a "sunday" name i.e. Joseph.

Husband's family don't agree with Sunday names as a concept - He is Tom (not Thomas) his brother is Harry (not Henry) etc...

My family (read parents,grandmother,aunts) are appalled at thought of baby being given a short name of a "proper" name (have also grumbled that Catholic priest might not christen him Joe).

Could you please just vote and tell me what you would do - Joe or Joseph?
Many thanks

OP posts:
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msappropriate · 25/02/2008 12:57

oops my Joe posted the last one!

msappropriate · 25/02/2008 12:56

Yes it is but has become a name too like Jack has. I know two thirty-somethings named Joe not Joseph so its not a new thing. I know plenty of Kates, Charlies, Bens. Millies and Harrys too that have no longer name. English is a living language that evolves over time whether one likes it or not.

msappropriate · 25/02/2008 12:56

Yes it is but has become a name too like Jack has. I know two thirty-somethings named Joe not Joseph so its not a new thing. I know plenty of Kates, Charlies, Bens. Millies and Harrys too that have no longer name. English is a living language that evolves over time whether one likes it or not.

Blocky · 25/02/2008 10:02

My ds is Joseph, but has we abbreviate it to Joe.
I always thought that Joe was an abbreviation of Joseph anyway, opposed to a name in its own right?

msappropriate · 24/02/2008 20:03

but Joe is hardly a silly diminutive pet name that he will grow out of.

Jack is really a diminutive of John but you don't meet many Jacks that are really Johns.

funnyhaha · 24/02/2008 19:59

Ignore family opinions - whatever is chosen, they'll get used to it
Personally, I like a long version - gives the child an option (although Joe, to be fair, is of those shortening that works quite widely/in a range of occasions)
I have a long name, & whilst I only really like the shortened version (& use that version for work) I'm glad I had the option...

fishie · 24/02/2008 19:57

fil is called joe by some, seph by others. i'd always recommend going for longer name, gives more options.

SoMuchToBits · 24/02/2008 19:57

Joseph

Because it gives him a choice when he is older. Joe gives no choice. I think no matter what you or your relatives prefer (and you can call him what you like at home, even if it's Buster or J or whatever) it's better for him to have a choice of Joseph, Joe or anything else he can make of it when he is grown up.

FWIW my son is a Jonathan - to most people he is Jonathan, but some people call him Jonty, some Jon, some Jonny and some Jonny-Jon-Jon (not my preference, but there you go!). But when he is older, he can choose.

BrownSuga · 24/02/2008 19:54

Joseph

themildmanneredjanitor · 24/02/2008 19:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WendyWeber · 24/02/2008 19:52

DS1 has chosen to be Joseph on Facebook, oddly.

msappropriate · 24/02/2008 19:51

I don't like Joseph at all and my son is Joe. I do know several Joes from other names; Jonah, Jonathan and Jolyon. My dh hated having a long version of his name which he has never been called and still can't understand why his parents bothered.

PortAndLemon · 24/02/2008 19:50

I would do Joseph. My brother is Joseph, was always Joe in childhood and to friends and family as an adult, but has chosen to use Joseph for work. It's not just about you and what you plan to call them as one day they will be an adult with their own preferences, so personally I'd always go for the form that gave that future adult the most choices. But there's nothing wrong with taking the opposite point of view.

Califrau · 24/02/2008 19:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rantinghousewife · 24/02/2008 19:45

Go for Joseph, although be aware dd goes to school with 5 Joseph's not one of the is referred to as Joseph, they are all called Joe.

sannie · 24/02/2008 19:42

I have a Joseph Thomas.....called Joe most of the time and a Henry George called Harry most of the time - need the longer name or else what would you shout when they have been naughty ;-) It's nice to give them a chpice of the longer or shorter name when they are older...Good luck!

collision · 23/02/2008 23:35

Joe.

WendyWeber · 23/02/2008 23:33

I have a Joe and his Sunday name is Joseph - he is 19 now but I still need to bellow at him sometimes and 2 syllables is always better than one for that!

hunkermunker · 23/02/2008 23:29

NBB

Can you plan something nice for yourself when DH gets back? Just a bit of time to yourself for something - probably not getting drunk though

alfiesbabe · 23/02/2008 22:58

Joseph. He then has the option of either. And Joe is not a name, it's an abbreviation!

ginnedup · 23/02/2008 22:56

Personally, I don't like shortened names, I have a Joseph and he is known as Joe or Joey and hardly ever called Joseph, which I think is a shame because it is a lovely name.
IMO it will be shortened to Joe whatever you decide so as long as you like it thats OK.
He's your baby, so the choice of name is yours at the end of the day and H's family will have to lump it.
good luck

notbloodybranston · 23/02/2008 22:53

Hunkermunker - I am a bit. Am having extra growth scans as baby is big. I just thought he would be round the 10lb mark but have now had two growth scans and they want me back for two more (no diabetes). Am v tired and back hurts

actually....am really just fed up cos husband is on a stag weekend and I am jealous...there - I have admitted it!! I want to get drunk and be round adults not marking papers and playing Little Mermaids with my 3 year old (why am I always the ugly fat sea witch?)

OP posts:
bluenosesaint · 23/02/2008 22:51

Mmmm tricky then if your dh isn't 'sold' on Joseph ...not sure what to advise then.

My dh named my dd3 and although i like the name, i don't LOVE it, and its not a very nice feeling

FWIW i don't think Joseph is camp at all, i think its a good strong name ...

BINAH · 23/02/2008 22:49

joseph...imo, but do whatever you and your dp think is right...i did it despite of the family opinion and it gave me an huge fight....but worth it...

hunkermunker · 23/02/2008 22:47

Oh, but only if you like Joseph as well as Joe, obv.

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