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Baby names

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

Original poster

Emma-James?

91 replies

SeaPorpoises · 17/07/2023 14:17

Expecting my first daughter, DH loves Emma and I like it too, but since Blake Lively named her daughter James I have adored that for a girl too.

So thoughts on Emma-James? or suggestions of similar if you're not a fan?

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AlligatorPsychopath · 22/07/2023 17:55

Even the model James King gave up eventually and changed her name to Jaime.

WhatADrabCarpet · 22/07/2023 17:47

Just no.

seahorsesandmermaids · 22/07/2023 16:07

It would take me a while to get my head around a female James, as I just associate it with my brother, and all the other males called James that I have come across over the years.

I think Emma is such a contrasting girlie and traditional name, that it just wouldn't look right.

However, there are probably other combinations that might work (not to my taste personally), but maybe a gender neutral first name with James as the second name. Riley-James or Bobbi-James for example.

SmartHome · 22/07/2023 11:06

Everyone would hear that as Emma-Jane.

Jamie or Jaime as a compromise? Or just James.

I love unisex names and masculine names on girls but James is still that uncommon on a girl that you'd have to put up with first day of nursery/school and GP appointments etc wher etehyd constantly be expecting a little girl to turn up. Depends whether that would bother you or not.

Also I know a few teenage male James and they all get called Jim or Jimmy. not sure if that would happen with a girl but would be a bit odd, or maybe would help distinguish the male/female James'?

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 22/07/2023 11:00

She'll constantly be telling people that she's not Emma-Jane.

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 22/07/2023 10:08

A winning combination of sexist and naff.

Daffodilwoman · 22/07/2023 06:57

Also what’s with all the Kevin-Lee questions?
Am I missing something?

Daffodilwoman · 22/07/2023 06:55

James is a boys name.
Your child cannot be compared to that of a Hollywood A lister.
If you had a boy would you call him Emma?
I dislike this thought process that it’s fine and dandy for all things male but not the other way round.
If I heard Emma-James I’d assume it was Emma-Jane.

IceCreamQueen86 · 22/07/2023 03:19

Emma-Jade?

ThatFraggle · 22/07/2023 02:56

I would think that the child is trans if I saw a little girl who said her name was James

Beeswood · 22/07/2023 02:52

No!

RichPetunia · 22/07/2023 02:21

James is a boys name. If you saddle your daughter with this she'll be made fun of. Kids can be cruel, so that's important to keep in mind.

babysharkdoodoodedoodedoo · 22/07/2023 01:46

TeenagersAngst · 17/07/2023 16:12

Do you actually know someone called Kevin-Lee?

Show quote history

I was going to ask the same thing 😂

InstantGratificationDarkPlaygroundOfMN · 22/07/2023 01:46

Much prefer Jaime tbh

CallieQ · 22/07/2023 01:28

James is a boys name

continentallentil · 22/07/2023 01:00

Hyphens are always awful

James isn’t usable as a girl’s name in the UK

OdeToBarney · 21/07/2023 23:50

Sounds like a brother-sister combo (I should know!) Sorry!

Daphnis156 · 21/07/2023 23:36

James is simply absurd for a girl.
As would be Arthur, if you are considering silly names.

user1492757084 · 18/07/2023 05:01

How about ..
Emma Jamima
Emma James Surname - NO hyphen
Emma Jane
Emma Hartfield = Jane Austin inspired
Emma Knightley = Jane Austin inspired

EmmaPaella · 17/07/2023 22:40

VeryQuaintIrene · 17/07/2023 18:02

"So no boy there will be called James, they’ll be too busy being called things like Madrid."

For one glorious second I read that as Mildred.

😂

Sheitgeist · 17/07/2023 22:32

I’m never sure if people are just having a laugh on the Baby Names board, and trying to wind us up.

yikesanotherbooboo · 17/07/2023 20:23

I'm not a fan of hyphenated first names and in this case your DD will have a lot of explaining to do every time she is asked her name. A middle name can be whatever you like she doesn't need to use it.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 17/07/2023 20:04

Awful. Sounds like you are hedging your bets incase she decides to change her gender later on!!!
What about Emma Jayne?
You might have a boy next time. James-Emily for him?

FayCarew · 17/07/2023 20:01

CZ-J is her acting name. Zeta was originally her middle name. Her name is a bit ordinary without the Zeta-

Qbish · 17/07/2023 19:50

BananaSpanner · 17/07/2023 16:29

People will hyphenate in the wrong place.

To you she’ll be Emma-James Smith, other people will hear and write Emma James-Smith.

Like Catherine-Zeta Jones

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