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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Zadie

55 replies

NC100000 · 30/03/2024 00:14

What is everyone’s honest opinions on Zadie please?

What heritage comes to mind?
Is it a bit too much like a nickname?

I’d love to know why you do or don’t like it.

Thank you!

OP posts:

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PotatoPudding · 01/04/2024 19:38

Librarybooksandacoconut · 01/04/2024 19:18

Theresa May’s mother was called Zadie - I heard her talking about it in an interview and she has no idea why as her mother was very m/c English.

Show quote history

She was but it was spelled Zaidee.

Librarybooksandacoconut · 01/04/2024 19:18

Denou · 30/03/2024 15:24

I think you would be hard pressed to find a Zadie any older than White Teeth. I don’t think you can use it without acknowledging it’s after Zadie Smith.

Theresa May’s mother was called Zadie - I heard her talking about it in an interview and she has no idea why as her mother was very m/c English.

shoopshoopdedoo · 01/04/2024 14:34

I’m not personally keen on Zadie - I think it either sounds made up, or like she’s named after Zadie Smith, since I imagine that’s how most people know of the name. Not that it’s a bad association, but I wouldn’t want a name so linked to one other person! Love Zara, Zoe and Zosia.

DuchessOfSausage · 31/03/2024 20:41

It sounds like a made up name, but I am some anonymous person on the internet whose opinion shouldn’t matter to you. If you like it, go for it.
The same. Not one I'd choose, but I like more traditional names.

PotatoPudding · 31/03/2024 20:23

It sounds like a made up name, but I am some anonymous person on the internet whose opinion shouldn’t matter to you. If you like it, go for it.

spidermonkeys · 31/03/2024 20:20

Kitkat1523 · 30/03/2024 09:11

its a lot more common these days with Rebecca Zamola calling her DD Zadie

This was my initial thought.
Beautiful name.

PickledScrump · 31/03/2024 20:17

I know of a young Zadie (hers is spelt differently) she’s had no negative comments though, everyone compliments it. It doesn’t really get mistaken for Sadie either so I wouldn’t worry about that. They are a Caucasian family but never had any assumptions made on the name.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 31/03/2024 18:06

DrJoanAllenby · 30/03/2024 18:53

Sadie is preferable.

Zadie automatically conjures up someone ethnic, ie dark skin.

That could bring about prejudice in the future such as job applications.

I'm really surprised to see this comment. Would you really want to work for people who might screen out a job applicant on the basis that they might have dark skin? I wouldn't, and I'm white.

That said, my mum has a black friend with a very generic British sounding name (think Louise Smith), who was actually advised by a recruiter to put a photo on her CV because in this day and age employers don't want to be accused of racial discrimination, so she'd be more likely to get an interview if they knew she wasn't white.

And thanks to immigration the number of people with mixed heritage is only going to increase and eventually become the norm anyway.

Zone2NorthLondon · 30/03/2024 23:46

NC100000 · 30/03/2024 13:36

I can definitely see why you might do this. I think we’ll definitely keep it a surprise from friends and family. Did you just have the one name in mind (or two if you didn’t know what you were having)?

Show quote history

Had m & f names chosen. We chose not to know the baby gender.Chose names from our heritage. We liked the names and it was not a poll or up for debate. We’d decided and that was that

Congratulations btw . I do like Zadie

Zosia is lovely too if you like the z sound

FoodieWoodie · 30/03/2024 20:06

DrJoanAllenby · 30/03/2024 18:53

Sadie is preferable.

Zadie automatically conjures up someone ethnic, ie dark skin.

That could bring about prejudice in the future such as job applications.

Well the baby will be from an ethnic origin. So what if that’s reflected in her name?

OP, I wouldn’t worry about job applications in the future. I recruit as part of my job and it’s experience and character that’s important. Not a name that I believe conjures up an image of someone with dark-skin - why is that a bad thing anyway?

It’s not like you’re calling her Fanny Fart Face - you’re fine OP. Again, gorgeous name.

DrJoanAllenby · 30/03/2024 18:53

Sadie is preferable.

Zadie automatically conjures up someone ethnic, ie dark skin.

That could bring about prejudice in the future such as job applications.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 30/03/2024 16:00

I quite like it. I also really like Zalie.

PutASpellOnYou · 30/03/2024 15:58

I have a friend called Zahdia which is also a. lovely name!

DuchessOfSausage · 30/03/2024 15:56

The baby name sites say it's a name of Hebrew origin meaning princess. Same as Sadie and Sarah. They make things up IMO.

RuthW · 30/03/2024 15:55

Love it

BurbageBrook · 30/03/2024 15:45

Lovely name.

Denou · 30/03/2024 15:24

I think you would be hard pressed to find a Zadie any older than White Teeth. I don’t think you can use it without acknowledging it’s after Zadie Smith.

DuchessOfSausage · 30/03/2024 15:20

Zadie S. was Sadie originally.

Enko · 30/03/2024 15:03

Beautiful

GrandparentIssues · 30/03/2024 14:59

It doesn’t look youneek at all. You could name her Zayda/Zaida and use Zadie as a diminutive, if you are concerned it seems like a wacky spelling of Sadie so she has a choice. Zahra is another pretty Arabic name that’s similar.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 30/03/2024 13:38

I like it much better than Sadie (which I have always hated). Regardless of cultural background all I would think is "Good job for going with Zadie instead of Sadie".

Original poster

NC100000 · 30/03/2024 13:37

@Zone2NorthLondon just saw the plural names! So answered my own Q!

OP posts:

Original poster

NC100000 · 30/03/2024 13:36

Zone2NorthLondon · 30/03/2024 13:32

Tbh I’d not be asking anyone opinion of baby name
we chose our names and kept Schtum for 6mth. So no one else to opine or chip in

OP posts:

Original poster

NC100000 · 30/03/2024 13:34

SirChenjins · 30/03/2024 13:24

I don’t like it at all - I can’t really explain it, other than it sounds like a youneeq made-up name. Zanie Zadie - I’m mad me.

(And yes, I’m familiar with Zadie Smith)

Edited

Oh no! I’m not a huge fan of a unique made up name generally speaking. I really don’t see it like that but good to know others might. Thank you.

OP posts:

Zone2NorthLondon · 30/03/2024 13:32

Tbh I’d not be asking anyone opinion of baby name
we chose our names and kept Schtum for 6mth. So no one else to opine or chip in

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