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Baby names

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

Original poster

Clemency, yes, no, maybe?

82 replies

RoseApp · 31/10/2024 19:47

I really like Clemency. I feel it is a positive , happy name and a feisty one. I really like Clemmie as a nickname but when I mentioned it to a friend she was really down on it.

i had a French friend at uni who was called Clémence which I thought at the time sounded so sophisticated but again very negative reaction from family

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VintedVirgin · 31/10/2024 20:37

Love Clemency! I think Clem is a great shortening but less keen on Clemmie which sounds dangerously close to chlamydia. I know 3 little Clementines and an adult Clement but no Clemency. I say go for it!

Ruthietuthie · 31/10/2024 20:33

Ignore the "you'll sound foolish" comments. The only people who look foolish are those who might criticize the name, not knowing what it really means. Other people's ignorance shouldn't guide your life choices.
It's a beautiful name, with a lovely meaning, and adorable nicknames. I LOVE it.

lovelyhat · 31/10/2024 20:31

I have a cousin Clemency, although she usually gets called Clemmie for short. Beautiful name - I do love virtue names though. Verity and Constance are my favourites.

celandiney · 31/10/2024 20:30

I love Clemency as a name, much better than Clementine .
One of Susan Hill's daughters is called Clemency if I remember right.( Susan Hill the writer)

Supermand · 31/10/2024 20:24

LondonQueen · 31/10/2024 20:11

@Supermand
Given the connotations it has (Death Row), of course she will sound foolish.

It means mercy (like all those Clem- names). It’s really odd to me that people on here haven’t come across it as a name. I can see it might not be everyone’s choice but telling someone they’d sound foolish for using a perfectly normal name is pretty rude.

wafflesmgee · 31/10/2024 20:18

I don't like it. Sorry.
I mean, what if your child is having a tantrum in the supermarket and you have to shout "clemency" loudly?! People will think you are crying out for mercy rather than just saying your child's name.

Rosybud88 · 31/10/2024 20:14

Hard pass from me, sorry.

LondonQueen · 31/10/2024 20:11

@Supermand
Given the connotations it has (Death Row), of course she will sound foolish.

ToweringDiscoInferno · 31/10/2024 20:06

I like it - I know a 14 year old Clemency. I don’t know why the connection with mercy is seen as a bad thing. Like a pp, I regard it as similar to Grace or Prudence.

WhatASadLittleLifeJayne · 31/10/2024 20:04

YaWeeFurryBastard · 31/10/2024 19:48

Isn’t that the term for when American criminals get let off the death penalty?

Weirdly, this, but also find it suuuuuch a wet name, so that’s a weird couple of associations. Clementine has far more bite to it.

Supermand · 31/10/2024 20:04

LondonQueen · 31/10/2024 20:00

No, you will sound foolish. Besides it doesn't have very nice connotations behind it.

Why on earth would she sound foolish?

It’s a lovely name, op. Reminds me of the Clemency in Betjeman’s Youth and Age on Beaulieu River https://poetryarchive.org/poem/youth-and-age-beaulieu-river/

Youth and Age on Beaulieu River - Poetry Archive

Early sun on Beaulieu water Lights the undersides of oaks, Clumps of leaves it floods and blanches, All transparent glow the branches Which the double sunlight soaks; To her craft on Beaulieu water Clemency the General’s daughter Pulls across with...

https://poetryarchive.org/poem/youth-and-age-beaulieu-river

Timetoread · 31/10/2024 20:03

YaWeeFurryBastard · 31/10/2024 19:48

Isn’t that the term for when American criminals get let off the death penalty?

Yes! There's even a film with that name https://m.imdb.com/title/tt5577494/

Clemency (2019) ⭐ 6.5 | Drama

1h 52m | 15

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt5577494

Apolitia · 31/10/2024 20:02

I really strongly dislike it. Also dislike Clemmie or other diminutives. Sounds Clammy and wet to me. Also … virtue names for girls, yuck - we’re not born to forgive others’ weaknesses and be paragons of virtue.

Not2identifying · 31/10/2024 20:02

The punishment connection was the first thing I thought of too. I wouldn't.

I can see the appeal of Clemmie as a nickname though. Go with Clementine.

LondonQueen · 31/10/2024 20:00

No, you will sound foolish. Besides it doesn't have very nice connotations behind it.

HelterSkelter224 · 31/10/2024 20:00

YaWeeFurryBastard · 31/10/2024 19:48

Isn’t that the term for when American criminals get let off the death penalty?

That's what I thought when I saw the name of the post

Timetoread · 31/10/2024 19:58

I don't like it. Clementine for a girl or Clemente for a boy yes but clemency just doesn't sound like a name to me.

Nikitaspearlearring · 31/10/2024 19:56

Yes, it's lovely. I really like Clementine too although the song is a bit a lot dodgy if you Google the words (My Darling Clementine).

AutumnLeaves24 · 31/10/2024 19:53

mymumwouldntapprove · 31/10/2024 19:51

I know a 12 year old Clemency. I love it, never know. Anyone else with that name.

There's a reason for that.

@RoseApp no, it's a terrible word for a child's name.

Geneticsbunny · 31/10/2024 19:52

I love it.

mymumwouldntapprove · 31/10/2024 19:51

I know a 12 year old Clemency. I love it, never know. Anyone else with that name.

Attelina · 31/10/2024 19:51

Clementine or Mercy but definitely not Clemency.

DreadPirateRobots · 31/10/2024 19:51

Yes, it is a name, and a traditional name of one of the virtues like Grace or Prudence. It's fallen out of regular usage though.

HeddaGarbled · 31/10/2024 19:51

I like it, and the shortened versions Clem & Clemmie/Clemmy.