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Baby names

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Original poster

What do you think of these two girls names?

63 replies

myredcardigan · 20/05/2008 23:20

Josephine or Jocelyn?
I really like Josie so was thinking Josephine as I'd always go for a full version IYKWIM. DH likes Josie too but is keener on Jocelyn which I also quite like. So no conflict really but opinions gratefully received. Do either of them sound awful or have bad connotations or seem tacky or anything? Just need to check there's no evil character in literature or anything.

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Original poster
myredcardigan · 22/05/2008 14:36

I didn't understand why everyone kept saying that Jocelyn reminded them of jostling until today. It seems that many people pronounce it without the e as in jos-lyn or joz-lyn whereas I've been pronouncing it jos-e-lyn. Should the e be silent?

It seems from this thread that Josephine is popular without being popular IYKWIM which is great with me.

OP posts:
TheOldestCat · 22/05/2008 10:49

I prefer Josephine, but then I would since 18-month-old DD is a Josie!

We registered her as the longer version cause it works better with her middle name (she's Josephine Clare).

Lots of people have told us Josie is a sweet name that suits her cheeky demeanor! And, if this matters to you, it's also fairly uncommon. Although, saying that, older people tend to like it because it was more common among that generation (we called her after my grandmother).

Like Jocelyn too.

funnypeculiar · 22/05/2008 10:41

Prefer Josephine. Love all the shortenings
Jocelyn makes me think jostling.

CrushWithEyeliner · 22/05/2008 10:38

Josephine is class

cyteen · 22/05/2008 10:35

Josephine is a great name - strong, fairly rare, and Josie is a nice derivative.

Jocelyn is a bit weedy. I like Joss, but there is the Joss Stone connection...

LynetteScavo · 21/05/2008 23:45

I'm not keen on Jocelyn, but I'm quite sure she wouldn't be a wild teenager.

Josephine is much nicer.

Original poster
myredcardigan · 21/05/2008 23:32

Lol at bird with a long neck!
We need a Family Fortunes thread!

OP posts:
fin42 · 21/05/2008 23:25

I've always loved Josephine

jasper · 21/05/2008 23:12

quite nice both of them.

snice · 21/05/2008 23:04

Our fave is 'Name a bird with a long neck '- "Naomi Campbell"

EachPeachPearMum · 21/05/2008 23:00

on topic- I like Josephine- it's the name I wanted to call myself when I was young, as I hated my own name!

EachPeachPearMum · 21/05/2008 23:00

myredcardigan I didn't see extras, but at uni my friend had a whole list of silly answers to family fortunes...

'Name a competitive race' - The Arabs is another of our favourites.

Original poster
myredcardigan · 21/05/2008 21:55

No my space bar didn't work! That should read pick up on it not pick upon it.

OP posts:
Rolf · 21/05/2008 21:47

I like them both but prefer Josephine. I think Josie is a better shortform of Josephine than of Jocelyn.

EachPeachPearMum · 21/05/2008 21:33

God- sorry- it's a standard catchphrase in this house!

Original poster
myredcardigan · 21/05/2008 19:51

Lol, EPPM! Yes I am!
I was watching the Les Dennis episode of extras and it just made me laugh. I didn't expect anyone to pick upon it though!

OP posts:
EachPeachPearMum · 21/05/2008 16:53

sorry- myredcardigan are you named after the family fortunes answer?????

Original poster
myredcardigan · 21/05/2008 16:10

So it sounds like more people have a strong reaction to Jocelyn than Josephine. No-one on here seems to hate Josephine but clearly lots of people feel that way about Jocelyn. Having said that, those posters who do like it think it sounds strong which is actually something I'd like. Glad the vast majority of you ladies like Josie though.

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SummatAndNowt · 21/05/2008 15:48

Love them both! Always wanted to call a daughter Josephine since I read the Chalet School books! And so many ways to shorten it.

And Jocelyn sounds like a very sure of herself outdoorsy type!

PuppyMonkey · 21/05/2008 15:17

My mum is called Josie so i think it's lovely. I wouldn't go for either of the longer forms, I'd just have Josie as her proper name.

QueenMeabhOfConnaught · 21/05/2008 15:13

Love Josephine - never understand why it's not more popular.

For another "J" name - what about Juliana?

OldieMum · 21/05/2008 15:06

Josephine sounds a bit wet to me. The only Jocelyn I know (Joss) is intelligent, bold-speaking, assertive, attractive and a bit, er, scary.

artichokes · 21/05/2008 15:02

I like Josephine but not Josie (for some reason I hate the name Josie).

BroccoliSpears · 21/05/2008 15:01

I've never liked Jocelyn. Sounds like jostling and makes me think of a packed tube.

Josephine is nice.

Was it Chris Rea who sang a song about a Josephine?

Tortington · 21/05/2008 14:57

love josephine

hate jocelyn - for no reason or connotation.