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Baby names

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

Original poster

Not what we were expecting to name her!

94 replies

Giraffehaver · 26/02/2026 22:32

Our beautiful girl finally made an appearance at 4:23 this morning. After compiling a list of names for her, we realised she was a Jemima which wasn't on our list at all. She just looks like a Jemima to both of us and all other names were forgotten. Does this happen often, when a random not discussed name suddenly comes with baby out of nowhere or are we very weird?!

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Thingscouldntgetanyworse · 26/02/2026 22:54

Are you not worried people will call her Jemima puddleduck? That’s the first thing that popped into my head. I thought jemima was a funny made up name, like how on Friends Phoebe calls herself Regina Phalange 😅

weebarra · 26/02/2026 22:50

Congratulations! We had decided that DS2 would be called say ‘Fred’. When he came out he didn’t look like a Fred, and DH and I looked at each other and said ‘George’. At the same time. We had rejected George very early on, but he was, and 15 years later still is one!

viques · 26/02/2026 22:46

This thread is so sweet. I love the thought of these stroppy determined babies who have spent months listening in horror to their parents deciding on their special names ( and nicknames) and have grasped the nettle and arrived complete with their own name agenda.

Names should be decided when the baby arrives imo, and nicknames should be organic and spontaneous, not planned.

Welcome to the world Jemima, all the best people have February birthdays. 🐟

Oblivionnnnn · 26/02/2026 22:44

I knew DDs name because despite being convinced I was having a boy, I had a very clear vision of her one day when I about 6 months pregnant and brushing my teeth 🤣 and in it I heard myself say her name.

Forgot about that pretty much until she was about 18 months old and we were in the park and the exact vision came true, down to her outfit and shoes.

So, I think she chose her own name 🤷‍♀️

Congratulations on Jemima! Very cute indeed.

TurboKirbo · 26/02/2026 22:44

Yes!
My DC2 was born and his name was Leo.
I can't explain it, he just was - we hadn't even considered it previously.

It still suits him perfectly, he couldn't have been anything else.

Many congratulations & welcome to Jemima!

sittingonabeach · 26/02/2026 22:43

Yes DC named something we had never thought of until seeing them

Shinyandnew1 · 26/02/2026 22:41

Ooh, I love the name Jemima!

thecomedyofterrors · 26/02/2026 22:41

Beautiful name!! Congratulations

Ohfudgeoff · 26/02/2026 22:40

Beautiful name, that was in our list too!

But the name we chose in the end wasn't on our list either, but it fits perfectly.

Congratulations

Nevermind17 · 26/02/2026 22:40

Congratulations on the birth of little Jemima! 🍼👶

When DD was born we had thought she was a boy and had never even discussed girl’s names. I immediately said “Oh heck, what will we call her?” and he said “What about <DD’s name>?” I was so knackered I said “Yes, that’ll do”.

I should add that we’d argued for months over boy’s names because he wanted something really outlandish. The name he chose for DD was perfectly normal so it felt like a win.

EmiliaRuusuvuori · 26/02/2026 22:39

Yes we did this with our youngest. We had a name picked out and it didn't suit him at all. He somehow looked like this other name that we had never thought of before.
He hates the original name but really likes the one we chose.
Congratulations, Jemima sounds lovely.

DarkEyedSailor · 26/02/2026 22:38

Jemima is lovely! Congratulations!

I had a name picked for my daughter but when I saw her she looked nothing like it. She's called something completely different.

StormyLandCloud · 26/02/2026 22:37

Congratulations!! Go for it, I know a few and they’re lovely, great lives and careers - beautiful name x

ChickenAndCustard · 26/02/2026 22:37

Ah congratulations! Jemima is a beautiful name 😍 Both of my DC's names weren't on their lists (and both times it took us about a month to actually decide on a name and do the birth registration!)

mum2jakie · 26/02/2026 22:36

Oh that's a beautiful choice! Congratulations!

JaneExotic · 26/02/2026 22:36

Yes! I had a short list of 3 names for each sex. After DD was born, I was being stitched and heard the midwife ask DH what we were going to call her. I remember pushing myself up on one elbow and bellowing across the room, “DOES SHE LOOK LIKE A (random name)?!”
He panicked and said, “she might do!”
And she DID 🤣

Enko · 26/02/2026 22:35

Yes it happens a lot. Dd1 was named the name we had on our top 5 as no 5 least likely to use. She arrived and dh and I said in unison "well thats not Elizabeth" then we both looked and next word was her name. She just looked like a Phoebe..

foggyday90 · 26/02/2026 22:34

Oh I love the name Jemima. Congratulations on your sweet girl! We’ve always decided the name in advance but this will make such a great story for her in the future.

Mulledjuice · 26/02/2026 22:33

Yes. My DC name wasnt on my list at all