Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

is Emma- a meh name?

61 replies

0percypig0 · 07/02/2010 10:35

DD is due in May, I have a DS, Robert.
Were really struggling with a name that we both like, I'd initially decided on Juliet, but then the Robert/Romeo & Juliet kept cropping up and then someone said what if she gets mejulie (ala Ali G) and it totally ruined it for me.

Then there's Katherine, I love this name, but watching the programme MP'S in Tower Blocks, a woman who lived there named Cathy ruined this abit for me too. I keep thinking of the cafe in Eastenders too, Kathy!

So now Hubby has suggested Emmma, in theory it goes with Robert and sounds proper (if you know what I mean) but is it abit meh? I initally wanted a non popular name, it's in the 30's so not up there, I think it's a pretty name but nothing special.

What do you think?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
piscesmoon · 07/02/2010 13:43

I love 'dull' names and am very grateful that my parents gave me one! They are the best and have stood the test of time IMO.

MarineIguana · 07/02/2010 13:39

I find it a bit dull and it makes me think of slightly repressed, prissy women. (Sorry any Emmas! that's just because of the ones I've known)

Prefer Katharine (or whatever spelling) because there are loads of short versions and nicknames so your DD could have one to suit her, whether she's sweet and girly or tomboy/feisty etc - Kate, Katy/Katie, Kat, Kaz etc.

For something a bit more different, what about Elodie, Emilia, Emerson, Elma. Or Enid?

HalcyonDaze · 07/02/2010 13:28

Nothing against Emma but I do find it a bit dull.

Juliet has the same timeless, classic feel but is much more 'sparkly'. Katherine is equally as timeless but has the quirky nn Kitty going for it.

Definitely Katherine or Juliet for me. Keep Emma as a mn.

How about Audrey, Cecilia, Charlotte, Helena, Elisabeth, Anna, Evelyn, Maria, Laura, Penelope, Susannah, Miriam, Rosemary, Lydia, Victoria? All pair particularly well with Robert.

bidibidi · 07/02/2010 12:55

Does 'meh' mean boring? There's a lot to be said for boring names. Everyone knows how to spell them, people won't ask you to repeat yourself because it's so unusual and they really can't tell what in the world you just said, it's usually got lots of antecedents in the culture (good and bad).

I do like Katherine -- I would probably have Katy or Kate as NN. Quite uncommon nowadays, lol.

butadream · 07/02/2010 12:52

Lovely name. not meh.

Tortington · 07/02/2010 12:48

i have an Emma, it was literally becuase both of us wildly disagreed on anything else.

i can't remember many Emmas from my youth (70's)

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 07/02/2010 12:47

I like Emma. But I am Katherine and I love my name. I am never ever called Kathy (have hated it since old enough to talk) and occasionally called Kat by very good friends but generally it's Katherine which I think is a lovely name.

Then there is Kitty/Katie for little ones and Kate if she wants to be more grown up when she's older.

I also like (in the traditional mould) Laura, Anna, Charlotte. There are loads of classic english names that I won't get to use as my DH is arab and we agreed on arabic names.

Heated · 07/02/2010 12:47

Emma is a bit meh imo

Juliet and Katherine are simply beautiful.

gaelicsheep · 07/02/2010 12:41

I'd never thought of Emma because to our generation it seems so common. But people are right, you hardly hear it used at all these days. It's just gone on my list!

MegSophandEmma · 07/02/2010 12:22

oops Emma's

MegSophandEmma · 07/02/2010 12:22

Emmas a lovely name

RumourOfAHurricane · 07/02/2010 12:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

piscesmoon · 07/02/2010 12:18

Emma is lovely and a classic. I also like Juliet and Katherine.
Emma Juliet or Emma Katherine-both go well.

AngryPixie · 07/02/2010 12:09

emma's ok
Juliet is better!

juneybean · 07/02/2010 12:01

Emma is a beautiful name, it's not overused I think.

spenthen · 07/02/2010 11:53

Just wanted to say I'm mystified by the Robert/Juliet Romeo/Juliet thing. It would never have occurred to me.

I have two boys whose first names when put together actually are reminiscent of the name of a famous person. But I figured their peers won't make the connection, and it's only in childhood that people will really know them as a pair anyway. When you're an adult most of your acquaintances don't tend to know your siblings' names do they? So we threw caution to the wind and stuck with using the names that we liked. And only one person has ever spontaneously made the famous person connection anyway!

And the Ali G thing is history now isn't it? I know someone with a Juliet, and I've never ever heard that mentioned as an issue. So if you really like Juliet, I'd use it.

(Emma's nice too though!)

MrsvWoolf · 07/02/2010 11:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

diddl · 07/02/2010 11:49

Emma Katherine?

MarthaFarquhar · 07/02/2010 11:48

Emma is lovely, although I do prefer Katherine as there are so many diminutives - I like Kate and Kitty in particular.

I love Robert too

Nancy66 · 07/02/2010 11:45

I think it's boring - sorry. Up there with Sue, Jane, Amy etc.

MrsMorgan · 07/02/2010 11:34

I think it is a nice name, but then I am one

If it were not my name though then I would have used it for one of my dd's.

Bonsoir · 07/02/2010 11:32

Call her Emmanuelle - Emma is the shortened version of Emmanuelle.

LowLevelWhingeing · 07/02/2010 11:30

Love it.

I'm also drawn to names of childhood friends like, Sally, Jane and Kate. I may be alone in that.

Bucharest · 07/02/2010 11:29

Emma is beautiful.

Emily is meh, because it was a default name for so many years.....

I also love love love Katherine.

Both would be riding high on my Timeless, Classy and Elegant List!

tiredemma · 07/02/2010 11:27

Love it

Swipe left for the next trending thread