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Baby names

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

Original poster

What are your thoughts on...

35 replies

meadowlarks · 12/04/2010 22:43

Juniper for a girl?

It just popped into my head the other day and I think I've fallen in love. I like the fact that it sounds sweet but headstrong at the same time. I posted a thread a while ago with some of my more...interesting...ideas, and even after that, Atticus is still my favourite boy's name. I think they sound great together, but, this being MN, now's your opportunity to prove me wrong. MNs are still under consideration, but ask and you shall recieve.

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Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 20:01

I know that. But that's not the reason I like the name...all the same, Gregory Peck/Harper Lee connotations aren't bad ones to have.

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beanlet · 13/04/2010 19:27

Atticus is Latin for "Athenian" (i.e. someone from Athens). But its strongest modern association is with that very American novel To Kill a Mocking Bird.

mathanxiety · 13/04/2010 18:40

I think it's the Mockingbird link that makes me associate it with the cultured South.

Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 18:06

That's strange you say Atticus sounds American, because to me it sounds very English for some reason. Juno sounds a bit too masculine for my liking, that's why I chose Juniper over it. I'm not so keen on Aveline or Avelina, and I can't say "Mrs Pommelhorse" has ever sprung to mind at the word "Pomeline"...if you type it in on facebook, you get quite a few French girls called Pomeline, so it's not that obscure.

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mathanxiety · 13/04/2010 17:59

ooops Where did that come from?

mathanxiety · 13/04/2010 17:58

I like Atticus. I think it has gravitas (Harper Lee fan here), and generally good associations. It's a bit American, but not Huckleberry, IYSWIM. I would put Atticus in the same name category as Peregrine.

Evelyn, I like (whereas I don't like Juniper, prefer Juno), but I like Aveline or Avelina even more (Norman origin, Latinate form of Evelyn). I think it might have the meaning of little bird?

Pomeline makes me think of "Mrs Pommelhorse? I want to get down now," from The Simpsons..

Juniper Pomeline makes me think of jumping, and gym class in general, in fact.

Pomeline

LadyCressida · 13/04/2010 17:40

Aramis is my favourite musketeer so it is tempting but on the other hand it is his surname. I think his first name is Henri.

I love Juniper. Lots of lovely nn's too. I think people would think i'd picked it in connection with my favourite drink though...

Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 17:11

Alright, I've been persuaded to drop Aramis as a MN, so my backup was Evelyn. I was thinking Juniper Pomeline Evelyn Rose was nice. Pomeline is pronounced "Pomaleen" for those who aren't familiar with Medieval French names No doubt you shall chuckle.

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Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 16:25

I see your point, but I don't think people called Atticus spend their lives explaining their name. I have met one before and he was totally unpretentious and completely suited it, so, I think personality can completely reverse your preconceptions.

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beanlet · 13/04/2010 15:57

Sorry! It's not pretentious in the same way as, say, Tarquin (which should only be used if you've actually got a title). It's just that everyone will think "Atticus Finch" and middle-brow school novels and crusading do-gooders. And American. It also automatically sends a message that you might not mean by it, and the poor kid will constantly be having to explain himself.

It's ugly because of all those hard consonants. It might work as a middle name, but if it were me, I'd choose something else as a first name.

Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 15:45

Ugly? Really? I've never heard that before. I think it's got quite a nice sound. I'm not surprised to get "pretentious", though.

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beanlet · 13/04/2010 15:42

Juniper is lovely; have a very nice friend with that name. Atticus, on the other hand, is that rare combination of pretentious and ugly. No.

Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 15:42

Maybe, but so does everyone at some point or another. Besides, They're all pretty on trend apart from Somerset, even though that's not why they're there; there are plenty of kids these days that have more embarrassing MNs than those.

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swanandduck · 13/04/2010 15:35

I have two middle names plus another one taken at my confirmation. However,I am still at Atticus Louis Caleb Tobias Somerset. Won't he get teased at school, if that comes out?

LittleWhiteWolf · 13/04/2010 15:23

Aramis is a boys name: one of the 3 muskateers along with Athos and Porthos.

Thats my only gripe about that name.

FWIW I like Juniper and if you love it go for it.

said · 13/04/2010 15:14

I think of Donovan. But I'm old. I actually like Juni/Juno as a nickname.

Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 15:12

Yes. All. Multiple MNs are a tradition in my family, and only one of them could be considered "out-there".

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swanandduck · 13/04/2010 15:01

All of them??

Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 14:30

I probably should mention that MNs to go with Atticus would tentatively be Louis Caleb Tobias Somerset. Louis was my granddad's name, Caleb I just love and Tobias is my brother's middle name, Somerset no doubt is going to to cause some controversy, but it is a given name (Somerset Maugham)and I have personal connections to the place itself. Plus, it sounds nice.

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Original poster
meadowlarks · 13/04/2010 13:49

I know Atticus is a clothing range. I don't really see why it matters, it's not exactly the first thing people think of when you say the name, unless you happen to be a badly-dressed teenager. If any thing, you're more likely to get Harper Lee references, which is not exactly a bad thing.

EndageredSpecies - I didn't say I liked the name Chanel, it's a friend of mine's name and I've always thought she was unlucky. I take you point about Aramis though, I think I may have to rethink that one.

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EndangeredSpecies · 13/04/2010 13:44

yes people can call their children Chanel but must be prepared to have the mickey taken at regular intervals. the wife of a famous footballer did this and a TV programme phoned up the company Chanel asking if they were flattered: the response was not very polite.

Juniper is lovely I think.

Aramis for a girl no - just brings to mind aftershave as other posters have said.

MamaLazarou · 13/04/2010 13:44

It is Mike Patton (from Faith No more)'s clothing range, is it not?

swanandduck · 13/04/2010 13:44

To be honest, I think you would have to be a stunningly beautiful or really quirky, artistic adult to carry off the name Juniper.

TrinityIsAPenguin · 13/04/2010 13:43

sorry

juniper is nice

TrinityIsAPenguin · 13/04/2010 13:42

my daughter in law or rather stepsons gf has just said that atticus is a clothes brand with a dead bird as the logo

sorry