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Original poster

Nancy - last minute wobble!

95 replies

redllamayellowllama · 19/08/2010 21:59

Apologies to all of those who've helped me with this decision before.

We decided that this baby was a Nancy pretty much at the 20 week scan, but did what we said we wouldn't do and bloody told people (along with a load of other names that we might like). With 3 weeks to go, I'm now a little concerned.

Reaction has been very mixed to say the least. We both love it and I know that's the important thing, but is it so terrible?

Most likely to be Nancy Eve (DS is Isaac).

Your thoughts please.

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zenoushka · 20/08/2010 00:14

Nancy Eve is lovely - go for it!

proudfoot · 20/08/2010 00:15

It's a brilliant name - don't have doubts! :)

littlebellsmum · 20/08/2010 00:18

I know a lovely Nancy - go for it ( and good luck with the birth etc)
make sure you post photos of Nancy after she's born.
I'd ignore other peoples reactions - this is your baby and one of the few things in life you have complete and utter choice over imo

AT1137 · 20/08/2010 08:05

My 3 year old girl is called Nancy and I have NEVER ever been slightly concerned that she will get called 'Nancy Boy' or Oom paa paa, what a strange thing for someone to say? Very out-dated reactions to the name in my opinion!

Anyway, she is the only Nancy I know for miles around and she is fab (but I am biased). It's a beautiful name so go for it.

To be honest when you run names past people to see what they think if they don't like it, ask them what names they like and you'll probably find you can't stand their choices. I do that and it basically puts my mind at rest and makes me more determined to go with what I like. Naming your baby is personal, it's what you like NOT what other people like! Right, just off to give my little Nancy a big cuddle just for being Nancy.

Also, if you've ever listened to the Frank Sinatra song he sings about his daughter, Nancy, 'Nancy with the Laughing Face', that will make your mind up. Not only did it have me crying but what a lovely lovely song.

Go on, call her Nancy!
xxx

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 20/08/2010 09:21

I've never read a book in my life and have only seen 'I'd do anything', have no idea who the Mitfords are Hmm, and only picked the name because it's getting popular. Oh and I live in squalor (????!!!) For goodness' sake.

We have a Nancy - she's 3 and a half (born before the Andrew Lloyd Webber show, by the way). I had a wobble just before she was born and just when she was born, but we stuck with it and she is a Nancy - she couldn't be anything else. And she appears to be 'a confident, strong girl of good character', so far at least.

I do agree with the comments about 'Eve', though - it sort of gets lost. We chose Madeleine Pearl as middle names for our Nancy.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 20/08/2010 09:23

Also, no-one's ever said 'Oom Pa Pa' or Nancy-boy to her either - really, don't think this bit of terminology comes from children does it?

gillybean2 · 20/08/2010 09:30

Do the initials N E go ok with your surname?
You don't want her turning out to be an N E Body, or an N E One. Not that I think you'd have eithe rof those surnames. Just saying that initial combination can be rolled on, and she might get an 'old' chucked in there when it comes to nicknames later on.
N E (old) Smith, N E (old) Bagg

I know I know, just making sure you've thought about the whole combination...

As to the name Nancy, if I heard that I would assume you were being trendy and going with it because of the tv show. It's an ok name, wouldn't be my choice though. I'd worry too much that it would hang over her in like 'oooh you big nancy'.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 20/08/2010 09:30

Oh - and I wish that we got that Frank Sinatra song sung to us. Sadly my FIL insists there was a song in his youth called 'Nancy tickle my fancy' which he then proceeds to sing at the top of his voice.

Very annoying.

And hardly any of my in-laws liked the name - but then they all seem to opt for safe/traditional names - which I don't like.

HeavenForfend · 20/08/2010 09:34

We sang that song at school, thereisalight. Think it was called Billy Boy:

Where have you been all the day
Billy Boy, Billy Boy
Where have you been all the day
Me Billy Boy?
I've been walking all the day
With my charming Nancy Gray
And me Nancy tickled me fancy
Oh me darling Billy Boy

Or something.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 20/08/2010 09:41

Oh it is true, then? He's not making it up!! Well I never!

Original poster
redllamayellowllama · 20/08/2010 10:29

No offence taken Kitty Grin.

The Nancy-boy thing seems a bit random; it's an insult that's very out of mode and is largely directed at boys. I don't think I'll worry so much about that.

Right, great. I think we'll go for it. Surname is suitable I feel - Allan.

Eve I now have doubts about, but that is an aside really - we'll come up with something suitable I'm sure (if we're not rail-roaded into a family name; Greta is DM's name du jour).

Thank you so much for your help!

OP posts:
Original poster
redllamayellowllama · 20/08/2010 10:34

Oh God, I'm so pregnant - on your recommendation AT1137, I listened to 'Nancy with the Laughing Face'. And wept.

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 20/08/2010 10:35

I mentioned it simply as the two Nancy's I know had a terrible time at school because of their names < shrugs > One now goes by her middle name instead.

Original poster
redllamayellowllama · 20/08/2010 10:38

I'm glad you did mention it - I wanted the full gamut of reactions!

OP posts:
thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 20/08/2010 10:41

We're back to people being picked on because of the names parents pick, are we? I don't think for one minute a name is the only reason children get picked on, but anyway, like redlama says, Nancy-boy's a bit of an out-dated insult. Maybe if grown-up stopped using it - children wouldn't pick up on it? Controversial, I know...

And Eve is a lovely name, just what about putting something else before it, too?

AT1137 · 20/08/2010 10:45

Redllamayellowlama, I've just listened to it again and I'm crying too!! My daughter, Nancy, has just walked in and asked why I'm crying so now I'm crying all the more Smile

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 20/08/2010 10:45

Nancy is a lovely name, definitely on my list if I ever have a girl. Nancy Allen sounds like a girl in a story, could have been from any time in the past few hundred years. It's a very folk song name IYSWIM, lots of "lovely Nancy"s. There was a really great Nan (not sure if Nancy) in one of the Little Women sequels, she was very smart and grew up to be a Pioneering Woman Doctor IIRC :)

AT1137 · 20/08/2010 10:48

Nancy with the laughing face by Frank Sinatra - lovely song about his daughter with a beautiful name

Original poster
redllamayellowllama · 20/08/2010 10:58

I've never held much stock in the being picked on argument - children pick on each other about anything they possibly can if they want to pick on each other. I've taught children with such odd names that you almost anticipate them being picked on and are shocked when they aren't. It helps that I've never taught a Nancy!

I'm definitely of the one middle name only school (and this is silly, but as DS only has one middle name, I wouldn't want him to feel a sense of injustice were we to giver her two).

Our choices so far have been:

Suze (DGM - pronounced soo-za)
Ursula

Both of these sound a bit crap, I'll readily admit that. To create a nice cadence, I think it needs to be one syllable. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 20/08/2010 11:03

Thereisalight, I don't think it is out of date. I only left college last year, and she was still being called it. And I do think it was the reason she was picked on, as the minute people (normally the boys and "cool" girls") heard it, they started laughing and singing. The other girl was a few years younger than me, so I don't know how it started for her, but she received the same treatment.

DS is Bryn, and I have been asked several times if I'm a Gavin and Stacy fan - I've never watched it. Am hoping it will be out of fashion by the time he goes to school; maybe it will be the same for Nancy, too.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 20/08/2010 11:10

Hmmm - middle names are tricky. I have been known to spend much longer on a middle name...

Grace would probably not go because of the 'S' sound.

Maud
Maeve
Pearl
Kate
Jane

Will try to think of more.

AT1137 · 20/08/2010 11:12

Ella is my Nancy's middle name.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 20/08/2010 11:13

The only thing with Nancy Allen is that there's an actress of that name (she was the female lead in RoboCop). That occurred to me straight away when you mentioned the name, but I don't think it should be a a problem as she's at least relatively obscure and unlikely to be the first thing your DD's future classmates think of when they hear the name.

Original poster
redllamayellowllama · 20/08/2010 11:32

Ooh, hadn't worked out the RoboCop connection. Our surname is spelt slightly differently. Not too bothered by this - I reckon DH will only be further swayed to go for it when he knows there is an association with RoboCop.

Our surname rules out a lot of middle names. Ella Allan and Pearl Allan sound silly (although both lovely names).

OP posts:
AT1137 · 20/08/2010 11:44

Nancy Clare
Nancy Kate

I like these...

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