Amelia or Temperance?

[TransatlanticCityGirl]

Hello!

I'm having a bit of an internal debate about two girl names I quite like...

I have always loved the name Amelia. I found it in my family tree many years ago before it became popular again.. one of the earliest female ancestors I could trace (back in the 1600s!) was called Amelia and I immediately fell in love with the name. I also like it because it makes me think of Amelia Earhart and I think it would be cool for my daughter to share a name with such an amazing woman. The husband loves this name too, so it sounds like a winner... except that in the last couple of years, it has become very popular in the UK, and I am not keen to give my child a name that will be very common. (How dare those other parents choose this name!! LOL)

The other name I like is Temperance. I came across it in the tv show 'Bones', where the lead character is called that, or Tempy for short. It's quite unusual / unique (a fairly important driver for me), and I think it sounds sweet. I also like it because then my daughter would share the same initials as me (as no matter which name we choose, her middle name will be Catherine, which is also my middle name).

So what would you go for?

Amelia
or
Temperance (Tempy for short)
???

[TheNewStatesman]

Temperance is awful, sorry!

Amelia is nice but a bit overused.

[Glastokitty]

Did you really call your baby Temperance Beer? . Surely you are joking?

[RustyBear]

I was going to suggest Millicent as a compromise, until I realised this is a zombie thread.

I wonder what the OP chose in the end...

[SaggingTits]

I'm an Amelia. Didn't know it was a common name (15th most popular girls name apparently). Only ever met one adult and 2 children with the same name.

Amelia is definitely better than Temperance

[squoosh]

at Temperance Beer.

Mine is called Prudence Crazyhorse.

[KatieT12]

Amelia 10000000000%

[WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup]

I love Temperance. I know a good 10 Amelia's-it's nice to have an unusual name. My only concern would be someone shortening it to Temper.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

I know this is an aged thread but if you called your daughter Temperance, the contrary sod Gods would ensure she was necking Lambrini by 13.

[KatieT12]

Not being rude, but I genuinely thought the title was 'Amelia or Temperature'

[BeautyGoesToBenidorm]

I know a little Temperance. Her siblings are called things like Emma and Kirsty - it just sticks out really awkwardly!

[Glastokitty]

Squoosh pmsl at Prudence Crazyhorse! . She could be friends with Faith Dawkins.

[waxweasel]

LOVING temperance beer 😄
I know of a little Temperance nn Tempy in North London. She's about 5 and friends with my friend's DS. She mentioned they were going to Temperance's birthday party one weekend and I have to admit I PMSL and said 'Temperance?!? It'll be brilliant if she turns out to be a raging drunk at uni'. Much like all the other comments here.

Tiempe - (pronounced Ti-em-pay) - which is Italian for time. just to say, it's not. Tiempe isn't an Italian word. The Italian for time is tempo.

[TrueBlu]

Amelia is insanely popular, Temperance is very rare probably because it means tee-total. Maybe something halfway in between the two?

[doceodocere]

The pitfalls put me off Temperance, but I do quite like Temple. Temple Grandin is another inspiring woman.

How about Clemency as a less difficult virtue name?

The problem with Amelia is that its popularity makes it seem a very unimaginative choice. It is pretty but I feel bored now whenever I meet another little Amelia/Emilia /Amelie

[BertrandRussell]

Prudence?

It at least sounds like a name for a human being and won't be a millstone round the poor child's neck.

How can people possibly say "I think it sounds pretty" without thinking about the implications? Lasagna sounds pretty. So do Incandescence, Ambrosia and Swirl. But nobody is n their right minds would use them as names for people.

Bloody hell, they might now. They'll make their way onto one of those bogus baby name websites as "versions of the traditional Irish name......."

[Olbersparadox]

Go with Imogen,
Temperance is awful sorry.

Amelia is pretty but quite popular.

[juniperdingleberries]

harecare

[justlikeastar]

Temperance is really awful and Tempy is even worse.

Amelia is popular (there are 3 in the school I work in, in year 1, 4 and 6) but it is very pretty and Amelia Catherine is gorgeous.

[FourThingsAndALizard]

You do realise this child was actually named over five years ago? She'll be at school by now...

[WeatherwaxOrOgg]

Temperance is lovely! I love unusual names and to be fair, kids can pick on any name and make a joke out of it really. I wouldn't let the fact that once in a while someone will say temper Temperance put you off because once it's her name and people know it and her it won't be an issue.

Lots of names are unusual these days and although Amelia is lovely it's becoming incredibly popular.

I have a daughter with an unusual name and I was given all the negative about it, but now she's 19 she says she loves her name and the fact that virtually no-one has it. Also ... she was called by a short version for years (not by family but by friends) but has decided she prefers the full name now and so uses that.

You could call her Temperance Amelia (dependent on your surname for initials sake) and if it becomes a problem she can use Amelia. Maybe give her 3 names - mine have 3. It won't hurt to change - my daughters short version is entirely different from the 4 syllable full version and she's made a smooth transition from short to long.

It's a beautiful name and better than any everyday name. IMO they're depressingly uncreative.

[Beecraft]

Amelia, 100%

[RJnomore1]

I bet waxweasels dds friend is this baby 😁

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Zombie thread?! The op of this thread is probably the proud mum of a 5 going on 6 year old.

Temperance is hideous though.

[waxweasel]

Hahahaha I hadn't clocked it was a zombie thread! You're right, it's probably the same child!

[WeatherwaxOrOgg]

Haha yes Lizard. I only realised afterwards lol. I'd love to know what the parents chose eventually!