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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Zoe - first impressions

74 replies

BettyBi0 · 04/12/2013 01:31

What kind of woman does the name Zoe suggest to you?

I was really surprised/ disappointed to hear it is now top 30 in America. Would this put you off?

Also, please forgive my preggo brain but I can't remember what the dot things over the E are called. Is the name better with or without dots?

OP posts:

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tinselkitty · 04/12/2013 09:05

I love Zoe for a girl. One of my nicest, most dependable friends is a Zoe.

I'm also a primary school teacher and haven't yet taught a Zoe (which means it would be a yes on my list)

MistleToastyStoHoHoat · 04/12/2013 09:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sandfrog · 04/12/2013 10:03

It's OK but a little harsh sounding. Prefer Zara.

Oneforthemummy · 04/12/2013 14:39

One of my best friends is called Zoë, and she turns 40 this year. She is outgoing, confident and full of life. All the Zoë's I have ever known (probably only 3 or 4) have been lovely people and always seem to have amazing self confidence and a real love of life (as a PP said, it means life and so suits them beautifully). I think it's a great name and would have loved it for my DD (but wanted to avoid naming her, or seeming to name her, after someone!)

lemonmuffin · 04/12/2013 15:18

lovely. I really like it.

sausageandorangepickle · 04/12/2013 18:25

love it, was on the very short shortlist for all 3 of my pregnancies, but as I have 3 boys, not used. Someone I used to work with has recently called her baby Zoe, and it's great!

allcatsaregrey · 04/12/2013 18:36

I have a zoe who is 7 and very quirky. It suits her. People are always complimenting on what a lovely name it is.

SecretRed · 04/12/2013 18:40

My name is Zoe and I've always liked it! No umlauts for me though. Would drive me crackers explaining them to people.

Mothersruin75 · 04/12/2013 23:18

I have a 18 week old Zoë, she's an ivf baby so the meaning 'life' was a special aspect to the name for us. We've been complimented so much on her name and I think it really suits her, she's already a determined litte thing, it's a little bit quirky and will grow with her. At the moment she's Zozo but I imagine that will change over time. I have a very 70s/80s name and to me Zoë is not in the same group as my name.

Our DD1 is Lily so we're not that bothered about popularity, however she's the only Lily in a large school & the only one we've come across so far so popularity in the name charts is not always reflected in real life.

We liked the dots for the pronunciation and the look but also it gives her something to play with when she's writing her name as a teen. We thought it gives her options to put the dots on her birth certificate then she can choose to use them in day to day life or not.

cloggal · 04/12/2013 23:25

I love it and it's not over used, classic

Anjou · 05/12/2013 04:11

Although some posters say its a bit 80's, I actually think its quite timeless. I've lived in various places in the UK and have only met maybe 3? I'm in my late 30s so it can't have been that popular in the 80's as surely I'd've met more!

I like it. Feminine but not frilly, unusual but not unheard of, simple but interesting. Good choice!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 05/12/2013 04:19

Really like it. Would have been on the list but it's SILs name. Not dated at all.

bringonyourwreckingball · 05/12/2013 05:44

I have a Zoe and her current teacher is also a Zoe, which is unusual as it's not a particularly common name. I like the fact it's unusual without being too quirky.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 05/12/2013 06:01

Lovely name. i was due to be a Zoe, but missed out for some reason. I am 49.
I have a 26 YO niece with this name. She is strong willed and funny.
I think it's a great name.

JapaneseMargaret · 05/12/2013 08:23

Oh eek, JaneP, I thought the same thing - you were very brave to voice it...!

Zoe - it's nice in that it's a feminine name that's also straight-up and non-frilly. I also really like the letter Z.

It would never make my own short-list, but I can see why others choose it. :)

pinkpeoniesplease · 05/12/2013 08:42

Bit 90's.

Original poster

BettyBi0 · 05/12/2013 15:36

I love that this name has smart, strong positive associations for lots of people. Do worry about the 80s/90s thing so hope it wouldn't be the equivalent of a 30 year old Shirley. When I was at school in the 80s/90s there seemed to be loads of girls called Nicola, Claire, Gemma, Sarah, Jo, and Laura.

Was Zoe really popular back then like being called Jenny or is it 80s naff in the same way as names like Amber?

OP posts:

StormyBrid · 05/12/2013 15:43

To me Zoë suggests a nine month old baby, but that's probably because it's my daughter's name. I like it, it's got a nice sound to it and should work well at any age, and of course people skipping the diaeresis gives me something to rant about (one of my favourite pastimes). If memory serves it was number 93 in last year's UK baby names chart, so not too popular. One of my name criteria was "must not be an EastEnders character" but the Zoë in EastEnders left years ago and then turned up in Doctor Who, so that's okay. Go for it!

zgaze · 05/12/2013 16:01

It is an excellent name (I am one). I have the umlaut but never heard anyone attempt to pronounce it zoaaaay! I'm 40 next year and have only met a few through my life, most recently on a couple of 3&4 year olds, o babies.

mum2jakie · 05/12/2013 16:06

I think it's a timeless classic name. It wasn't ever common enough to be associated with a particular decade (so not in the same league as Tracy or Joanne etc.)

I would happily use it for a girl and it's a strong name that a woman can grow into and won't date in the same way that the current popular names will (Ava, Ella, Esme etc etc.)

hotair · 05/12/2013 16:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CreepyCrawly · 05/12/2013 21:56

I'm a 23 year old Zoë, I obviously think it's a fab name.

CordeliaRose · 05/12/2013 22:16

It's a great name: unusual, in that you dont come across it too often, but not unknown; strong, classic and feminine.

DiamondsAndRust · 05/12/2013 22:27

Think at its peak in the '80s it reached about number 25 or 26 in the UK chart, if that helps OP?

HoneyandRum · 06/12/2013 11:35

I think Zoe is a classic name and not just a throwback to the 80s, just because that's when British parents discovered it does not make it a flash in the pan. I know an adult Zoe and a girl aged 8. In my experience Zoes are never wallflowers, "Z" names always seem to add a zip to the personality. My best friend for a while in the 70s was called Zoe, that is, until she started to bully me. Her parents were also big BNP supporters but as I was only 7 or 8 I thought that was like any other political party. I don't hold that against the name which I just can't help liking.

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