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Baby names

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

Joanne what do you think?

171 replies

sarahwho · 10/03/2014 07:07

I'm having a dd so need a strong but pretty name to go with Alexander. I've fallen in love with the name Joanne. What do you all think?

OP posts:
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Jeggie · 10/03/2014 18:02

I like it! Unusual and pretty in an understated way

NadiaWadia · 10/03/2014 18:35

It was always dull, even in its heyday (70s). Now it's dull and dated.

alita7 · 10/03/2014 18:43

Everlong- I think it's because she likes it as well as it being uncommon, clearly the OP doesn't think it sounds dated and boring.

At the end of the day I think picking a name is a VERY important part of being a parent. But you have to go with what you like not what other people like- you're the one who has to say name for the rest of your life! There's no guarantee that the child will like the name, whatever you pick, and there's no guarantee that if you pick a popular name it won't suddenly go out of fashion/ there will happen to be barely any in your area, or that if you pick an uncommon name that it won't suddenly become really popular (My mum hadn't heard a Jacob for years until my brother was about 2 and suddenly they all had his name :P).

So just go with what you like providing it suits your family eg doesn't sound silly with the surname, your sister doesn't have a child with a similar name etc

However, the general consensus is that Joanne is a boring, old fashioned name, so you have to think about whether you really want other people to think that when you tell them what you called your child and if you think your child is likely to wish you hadn't called them that and want a different name. You also need to think about potential nick names. If she's called Joanne but you always call her something she likes, for example Josy or Jo or Ann or Annie then it won't matter too much.

SO yeh it's your choice but while you shouldn't feel pressured to pick another name if you like it, you should bare in mind peoples reasons for not liking it :)

ISeeYouShiverWithAntici · 10/03/2014 18:48

I think it's one of those names that will probably come round again.

It's not a terrible name. It's not like you're considering Fedora or Fanny or Burger or Number 16 Bus Shelter (i am not kidding! Oh how I wish I was kidding Grin oh my ) or something. If you like it, use it.

TeaAndALemonTart · 10/03/2014 18:54

It's meh.

And will always be Jo. People stopped using it fir a good reason, it's too beige.

YouGrateMyCheese · 10/03/2014 19:21

Well you've certainly hit a nerve, op! I know a Joanne who's about 14. She's somehow always tan, is super athletic, has glorious waist-length blonde hair and is one of those girls that you just know is going to have 429 boyfriends when she's a bit older. (Or maybe she already does!) I did a double-take when I heard her name for the first time, but now it's just so her that it doesn't strike me as - horror of horrors - "dated" in the slightest. She's named after a family member, I believe. To sum up: I like it!

NewtRipley · 10/03/2014 20:06

If you like Joanne, good on you. It's not a terribel name. It was very commonplace in the 1970's and 80s

Like most here, I prefer Joanna

You did ask Smile

I also like Julia or Juliet

NewtRipley · 10/03/2014 20:08

Also

There's a middle way between a name that 10 children in the class will have, and a name that many people dislike on first hearing.

CoolJazz · 10/03/2014 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Frontdoorstep · 10/03/2014 20:35

I like it and don't think you can go wrong with a name like Joanne. The one's I know are always Joanne and not Jo.

sleepingbeautiful · 11/03/2014 05:31

I'm one. I like it. Also like Joanna.

I get Jo, Joey, Jo-Jo, Joanne or Joanne-MN depending who I'm talking to.

Surprised to see people liking Josephine, which I think is awful. A grannyish Nigella.

SS3J · 11/03/2014 13:28

It's weird how many people have such strongly negative feelings about Joanne! I would never have thought it would inspire such dislike. And what is wrong with using an 80s name. So what if it's not 'due' back in yet - there are no rules! It's not offensive in any way. People often say on here that the top 20 names are 'popular for a reason', well why doesn't that apply to a top 20 name from 30 years ago? Because fashions change is why, but whoever said we have to follow fashion? If the op likes the name then fair enough. Her daughter is not going to get bullied for it and it won't give her any trouble with spelling or pronunciation. Sounds ideal!

Nocomet · 11/03/2014 13:36

I know a 8ish Joanne, it's most disconcerting because she looks exactly like my DF Joanne from high school in the 1980's (but Jo towered over me, so a little Joanne is just wrong).

Ruprekt · 11/03/2014 13:39

Love Joanna.

Joanne is a bit 70's.....

She will be called Jo anyway which is cool.

looki · 11/03/2014 14:10

I liked it once upon a time but think now its v dull and not v pretty. I think of a sensible girl with short dark hair and flat shoes.

sarahwho · 11/03/2014 18:41

I know SS3J it's crazy isn't it. I'm on my own my dp walked out because he didn't want this baby, so I thought I'd get excited and talk to people about the name I like for my new dd and this is the response I get. Think I might just keep it between myself and ds. Oh and for the record I'm not pretty, I have brown hair and I ALWAYS wear flat shoes so I guess dull is just my thing.

OP posts:
NewtRipley · 11/03/2014 18:48

Sarah, sorry to hear about your situation

The thing about Baby Names is it is a place where strangers will tell you what they think of a name - not you, not your baby, just the name.

My advice is not to tell anyone about a name that you love unless you know they will not tell you what they think.

MumOfTheMoos · 11/03/2014 18:56

I'm a Johanna and I love it but for work go by the name Jo as I don't like people mispronouncing the name Johanna.

When I was little, and still now if it's my Mum talking to me I was known by everybody as JoJo and I love that.

Bowlersarm · 11/03/2014 18:56

OP, the thing is you asked in your opening post What do you all think?. And then people told you!

I'm sorry it's not the response you wanted, though.

I feel quite bristly when my DC's names come up in a not too complimentary way - thankfully, very rarely Grin.

This is your baby. Call her the name you like. It doesn't matter what we all think. When she's here, people won't tell you they don't like the name, it becomes her. People just tend to be opinionated and feel they can comment freely when it's not yet a done deal.

Good luck.

TamerB · 11/03/2014 19:22

I think that people are very unfair, Sarah had no idea how blunt people are. It is a bit late now but it is best never to ask on MN, you will never get everyone agreeing. Don't be put off- lots of people being nasty about it have terrible choices themselves. I think that Joanne is lovely and there are people who just think that any, what I call nice ordinary names, are dull. All my favourites would be deemed dull- I adore these 'dull' names- you go for it! Hope all goes well for you.

NewtRipley · 11/03/2014 19:41

yy Bowlersarm

everlong · 11/03/2014 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alita7 · 11/03/2014 19:52

People can say their opinions and I think that's what the op wanted but I think some posters have been unecessarily harsh.

I don't like it but some people do and we all get the luxury of naming our babies something we personally like.

BabyMummy29 · 11/03/2014 20:04

I think it's a lovely name and not one I've heard in years

Mintyy · 11/03/2014 20:17

Op, I really think you should go for it if you like it!

Who would have thought 20 years ago that Grace, Ruby, Matilda, Henry, Harry and all the other "Grandad" names would be so popular?

The popularity of names is cyclical. I have a friend who named her baby girl Olive 15 years ago and everyone was a bit Hmm. Now I see it everywhere.

All the people who are saying they think its a bit boring, or whatever, are only saying that because it was a popular name when they were young.

But this is now!

As I said, I like it. I also like Joanna, but I think Joanne is even more unique in our current climate.