Joanne what do you think?

[sarahwho]

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?

My BFF is called Joanne and she is absolutely amazing, so I like it.

OP if you like it that's all that matters. Don't listen to all the negative responses.

For what it's worth, I prefer Joanna or Johanna, but there's nothing wrong with Joanne.

OP, you asked for opinions, and you got them. If you love the name you should go with it whatever, but it is clear from the response that the vast majority of people don't find the name appealing for a baby/young child today. It is very much the name of the childbearing population and therefore not a name which most would consider for their own children. She will more than likely be the only young Joanne you/she will know, but she is likely to be around a number of friends mums with the same name so it will not be considered "unusual", just v "dated".
If you are still keen on the name armed with all this information then I would say that it's the name for your baby. Just be aware that although people may not actually tell you they don't find the name attractive once she is here, they will be thinking it. But if this doesn't bother you, then it doesn't matter.
Your son has a classic name which has been popular for many many decades (my ds has a number of Alexanders in his year group at secondary school and it is what I consider a "timeless" classic). You are, by contrast, considering a name which is linked very definitely to a generation a few decades ago - be aware that she may feel short changed by this!

I'm a Joanne (not the more "common" Joanna") i was one of five Joanne/a's in my class, i was born in 1981...........

I love fact that people think its a "dull and dreary" name.....screw you all, I quite like it, could think of worse names.

And someone has to bring it back so if you like it OP then go for it, mumsnet is a horrible place to "air" names.......people can be quite horrible.

(obviously you can tell by my username what my name is and year of birth lol)

:)

Just to clarify, I don't hate the name at all (many of my friends are called Jo/Joanne/Joanna) but it's just not a name I would choose for a baby born here and now. It's just too dated to my ear (and to many others on here it would appear). It's not ready for a revival for a while IMO, but I'm sure it will be back at some point in the 21st century.

I like Joanne.

She did ask, but she had no experience of MN so it has been a shock to her when she is feeling vulnerable. As a new person you wouldn't imagine how unpleasant some if the answers can be. I would never ask for opinions on a name that I liked.

Yes, but then having asked us what we thought,seemed to dig her heels in and say something like "you all hate it, so I love it more". Why ask people's opinions then totally disregard them?

A "whoah, I had no idea it would be so controversial/disliked I think I may still go with it because I love it so much. But what do you think to (insert any lovely name)....."

Everlong is right, it was a drip feed, and the last post designed to make everyone ( the Joanne dislikers) feel terrible.

I like it. All Joanne's I know are v successful by the way.

You are right Bowlersarm but for the inexperienced MN can be a shock! AIBU is not the only place for very blunt views.
There was a young girl last week who isn't anywhere near having a child who was trying out names which were terrible cutesy, hyphenated ones. They were torn to shreds and then she was told to 'get a life'! While it was all quite true I felt sorry for her, she had no idea- she thought she would have a cosy discussion about names. I don't think Sarah had the least idea of what she was letting herself in for!

Agree Bowlersarm

But I think the OP feels bad for other reasons and maybe wants to get a bit angry with us

I am glad that I didn't know about MN when I was pg and thinking about names as both of DD's names, and the combination of them, are ones that are regularly dissed on here as being sooooooo popular/common these days and no-one can think why anyone would go for them. And I can be a sensitive soul sometimes and it would probably have made me cry. But we still think it's a beautiful name for our beautiful girl. And popular though it may be, no-one actually thinks it's not a lovely name.

Having said that, as this name has had such a negative response, it's worth thinking up some alternatives. I don't actually think I've heard quite so many - most names are 50/50 at least!

I think you should do your best to be nice on Baby Names (even if you loathe a particular name) and save the smart snippiness for Aibu. But, there, I'm obviously an old softy.

You asked what we thought, we told you. If you don't want honest opinions, don't ask for them!

If you want a supportive chat about your situation, post in chat, relationships, or a pregnancy or 'baby bus' thread.

I knew about MN baby names when naming dd. I did look up threads on her names, to see if people had spotted unfortunate nicknames or connotations. No way would I have started a thread - because I know what I think and didn't need affirmation by others and, saw no value in reading the inevitable negative comments.

I didn't tell anyone in RL the intended name either (except DP!) as, before birth, people will offer opinions on the name as an abstract idea. After birth, they will tell you it's lovely, because it would be rude not to and, because as soon and you associate a name with a real person, especially a cute, lovely baby, it becomes their lovely name!

I can't believe people will be supportive of really silly names (i've wondered about starting a thread suggesting calling a baby Immodium Cain, or Milly-Molly-Mandy-Mae*, just to see what happens next), or really tragic names (Lucretia and Phaedra, anyone?) and have such a problem with Joanne! I think it's a lovely name.

*Milly-Molly-Mandy updated to current trends, y'see

OP If you want a name that is so disliked so your dd will be the only one in the class with it then there's a thread that got onto Irish old lady names. There's some corkers on there, "Gobnait" was the ugliest.
, Dymphna, Gertrude and Myra might also fit your requirements.

Gertrude! Gertrude kind of makes Joanne a bit more appealling.....

I think the OP should go with Josephine. It's of the moment but not too popular. She can go with the shortened version of JoJo she likes. And it goes brilliantly with Alexander, which is a gorgeous name.

Well I liked it on page one and I still like it now. It won't suggest middle aged women to her peers. It'll be like the Rita I knew, I thought it was cool, nobody ever said it was dated or anything, it was interesting.

I probably do prefer Joan. I'm sure I've seen that on threads here where people list names that'll never come back, still, it's becoming fashionable in some circles and has been suggested here as an alternative to Joanne. Things change!
I like Mavis too though actually, and Susan, which people have listed here as awful ideas. Maybe I've got terrible taste ;)
(My kids have approved mumsnet names I fear.)

I liked it on page one and I still like it.
I am rude about surnames used as first names, made up spellings, hyphenated names and dire old lady names like Ivy and Elsie or old men names like Percy and Ronnie.
We all have our pet hates.

I like Joan, and Jane actually but there's just something so dull about Joanne I can't put my finger on it.

It might be the sound it makes as its spoken. "J-waaan" its mournful and plaintive.

I knew someone would love Gertrude! I ummed and aahed about putting it, its quite jolly.