opinions on our chosen name: Heavenly Joy

[greenyish]

Just want to run it past a few strangers

There's also the worry that she might grow up to be a bit of a, well, twat, and people will be forever mumbling "no you're not" after she introduces herself.

at this thread.

Which can be summarised as you shouldn't use it as it sounds Afro Caribbean/Nigerian. There are many reasons for not liking a name but that is not a legitimate one.

If you like it, go for it op.

Sorry for your loss Finding. Hide this awful thread.

Surely the germans don't put an R on the end of Claudia?? cl-ow-dee-ah

Sounds like a porn star name. Sorry!

Adore Joy. It was on my shortlist.

There's nothing really wrong with the two names individually, it's putting them together makes it sound like you're a devout christian

I think it's a lovely name OP. If I met a toddler called Heavenly Joy I'd think she was adorable. If you really love it then ignore what anyone on the internet thinks! Also being in London does make a difference, there's a much wider range of names and nobody bats an eyelid.

Only thing I would say is I think she might shorten Heavenly when she gets older just because it's three syllables, and I'm not sure what you could shorten it to.

polly - which is pronounced an awfully lot like "cloudier" - as in "it's cloudier today".

Doesn't pass the translate to an adult test for me.

I like non top 10 names all for avoiding the curse of Eve/Lily etc etc but this is taking things too far. Poor kid. Just no.

Utterly ridiculous. Can you imagine saying "Heavenly Joy, we don't bite / get up off the floor / come here now / put that down"? Or introducing herself at school and at any job? You might as well call her "Utterly Amazing" or "The Best". Separately, the names are quite sweet, Joy is lovely, but together it's just way too much.

I know two little girls called Eden, both of white British middle class stock. It's their name and it suits them. If the OP wants to name her child Heavenly Joy, I see nothing wrong with it. To my ear, it sounds no more twee than Eden

I'm saddened (but not shocked or surprised) by the casual racism on this thread.

The problem is, every time she meets someone she's going to have to say "I'm heavenly". And at least half of them are going to reply "Are you really". And that's without the leering men who say " I bet you are". So, on the off chance you are actually serious about this - no.

This thread!

Rude comments and casual racism - is it necessary?

Eminado

The OP asked for comments on the name, so people are commenting that they think it's twee/ridiculous/sickly sweet etc. I think they are being honest rather than rude.

It's a ridiculous name for a person.

Better you're upset now than your child be saddled with a silly name forever.

I love it!

She can always choose to go by Joy if she finds it a bit much but personally, I think it's fantastic.

AllPizza

It's being "honest" to say a name is fine IF you are Nigerian?

What?

I believe you referred to casual racism and rude comments, two totally different things.
I responded to 'rude' comments as the OP had invited them.

Love it!

allpizza

What are you defending? The 2 are not mutually exclusive.

Some of you need to Rtft fgs.

It could be shortened to Ley/Lea/Lee or Ven.

It's not racism to refer to the name more likely to be used by certain cultures, it's fact. I've come across a God'spower and Godsspeed plus plenty of Beauty's and Glorious's within my line of work who were all Nigerian.

So Anorak because you've met a handful of Nigerians you now feel qualified to make sweeping statements about a whole country's names?!
And call it "fact".

Don't be so ridiculous.

"It's ghastly, OP. Unless you come from a naming tradition that uses this kind of name - I would associate it with Nigeria, perhaps other African-Caribbean countries too? - it smacks of some demented female tele-evangelist calling down the Holy Spirit with a gospel choir going wild behind her and a 0800 DONATE number scrolling across the bottom of the screen."

^^
Rude and racist comment above, fyi.

Actually Roundtable and Eminado I've reread the thread.

Poo mischaracterised earlier when she said that the thread implied "ghastly unless Afro-Caribbean" and I think that Roundtable is mischaracterising in saying that the thread can be summarised as 'don't use it unless you are Afro-Caribbean/Nigerian'.

No one has said either of those things. In fact more people have said that the name sounds as though the parents are strongly religious.

Lots of people have said they really dislike the name but I don't think any of them mentioned race.

Several people mentioned knowingly little 'Heavenlys' (or similar names) within those communities and therefore having a positive associated with the name.

As I mentioned in a previous post we've had several threads over the years where strongly Irish, French or Scandinavian associated names were queried when the OP had no cultural connection.

That is your opinion Hariasa

You cant speak for other posters - so and so "mischaracterised" and you cannot speak for me. I don't agree with you.