To wonder why Gemma is currently so unpopular? What do you think of the name?

[1horatio]

I had to stay up yesterday evening and to keep me awake I started thinking about baby names for our 2nd child (I'm not pregnant yet, but depending on some developments we may start trying again after Christmas...).

Anyhow, I really like the name Gemma. It really works with my Italian heritage, the Italian part of the family could pronounce that one, it sounds lovely and I don't think there would be any issues with it in the UK (or am I wrong?).

So, do you like Gemma?

Time

I think he picked 2 beautiful names.

Ignatius doesn't set me alight but Gemma is lovely. Showing my age, when I was a little girl in the 70s I used to watch Blue Peter. One of the presenters Tina Heath was pregnant on the show, the viewers saw her ultrasound done and she brought the baby into the studio a few weeks after the birth. The baby had iirc a little bump on her ear that her mum likened to a gem, and she was named Jemma.
Emma is a classic though, and surprising to me, is currently the most popular in the States.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/2805745-do-you-like-these

I actually genuinely love it.
And DH didn't veto it last time. So.... ;)

So, navy, as you see. Not winding up. Testing the waters

Because as much as I love DH. He has his nose too often in books (ok, it's for his work. But he's just a bit quirky) to reliably judge what 'the rest' of the U.K. may think. I'm still so freaking glad that DH vetoed Miranda nn Meera.(really dodged a bullet with this one)

smile

Idk. Maybe the Americans are currently a bit more classically conservative as far as baby names are concerned.

But, just checked, Emma is also super popular in my home country.

I grew up in Switzerland, DH is English. :)

But 'where I'm from'...? I mean... I have an Italian nonna and a lot of Italian relatives and influence. I have a Swedish grandmother. The 'rest' is German, and Swiss. We live in London.

Wait, this tells you all anyone may want to know about us, I guess. (I'm not really expecting you to read this, btw. Lol.)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/2617664-Your-opinion-on-these-names-please-English-naming-rules-are-a-book-with-7-seals-to-me-hmm

I knew an awful Gemma, arrogant and gobby as fuck, so I'd never use it. I don't think it's a very pretty name, it's like calling someone Gaby or Beryl.

I don't really like Italian names for boys, for some strange reason.

I think I'd like to give the little Francesco as a middle name if we were to have a boy. I do admittedly like the name Carmine. But that's too much like Carmen for the U.K., I suspect.

It's only unpopular because people of childbearing age went to school with lots of Gemmas. Most names popular in the 1980s are out for that reason - doesn't mean they're not nice though, so go for it if you like it!

To me its very harsh sounding and in the same bracket as Tracy, Kelly, Sharon etc, the complete opposite of beautiful. Sorry if harsh but you asked why people don't like it, theres my reason OP!

Thank you, op!

Much as I would love a little Cara, I'm getting a bit long in the tooth, and my Gemma has told me that if I bring another boy home, she is leaving . Can't take that risk!!

Now, that's fine.

I mean, not liking the sound, the meaning, knowing a nasty cowbag with that name... all fine :
I am asking, right?

I mean, last time I was in love with the name Miranda. I thought the nn Mira would be cute. And DH let me rave on and on and then he was like... 'Do you mean Myra?' (Which sounds pretty much how I pronounce Mira/Meera) so I was like 'yes, exactly. Why?'

I'm so fudging happy DH thought that this might be the moment where he should veto.... grrr! I'm still getting quite upset just thinking about it!

I have a Gemma too. DH picked it and I wan't keen at first, but when she was born she became my precious Gem, still is and always will be.

I hated my name as a child don't mind it now cannot abide being called gem. X

I love this name and think it's a shame it's not used more.

I imagine it will come back into fashion in 30/40 years.

Beebee
Right? I do love granny names like Iris, Florence, Mathilda etc. But they are just so 'trendy'...
gemm nicknames are often a bit hit and miss, I think. DH currently calls DD Clarie... I like it, but she may come to hate it as well...

upp I think it's often like that with names. :)

I quite like Gemma

I've been thinking about this name recently too! I really like it. Seen it spelt as 'Jemma' before but I much prefer it with a 'G'
I do think it's quite 80/90's but it is really pretty.

Miss

Great minds think alike? ;)

Nat

So do I 😊

I'm an 80's baby called Gemma Louise. I like my name. I also like the familiarity with the people who call me Gem. Can't stand being called 'Gem Gem' though. Strangely I did accept the nickname Jimjam from one friend. Looks bizarre written down!

Essa

A woman called Jemma Louise has written about her opinion on her/thin name on this thread as well ;)
Your names are super similar! And fabulous imo (DD nearly became Louisa). So, I really like the name Gemma Louise, obviously:)!

*this name