If you had named your first child Hosanna...

[hosiesmum]

I've name changed for this, because with a kid called Hosanna I'm hardly one of thousands in the UK (!)...

My husband is Zimbabwean and we were living over there when our daughter was born. It's more normal over there to have, what in the UK would be considered, unusual names, and we both liked the name, so Hosanna she is.

We're now in the UK and get a lot of "Susannah? Savanna? Rosanna?" type responses when we introduce her... which is fine, people tend to be able to cope with her name once they've worked it out!

We're imminently due our second, no idea of sex, and I'm wondering whether to go "weird" (in UK terms) again, or something more mainstream...

We've got a bit of a list going, but I'm curious to hear what others would do. (Obviously, going by stats, most of you wouldn't name your firstborn 'Hosanna'! But please for the sake of this question pretend you did!).

So, what would you name your next child, based on this info?!

I think it’s lovely!
Do you like virtue names?
My first thoughts were names like
Patience
Faith
Verity
Hope
Felicity

Not sure on boys names - a bit more tricky!

My mum always called me Hosanna! (My name is Susannah) I think Hosanna is lovely and agree with pp's suggestions of Patience, Faith, Honor, etc

I love Anesu.

That’s a cracking name. I wouldn’t worry too much. I’ve known a Sunday, and Tuesday. Brilliant names

Honestly I would choose a name that you both like and that will serve the baby/child/teen/adult well throughout its life.

But I’ve always liked Elizabeth and think it goes well with Hosanna

Likewise Victoria.

Just my opinion.

I don't think I'd go virtue names; but I would go for something Zimbabewean.

Hosanna is beautiful!

Hadassah = Compassion
Havilah = Life

What an amazing name.

Would you consider other expressions of joyous praise?

Jubilate (pronounced Joo-bih-LAH-tay)

Alleluia (or Hallelujah - same word, different spellings)

Just embrace what you did with your first child. My daughter has a zimbabwean name, surname and middle name and she was born in Scotland with a Zimbabwean dad. It’s not as “out there” in UK terms as hosanna, but it’s still clearly Zimbabwean. Just go for it!

I remember having to sing the song with the name in primary school many years ago.

Beautiful name. Perhaps unusual to use a Zimbabwean name here if your husband wasn't Zimbabwean, but as he is I think anything goes.

I know a Hosanna in the UK. Her siblings are Talitha and Jessica.

I'd also consider:
Verity
Felicity
Jemima
Keziah
Ruth
Gloria

Joy or Hope would go nicely.

I know a Calypso. And a Psalm. Also knew a Melody. I like a lot of African 'virtue' names: Hope, Faith etc. A lot of the best start with H' though, like Harmony.

I like Hosanna and definitely think you should keep up with that 'theme', although maybe avoid overly religious names Luke Faith or Grace (Hosanna and Faith may be a bit much!!).

On a different theme, Charis is Greek for Grace. Talitha is Hebrew for 'little girl' (I think).

Just realised no boys' names here! Any biblical boys' name would be fine I think, especially OT names eg. Isaiah, Micah, David, Asher etc.

Asa
Micah
Esiais
Hope

I think I would go for something along the same lines. I know a couple of sibling pairs where parents are from different cultures/countries and they've named one child traditionally to one and the other to the other and I find it a bit strange (eg Rachel and Feyikemi or Zoe and Mala-Su). Ultimately it doesn't matter of course as when they're adults nobody will match them.

I'm sure not all of these are in common use in Zimbabwe but I think Hosanna goes well with names like:

Blessing, Miracle, Joy, Heaven, Gloria, Angel, Faith, Grace, Mercy, Precious

Joy

Blessing.

I'd go with something like Joy or Gloria.

Perhaps Sinai or Eden if you want to stay with a religious theme.

Hallelujah. Lou or Lulu for short.

Choose something you both like but be mindful of the interactions your child will have as he/she grows. Although the current fashion for wacky and unique names means things will get easier for everyone involved. I have an unusual name and growing up it was just awkward, some people can be surprisingly rude.

Last year I helped at a children’s day at my work and signed in a family of three boys, 2 with names like Englebert and Broussard and the youngest was called something really generic like Daniel. I don’t know why I’ve written all that - just amused me at the time...

Hero

I’ve always loved Peace or Serenity for a girl.

I know a boy called Praise.

Hosanna is lovely