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 know a family where the eldest child is also called Hosanna!

The Siblings are mostly named after biblical places or people, but names that are little known/used here.

Emmanuel

I'd suggest Glory or Pax.

Zvipozvashe is my absolute favourite

Prudence was missed from the virtue names. I love them.

What a beautiful name! I love it! I also love Blessing,
Hallelujah
Gloria,
Joy,
Faith,

Praise
Emmanuel
Confidence
Elijah
Jesse
Joshua

I think I'd probably avoid virtue names (though there are several I like mentioned already!), because it could sound a bit "over virtuous"?! Maybe not though. And the overly religious theme might be a bit much too, as lovely as names like faith are. There are some beautiful names mentioned above...

Anesu is a fantastic name, I loved it when we were over in zim, but (should probably have made this clear in my OP!), my husband is white Zimbabwean and so our next kid is likely to be as pasty and blonde as our daughter and me! So very African sounding names are a bit out of place, especially when they'll grow up white with a British accent..! We chose Hosanna as we knew at least 2 outside Zimbabwe, so whilst it fitted well over there, we knew it wasn't a solely Zimbabwean name, if that makes sense.

So many lovely names suggested here though - thanks for the ideas. (Certainly plenty of girl names coming through - is Hosanna perhaps a name destined to have a sister?! I definitely find boys names harder).

I'm adding some to the list for discussion in the coming days :)

Speaking of virtue names, when in zim I met 3 different people called Tedious - so if any of you are looking for an unusual name, it's one to bear in mind! (Not sure it goes with Hosanna, otherwise I'd be all over it )

Angelica, Seraphine, Valentina?

Gabriel
Gabriella, Elizabeth, Kamali

I don't really know any Zimbabwe names

I love Calypso! That would be such a great choice.

Some boy names that could be cool with Hosanna:
Thaddaeus
Theodore
Gabriel
Raphael
Eli
Ephraim

Emmanuel?
Noah?
Johah?

DM has a friend called Gods-Power. I do a double-take every time she mentions him, so please don't use that.

I’ve always quite liked Rejoice but I guess it might be overkill with Hosanna. Something biblical like Rachel maybe might go.

For a boy Ezekiel or similar

I’d have to call a girl Sing and a boy King
I just LOVE the name Hosanna

Haha! Thanks for the Hosanna love on this thread. I do love her name but I occasionally think "what have I done to the poor kid?!"

Which is why I'm wondering whether John or Jane might be more sensible than some of the names we have considered...

I don't want "unusual" for the sake of being different or unique. Just something that sounds lovely. I'm just wondering if two slightly more unusual names would be a bit..."aren't we quirky"...

Is Hosanna a name used by white zimbabwwans?

I love mymeyou 's suggestion of Hadassah.

If a family has some usually named current and some really traditionally named children I do think it's odd.

Hosanna is a wonderful name. And I think her sibling could be Gabrielle or Gabriel
Sanna and Gabi, or Sanna and Gabe

Well, obviously, Betrand. The OP used it! What a beautiful name. I'd go totally off piste with something like Fernando!

Well my husband used it for his daughter so I guess yes.

I have known (met, though never known well) 3 Hosannas. 2 white European, one black African.

As a style of name, in my mind, it seems to fit much better with the Zimbabwean virtue trends/ faith trends than a typically British style, but it's not particularly Zimbabwean I think. I've known more outside Zimbabwe. And never met any white Zimbabwean Hosannas til ours was named.

People seemed less surprised by her name over there!

Frogscotch Anusol? What sort of a name is that?

Hosanna is a great name and also has the virtue of being easily shortened to a more common name (Anna) so maybe look for another Zimbabwean name with an English shortening?

Precious? Blessed? Jerusalem (Jerry) for a boy

Hadassah is a lovely name. A bit too samey? Syllables, double letters, H... it is a gorgeous name though.

Sanna is the nickname I wanted to catch on! Totally hasn't yet though...I must try harder!