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’d consider Zion to be a very politically loaded name.

Thank you all for your thoughts. I think it seems the consensus is that we don't necessarily have to play it "safe" this time either... and actually a lot of the names I've had on my list have appeared in this thread, so you've clearly worked out my style pretty well ;)

I've added a few, so thanks for those ideas. Still got a couple of "regular" names on our list, so may end up with a different feel, but it's good to know most wouldn't be too shocked by another less usual name in the family!

"People haven’t stopped naming their children ‘Fred’ because of Fred West whatever the news says about that name"
And you think using Zion as a name is comparable?
Incidentally, what language do they speak in Africa?

@Bertrand you are starting to sound very silly now. I am African if that helps you. Did you think you were being clever by asking what language they speak in Africa?

Bertrand I've said up thread that I have no intention of using a traditional African name with just a white Zimbabwean link to the continent. I do think it would be odd, and no, in my experience white Zimbabweans don't tend to use traditional names.

Some names here would be too "african" for us to use...but my question was more what kind of names would go with Hosanna - should I go normal, or stick with more unusual. As I've said, I know more Hosannas outside zim/ Africa, so wouldn't say I've overstepped boundaries of what is acceptable use of another culture's name?! It just seems to fit better in that context than over here.

So names like felicity or joy or hope - would you say they should be off limits for a white person like me because they are more like the virtue names used in many African countries? Just curious! (I wouldn't use names like tafadzwa, for example, but how far does your rule reach?).

Hmm. I would have thought a person not knowing the political significance of the word "Zion" is the silly one here.

Bertrand, it has a political significance. And perhaps that is the context you associate it with the most. But for others, it has other links.

@Bertrand Never mind the Political, social, economic or technological significance of the name, can you answer why ‘Triumph’ isn’t African? Why Zion inspite of many African boys with this name, is now out of bounds, Whilst ‘Harry’ and ‘Donald’ continue to be used and I’d love to know the your answer to your own question, ‘what language do they speak in Africa’?

Hosie, please share your names with us. You have great taste! I think any slightly unusual name would be fine.

I think there are about 1500 languages spoken over the continent of Africa. Any other points of general knowledge you'd like me to clear up for you?

You're the one asking what language they speak in Africa? I was interested to know what you thought the answer to that was. Can you answer the other two questions?

Blessing. Absolutely lovely. Or Benedict for a boy.
I know of several white British Hosannas, mostly with Charismatic Christian parents.
Trinity is another.

1)It is ridiculous to say that anything is "African"
2) Zion is a name so charged with historical and political connotations it would be very inadvisable to use it in today's climate.

Sometimes Betrand you just have to be humble enough and accept you are not the fountain of all knowledge and in this particular case, you've got it spectacularly wrong. Take it from an African.

Not the fountain of all knowledge, but not writing in this case. Take it from a European.

If it's a boy, name him Immanuel. I always wanted to be married into the right culture so I could name a son that. It never happened..... Immanuel goes really well with Hosanna in my opinion.

I love the name Keziah, which I think goes with Hosanna
For a boy perhaps Elias or Elijah
Or perhaps Faith or Hope

Hosanna means, "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’"
So why call her that?
Very odd.

Love it! I knew a little girl called Blessing, and think it’s beautiful. I personally wouldn’t go mainstream British since you already have one kid with such an awesome name. For a boy, I reckon something like Jeremiah or Josiah would be great and also work with Hosanna. Congratulations!

Rebecca 36 did you mean to be so rude?

I wouldn't use Blessing. It's too much to live up to!

Hosanna is lovely. IMO it goes equally well with something olde worlde English like Charlotte/Rose/Katie, or with anything more unusual. I would be more inclined to make sure new baby has a name as long though. I.e. 'Hosanna and Oliver, time for dinner' sounds better to me than Hosanna and Max iyswim.

I do like Mordecai, if you're going Old Testament. Not as cheerful as Hosanna and rather grown-up but sounds good. Or you could go for Benjamin, or Esther.

I wouldn't use Blessing. It's too much to live up to!
Yes to that. Although blessing is so mainstream now most Africans don't really think of it in that way, although in the UK it will might be Virtue names in general can be overly optimistic i.e 'Innocent', , i knew a robber called that, he was found guilty of robbing DM's car.

Or Solomon.

I’d consider Zion to be a very politically loaded name

I agree with this. Rightly or wrongly, it’s got political connotations.

OP I worked with a Zimbabwean woman named Hosanna and her sisters were Precious and Exodus. Her son was Tafadzwa Moses. Tafadzwa means “we are pleased” which seemed a lovely meaning to me. She said a lot of names in her culture are chosen for the meaning rather than the sound which I liked.