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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Is this really horrendous?

147 replies

mabiee · 21/09/2019 13:15

Lennon, nn Lennie for baby girl. I read a book a while back and there was a girl in there called Lennon and it’s stuck with me since.
I think Lennie is a cute and pretty nn too. I typically like slightly more unisex names.
OH likes it too. I was pretty much decided on it but decided last night to do a which MN search on the name just to see the general opinion / check for any issues in it etc. Bad idea. The pinnacle was a recent thread on Lennyn... didn’t go well.

So is Lennon / Lennie that bad? It would be Lennon Rose probably.

OP posts:
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MrMeSeeks · 22/09/2019 08:27

I love it for a girl.

mabiee · 22/09/2019 09:24

Thanks so much everyone !!!
Some thinking to do...

OP posts:
milliefiori · 22/09/2019 09:26

I like Lennie but not Lennon. Not keen on John Lennon personally, and it will remind everyone of him.
Leonora, Leonie, Helen, Helena, Eleanor etc could all have that cute nickname.

Kokeshi123 · 22/09/2019 10:26

you'll be calling it her for the rest of your life so pick one YOU love

No, the key is, will the child themselves like being called Lennie? They are the one who has to live with the name in question.

Lennon sounds like a boy's name and also like Lemon, sorry.

NatashasDance · 22/09/2019 11:41

It makes me think of Lennie Henry and Lenny the Lion.

There are lots of real names suggested on here from which a pet diminutive of "Leni" or similar might naturally come.

Personally I think choosing the diminutive name over the real name is very odd when the full name gives so much more potential for a pet name that might fit the person at different stages in their life. Elizabeth for example can give Beth, Liz, Lizzie; Betty, Betsy, Bet, Bess, Bessie ;Katherine- Kate, Katy, Cath, Cathy, Kit, Kitty, Cat, Margaret- Meg, Mag,Maggie, Peggy, Peg.

misspiggy19 · 22/09/2019 11:45

I don’t like it, especially for a girl. Will forever be associated with John Lennon and everything will think The Beatles.

MissTicPizza · 22/09/2019 14:25

I know an Eleni always known as Lennie

riotlady · 22/09/2019 14:28

I like it, one of the actresses in Nashville is called Lennon

burritofan · 22/09/2019 15:07

I like it! But – was the book The Sky is Everywhere? I loved that book too and think I might be biased towards the name because I like the book and style of writing rather than the name itself IYSWIM? Could you pick another, less out-there name from the book to give you the same good feelings about it?

WingingIt74 · 22/09/2019 15:50

My friend's daughter is Leni (the family are German) and I've always loved it. But Lennon / Lenny definitely reads as a man's name to me....

FizzyGreenWater · 22/09/2019 15:56

OP you can see from this thread how marmite it is... honestly, I would give Lennie as a nickname for a longer name and give her the choice. There are HEAPS of great names which would allow you to have Lennie as a nickname.

Personally I think it's cool as a nickname for something longer but a bit crap on its own - to be honest, it's not actually that interesting just as it is.

Leonore
Leonora
Elin
Ellen
Helena
Lena

Nonnymum · 22/09/2019 15:56

I think Leni, or Eleni are nice or even Lena which you could nickname leni

finallychangedmyusername · 22/09/2019 16:02

What about Lainey as a nickname for Elaine?

Peterslee · 22/09/2019 17:55

My god daughter is lenor with no Lennie, Lennon always linked with John Lennon and he’s wasn’t the most respectful man

Couchbettato · 22/09/2019 18:23

I think it's lovely.

I'm really keen on names that can be used for boys or girls and I especially love girls with slightly boyish nicknames.

I don't know why, but I love a good lennie, frankie, danni, andy etc.

MissPepper8 · 22/09/2019 19:20

Some of the comments are so mean on here 😂

My first thought op when I saw the name, was a boys naming thread. If you like it though who gives a crap.

Astronica · 23/09/2019 04:38

I don't mind Lennon, and certainly much prefer it over suggestion of Leonie. Since names like Eleanor, Leonor etc don't seem to be your style I'd stick with Lennon. I don't much like Lennie on its own, though fine as a nn for Lennon.

TwinMumma2 · 23/09/2019 07:20

@ChrisPrattsFace I'm intrigued now, can I ask what you called your son?

OP - if your a GoT fan, would you consider Olenna? I absolutely adore this name and Lennie would be the perfect NN.
Also, to the original question, Lennon I think is quite sweet. A friend of mine in Aus has a Lennix, NN Lennie for a girl xx

SoupDragon · 23/09/2019 07:28

If you like it though who gives a crap.

The child might well give a crap and they are the one who has to live with it.

AcrobaticCardigan · 23/09/2019 08:03

Love the name Lennon, but pretty sure it’s a boys name! Really don’t like for a girl and also dislike Lennie as nn for a girl.

HeadDeskk · 23/09/2019 13:05

My parents named me an unusual name and it definitely made my life so much harder, especially since it's impossible to shorten.

If you like the nickname, that's fun and great, because nicknames are easy to change and casual. But birthnames that are legal and unusual... that changes a lot.

Kids can be teased unmercifully, always feel different, and oh my god - the number of times I've had to repeat myself or spell it out for people. You get these awkward looks like it's your fault you were given an unusual name. People always want to know why I have an unusual name, and they seem confused when I say, "My parents just liked the name." They blink at me like, that can't be right - why would anyone give you an unusual name unless they had a good reason?

And don't get me started on coffee shops. They ask for my name. I say it. They look at me like they just don't know what to do. So I say, "Sarah. My name is Sarah. Whatever. Just write Sarah!!" I just make it up so I don't have to explain myself.

To be clear, my name isn't terrible. It's absolutely on par with Lennon. Something that is only a little unusual. But every day I hate that my parents named me this name instead of something normal.

Like others have said before, can you name her something else? Could even be a classic name that is a little out of style if you want her to be "special"? You can always go wild on the nickname. As wild as you want. Nicknames can be anything.

But do consider the frustration of your child in the future on something she has no control over. Names really do make a difference.

imclaustrophobicdarren · 23/09/2019 13:07

I actually think Lemon is nice. But I am a bit bonkers. Lemmi for nn???

Bluntness100 · 23/09/2019 13:08

I also don't like it, it makes me think of John Lennon and Lenny Henry. I don't think it's unisex, it's a blokes name and as a woman I would not wish to be called it. She will have a life time of having it spelled Lenny and be likely teased at school for having a boys name.

This really is the female version of a boy named sue.

Antonin · 23/09/2019 15:56

Isn’t Princess Anne’s granddaughter called Lena? However that is apparently pronounced Lane -a
So some of the alternate names suggested on this thread, such as Leni might be prounced Laney by some people.
If you love Lennie then go for that. The name doesn’t sound babyish or cutsey

starkid · 23/09/2019 15:56

I like Lennie/Leni, nick-name for Elena most :)