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Baby names

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

Genevieve

55 replies

Thefaceofboe · 31/05/2021 10:40

What are your first thoughts when you hear this name? We have decided on it (I think) for our baby girl, but now the more I say it I’m becoming unsure and don’t know whether to go for a ‘safer’ name.

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Jizzonmy · 31/05/2021 10:41

I love it! I’d love to meet a baby Genevieve. Makes a nice change from the usual Amelias, Lilys, Evies etc

SionnachRua · 31/05/2021 10:43

We have a lot of Genevieves in my school. Multiple in a couple of classes. Not sure why, I'd never have thought of it as a popular name.

The Genevieves usually go by Ginny/Evie/Jenny etc so easy to differentiate.

Thefaceofboe · 31/05/2021 10:44

We have a lot of Genevieves in my school. Multiple in a couple of classes. Not sure why, I'd never have thought of it as a popular name.

That’s interesting @SionnachRua. I’ve never met a Genevieve before! I’d like to try and not shorten it but I know it just happens sometimes Smile

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CallmeIT · 31/05/2021 10:44

I’ve had another DD she would have been Genevieve - lovely name 🙂

CallmeIT · 31/05/2021 10:46

*If I’d had.

If you’re not thinking of shortening it though you might have a bit of a headache with other people. My DD has a name with an “obvious” abbreviation and almost everyone (except family) automatically uses it, which she hates.

Branleuse · 31/05/2021 10:48

My first thoughts when i read it are always " which way is it pronounced" as ive heard both Jenna-veeve and Jon-vee-ev.

I prefer the first way, but i think the second way is more correct

ditavonteesed · 31/05/2021 10:53

I have a Genevieve, she goes by Genie.

Thefaceofboe · 31/05/2021 10:53

@Branleuse Jenna-Veev Smile

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Thefaceofboe · 31/05/2021 10:55

@ditavonteesed I love Genie but when I said to my partner he said it doesn’t sound like a natural shortening of Genevieve, so feel like we’d have to push for it. Such a cute nn though!

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TatianaBis · 31/05/2021 10:55

Works much better with the French pronunciation.

In English I prefer Guinevere.

Skyla2005 · 31/05/2021 10:58

It's lovely Smile

ditavonteesed · 31/05/2021 11:03

She started as genie because she was a tiny baby and Genevieve seemed to big for her, it just stuck.

TatianaBis · 31/05/2021 11:11

The typical dim is Genny as genie is pronounced differently.

wanderedlonelyasacloud · 31/05/2021 13:16

Love it! I'd choose it but my DH has vetoed it.

I went to school with a Genevieve who went by Gen/Jen but I've never known another.

tabulahrasa · 31/05/2021 13:19

It’s a very pretty name - but in case it makes a difference at all

The only one I know found it very hard to write for a very long time. Obviously long names are always going to do that, but she really did find it frustrating.

HelenaJustina · 31/05/2021 13:20

I have one, love it. Geni (pronounced Jenny) as a short is the one she prefers.

honeylou42 · 31/05/2021 14:47

Not heard of it much, but think it is beautiful 😍

xprincessxjanetx · 31/05/2021 17:02

I like it but couldn't imagine myself using it but if I met someone else with a baby Genevieve I would think it was different and lovely.

partyatthepalace · 31/05/2021 20:52

I really like it. Don’t think it’s that unusual. I do think you would have to be happy with Gen/Jenny as a short form though - also Evie, and there are A LOT of Evies.
Gwendoline nn Gwen or Gwyneth could be alternatives

Silkiecats · 31/05/2021 20:55

I love it as a name.

TigerDroveAgain · 31/05/2021 20:56

I think of the film. Genevieve is a vintage car

RosesAndHellebores · 31/05/2021 21:04

I think it's lovely and with Madeleine and Imogen it was on our shortlist for dd. Except our surname has *** letters and it would have been cruel.

So we went with an Anna/Eliza genre name.

DramaAlpaca · 31/05/2021 22:50

It's lovely, very sophisticated.

KirstenBlest · 01/06/2021 12:27

Pretty if pronounced the french way but clumsy sounding in an english accent. Prefer Jennifer.

Thefaceofboe · 02/06/2021 10:37

Definitely won’t be pronounced the french way, we are way to common and English to pull that off Grin

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