Ginevra, Genevieve

[Petcarb]

Opinions please. Not mad about Ginny/Gin nickname but don't really mind Gen. I understand Ginevra is Italian for Geneva, is it akin to naming your baby "Paris" or something? But it seems a v popular name there. And is there too much Harry Potter association? (I didn't even know until I googled it was the long form for Ginny Weasley.)

@TempsPerdu , you are going against the flow not against the grain. They mean different things.

@ZoyaTheDestroyer , maybe it was french Jean

@KirstenBlest perhaps but that’s not the pronunciation of the French name.

I have a very good friend who is Genevieve, she is French so I automatically pronounce it the French way, very lovely name.

French is Zhen vy ev.

@ZoyaTheDestroyer , true.

I have a just turned 2 year old called Genevieve, it gets shortened to Gen, Genny or Vivi. She calls herself Genny or Guffif (which we will obviously remind her of when she is older). We seem to get quite a lot of comments about it being a lovely name.

I like the French pronunciation of Genevieve “je-on-vee-ev” and the nickname Vivi

@Petcarb we have a Guinevere- Guinny ❤️

I love Genevieve!
I knew one who preferred to be known by her full name (pronounced English way), but did get called Vivi by her husband.

Ginevra is OK.

Hi, my name is Ginevra.
It's not just the Italian translation of the city of Geneva, but as a name it refers to Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. I used to get many compliments as a kid. It's becoming popular again in Italy.
So, if you name your baby Ginevra, people wouldn't assume you're calling her like the city, but after the queen.

Genevieve is beautiful

Is Ginevra pronounced gin-evra? If so then it’s a no from me. Genevieve is OK but I do like Guinevere too.

I always thought the French pronunciation of Genevieve was "je-ne-vee-ev" (like je ne sais quoi). I probably wouldn't use it for that reason - that there are at least two "accepted" ways of pronouncing it and then a few more that some people use. I don't dislike Ginevra, although it's not quite my style, and I definitely prefer it to Genevieve just because it's easier to pronounce! Is it also an old word for gin (the drink)?

I don't really like either but Ginevra/Ginerva definitely sound like some sort of brand name - medical perhaps.

Genista is the Latin name for broom as in bushes. I think it’s lovely!

Genista is pretty and unusual. It's supposed to be the basis of the English royal dynasty, the Plantagenists. After the golden broom bush.