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

Middle name for Nehemiah

96 replies

Teamustbefromateapot · 29/07/2024 12:06

We are fairly set on Nehemiah for baby boy (nn Neo) and are looking for a middle name. Open to any and all suggestions please!

OP posts:
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yikesanotherbooboo · 29/07/2024 20:30

I am with @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g ,I think it is an interesting name and not far from Jeremiah but don't understand Neo as a diminutive. Choose a second name that means something to you it doesn't need to flow but would be easier if it was short.

Beth216 · 29/07/2024 20:31

For me the incongruence between Nehemiah and Neo is that one sounds thousands of years old and the other sounds futuristic. I agree with others that they seem like a very odd pair.
Nehemiah is a bit of a mouthful so you definitely need something short and simple IMO, Ezra doesn't run at all, I'd go for James.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 29/07/2024 20:33

Beth216 · 29/07/2024 20:31

For me the incongruence between Nehemiah and Neo is that one sounds thousands of years old and the other sounds futuristic. I agree with others that they seem like a very odd pair.
Nehemiah is a bit of a mouthful so you definitely need something short and simple IMO, Ezra doesn't run at all, I'd go for James.

Yes, Neo means The Matrix to me, oddly, given I only saw the film once a long, long time ago (and have little interest in seeing it again).

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 29/07/2024 20:41

James
Thomas
William
Ben

Another2Cats · 29/07/2024 20:46

KirstenBlest · 29/07/2024 18:40

@Another2Cats , it's not really like the ch in scottish loch. I'd say it's more like 'kh'. If you've heard Mischal Hussein say 'Imran Khan', that's the sort of sound.

Thank you, it's always interesting for me to hear from different people. My DH is Russian and how he sounds the Russian letter X (as in хорошо) is very similar indeed to the "ch" sound in the Scottish word "loch" and the "ch" sound in chutzpah. What I would describe as "kh"

"it's not really like the ch in scottish loch. I'd say it's more like 'kh'"

It's interesting that you say that as, to my ears, the "ch" in the Scottish word loch is pronounced exactly the same as the "kh" sound - at least by Scots. It's a different matter entirely when the word is pronounced by most English people.

Also, I've found that many Scousers (people with a strong Liverpool accent) use a similar "kh" sound when there is a k in the word. For example "like".

Just listen to a Scouser say something like "You know what I mean like?" The word like is usually pronounced as "likh"

Here is an example, from TikTok, of a young lad with a very obvious Scouse accent being interviewed in the street and at about 0:28 says:

"So likh [how he pronounced the word], what I'm trying to say is that he is the best football player in the world"

The word "like" is very clearly pronounced as "likh"

ps this young lad is also definitely gender critical. As he also says at about 0:20

"If your aunt had balls she'd be your uncle, but she doesn't so she's not. Do you know what I'm trying to say?"

https://www.tiktok.com/@iqbalahmed23/video/7115889077857111297?lang=en

TikTok - Make Your Day

https://www.tiktok.com/@iqbalahmed23/video/7115889077857111297?lang=en

Swimmingatdusk · 29/07/2024 20:47

Nehemiah James flows well, and has a few nick names so if at any point he doesn’t want to use Nehemiah (!) he could be Jim, Jimmy or James.

HotCrossBunplease · 29/07/2024 21:45

KirstenBlest · 29/07/2024 18:40

@Another2Cats , it's not really like the ch in scottish loch. I'd say it's more like 'kh'. If you've heard Mischal Hussein say 'Imran Khan', that's the sort of sound.

I had seen you on enough threads over the years to know you like accuracy @KirstenBlest , so am just going to point out that she spells her name Mishal Husain.

MoralOrLegal · 29/07/2024 21:47

LimesOfBronze · 29/07/2024 15:51

I mean, you don’t get Nehemiah without Ezra!

And Zerubabbel goes with both of them!

TheShiningCarpet · 29/07/2024 21:57

do you really just want to call your kid neo and you are working backwards to find a name that retrofits?

of course apologies if you have deep connection to the Jewish faith

i think it really has to be one syallable - what about Ian? I read it’s coming back

FFSWherearemyglasses · 29/07/2024 21:57

Poor kid 🤦🏼‍♀️
Stick with Jo

KirstenBlest · 29/07/2024 21:59

@123dogdog , Is it like the kh in Arabic?, to me yes. I don't speak Hebrew but I know some people who do and hear them speak it.

@Another2Cats , the Scottish 'ch' and Arabic 'kh' don't sound exactly the same. The sounds are created in different parts of the mouth. They're not sounds that occur in English.

TowerStork · 29/07/2024 22:08

Never heard of before but it's very nice. And it's difficult for the unfamiliar because there are similar Biblical names that most people know.

I like the suggestion of Erza to go with it

ODFOx · 29/07/2024 22:31

It is a very unusual choice if you are based in the UK, even if you are in an insular Hebrew based community. Are you sure that this is the best place to ask? We are a pretty diverse bunch overall.
As always, with a longer less common first name I'll suggest some shorter names which might work; David, Noah, Job, Jonah, Joseph, Saul, Seth.
Congratulations

mathanxiety · 29/07/2024 23:07

Nehemiah...

John
James
Zachary
Joseph
Samuel
Michael
Gabriel
Alexander

Feeltoooldtostudybutdoingitanyway · 29/07/2024 23:12

Nehemiah James
Nehemiah Rex
Nehemiah Benjamin
Nehemiah Paul

QueenOfTheNihilist · 29/07/2024 23:15

Great name! One of my Dc had a friend at school called Nehemiah. And due to it being a S London primary there were none of the issues that some fully grown MNers seem to have with names they are unfamiliar with.

James works well, if you really want if need a middle name.

Drizzlethru · 29/07/2024 23:19

I like it.

toby
Luke
Mark
Ezra
James
Rex
Boaz

QueenOfTheNihilist · 29/07/2024 23:26

P.S DC’s friend was not Jewish or Israeli, and although he was never addressed by any shortened or nickname kids did quite often squash it together as ‘N’maaaah .

KvotheTheBloodless · 29/07/2024 23:30

If you want his name to be Neo, just call him that. Unless you're Jewish and fairly devout it's pretty weird to (a) name your child Nehemiah, and (b) shorten it to a name from a popular film that isn't a known diminutive of that name.

It's absolutely fine to just like the name Neo, nobody that matters is going to tell you off for not choosing a 'traditional' name.

StormingNorman · 29/07/2024 23:33

Sebastian

Nehemiah Sebastian

SkiingIsHeaven · 30/07/2024 07:50

Doo dooooo do do da

user1492757084 · 30/07/2024 08:52

Nehemiah Bruce
Nehemiah John
Nehemiah Charles
Nehemiah Zane

Viviennemary · 30/07/2024 08:53

Bob.

MovingBird123 · 30/07/2024 10:48

Another2Cats · 29/07/2024 18:06

That's really interesting. Do you mean "kh" as in something like the pronunciation of "ch" in the Scottish word loch or perhaps in chutzpah? Or the Russian letter X?

English people (well, except for Scousers) really don't use that "kh" sort of sound.

Yes, exactly like chutzpah.

KirstenBlest · 30/07/2024 11:04
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