Clementine for our baby girl? Or is it just a fruit?

[ThatOwl]

We both love the name Clementine but some people seem a bit perplexed when mentioned over the years that it's a name we think is lovely. "Like the fruit?"

Thoughts?

Like Winston Churchill’s wife Clementine Hozier.

Who was known as Clemmie. If it was good enough for her...

She had Scottish ancestry and in the past the family had Jacobite sympathies. They first used the name because the wife of the Old Pretender was a Clementina, and it became a family name that was passed down through the generations.

Its ok. I like the androgyny of Clem.

I don't think there is a standard pronunciation of the fruit even. The teen or tine endings both seem to be in use in the UK, although the dictionary I quickly checked said teen is UK and tine US. It'll be down to the Great Vowel Shift.

It's a lovely name. I first heard it in 1981 - Clementine was Charles and Diana's youngest bridesmaid and she was Winston Churchill's great granddaughter (I think).

I know a lovely Clementine. She doesn’t allow anyone to shorten it. Some people do take the piss out of her name a bit, behind her back.

I think it's a lovely name, it was on my list for DD (but didn't use it because I wasn't sure about how it sounded with her older brothers names). Potential nicknames would have been Clemmie or Emmie (sweet for a little girl, while Clementine is more adult sounding while also being feminine and elegant).

I know a Clementine and I love the name.

Well there are lots of Clementines so I am going to say no

Clementine does have a nice sound to it, and conjures up the thought of an exotic and sweet tasting fruit.
I can appreciate the name if I see it written as someone's name.
However, in day-to-day life, especially as a child, you know that she will have it shortened to a choice of several not as attractive sounding diminutives.
If you don't mind that then I think it's a very pretty name if it goes well with your surname.

i like it and also “Clemmie”.

however it does give a slightly “posh” vibe. In our area (lower middle class northern town) a little Clementine/Clemmie would sound quite posh and there probably wouldn’t be another one at their school

This is the one I always think of, showing my age

OP I had the same thoughts before we used it for our dd. I wasn't sure before hand

I love it, it's pretty.

She will just get 'darling clementine' sang at her for the rest of her life by idiots

Clementine is lovely but Clemmie is horrific and you won't be able to stop people using it

Adore Clementine
Follow your heart

Where I come from "clem" is another word for a bollock. But if you don't come from up north or intend on moving up here I'd not bother.

Also "clemmimg" when you're hungry or thirsty.

However I do love the name Clementine if I wasn't aware of the regional connotations.

Where I come from "clem" is another word for a bollock.

Really? Whereabouts is that a thing?

Absolutely love it! It was my choice for a girl, but I had boys.

I always think of Marmalade Atkins, but no one born later than about 1980 will.

A polish cousin is Clementine, or “Clem meh”

i think it’s nice.
i think it’s also a nice long name for Tina

the meaning is nice too

Merciful and gentle.
the generosity of the saints.

@bluebunnys north east. It's obviously not a term you come across in day to day life up here, but there you go.

Oh my darling, Oh my darling,
Oh my darling Clementine,
You are lost and gone forever,
Dreadful sorry Clementine.

Now you Boy Scouts, there's a moral
To this little tale of mine.
Artificial respiration,
Would have saved my Clementine.

Oh my darling, Oh my darling
Oh my darling Clementine
Herring boxes, without topses
Oh my darling Clementine

Was just thinking of it on Friday with it being 60 years since Churchill died.
It was his wife's name and I like it v much.
During the war when they had the national government after 1940 there were no elections for the duration.
Churchill was prime minister and his deputy was Clement Attlee who was Labour.
Churchill was Conservative.
What was the likelihood of both his wife and deputy being called Clem or Clemmie ??
It's a timeless classic beautiful name.
I didn't even think of oranges till you mentioned it.

Such a welcome change from people wanting to name their child
Wigwam
Cyclops
Funny bunny
Chlamydia
Silverbuck.
or some other such nonsense.

Clementine is head and shoulders above so many suggestions i see on here.
How fortunate a child to have such wise parents.
And in happy concord. No bickering.

That's a good start.
All the best.