Poem

[fairycupcakes]

Am I crazy to think this would actually make a beautiful name? (Not pregnant but adore names and name-meanings and adding to my list for when that day finally comes)

ChatGPT says fewer than 5 babies were named it last year in the UK so I’m not the first to have the thought!

If you had seen earlier up in the post you would see that I’ve had my name over 3 decades now and my older brother chose my name so I find that special. I also think after all that time it’s pretty much part of my identity now and I love my name because it is who I am. Very much a timeless and classic name which suits me very well but that hasn’t stopped me pursuing creative things just the same way a “creative” name would not stop a child growing up to pursue less creative things. You don’t have to “live up” to a name imo. I also love a lot of other names both traditional and unusual and ones in between but it doesn’t mean I wish to change my own name 🙂

You can’t call a child poem! Imagine if they got a high flying corporate job with that name. Would be hard to take them seriously.

They were just ones I could think of, not necessarily ones I’d use but ones I have heard.

Po or Em but I wouldn’t necessarily name a child based on nn options - my family don’t use nicknames generally so despite people shortening my name elsewhere my family just don’t. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t or that she/they wouldn’t want a shortening but nn should come organically.

True, we wouldn’t know if she’d be girly but again I don’t think that matters. I have a young niece with a very feminine name and she is not a girly girl and yet it still suits her perfectly because that is her name and she makes it her own!

I wouldn’t use Elizabeth, I’ve know far too many in years gone by. Yes, a great one for nn potential but again nn is not too important to me. It’s a pretty name but somewhat boring to me anyway.

OP - the point I am making is less specifically about any name - and more about getting of of ‘me-focused’ mindset and trying to not think of the child as an extension of you.
I have teenagers and a young adult, and this became increasingly obvious as they were growing up.

You are romanticising the choice of a name for a yet-non-existent child. And many considerations need to go into the choice, not only if YOU’d have liked being called the name. Or what signalling you would like to send to the people around you. Which seems to be the only criteria you go by atm.

It is all nice and well to say - world should be this or that - and kids shouldn’t bully, for eg. As the pregnant woman on another thread was trying to argue for the ‘beautiful’ (to her) name Whyborn (nn Whybe). She kept saying - he won’t be bullied, and not see the name questioning his existence as anything but the beautiful name SHE sees it as.

Which is what you are doing - you like the name and think everybody around should see it as you do.
But they dont, as is obvious. But accepting that is hard. I get it.

and yet I work in a place very much like that and work with people of varying names and nobody is judged for their name - the world is much more modern now it seems (I myself have never known people to be judged by their name unless for whatever reason it is offensive?) in work people are judged on whether they can do the job or not.
In 20-30 years time workplaces will be even more varied in names - you only need to hear names in nurseries and schools to know that!

interesting debate this name has caused, I’m genuinely intrigued by all the comments. For and against! ☺️

Yes, I know. Everyone has different opinions and as I’ve said a few times now I find the for and against very interesting. I’m not taking anything personal, just sharing a name that I think is beautiful and seeing what people on here think as I enjoy talking about names 😊

I'm not so struck on the sound of Poem as a name, but the Greek word Poiema - which means largely the same kind of thing: poem, masterpiece etc. - would be a beautiful name imho. It's pronounced POY-eh-muh.

Also allows her to go by (what sounds like) Emma as a legitimate abbreviation, if ever she just wants a common-sounding name.

That’s lovely!

That would say more about your biases than them.

Elegy
Dirge

I know a grown up Sonnet! It's a lovely name

I don't think your DC will thank you sadling her with that name.