What names would you suggest if we like Matilda and Jemima?

[Fairytalebloom]

Hiya,
I was wondering if you could help us name our daughter who was born yesterday. Our two favourite names are Jemima and Matilda.
However, we lived in America for 5 years before moving back to the UK and have lots of friends over there and so I worry about the racist connotations of Jemima.
I also think Matilda is really popular and so that puts me off that one slightly!
Any other ideas are very welcome please!
Thank you x

Go with Matilda; it's lovely!

Beatrice
violet
penelope
delilah
juliet
annabelle
tabitha
henrietta
theodora
tallulah
harriet
ottilie
dorothy
clementine
eliza
eloise
clara
helena
marigold

Matilda is a beautiful name. Also love Anna as it’s classic.

Ophelia
Talitha

Daisy
Polly
Scarlett
Chloe
Tessa
Ivy
Zoe
Emma
Hayley

According to Google, 1 in 180 girls are named Matilda, so depending on the size of the primary school that is on average only 1 - 3 per school.

According to Google, 1 in 180 girls are named Matilda, so depending on the size of the primary school that is on average only 1 - 3 per school.

Tabitha was my first thought.

I'd go with Matilda, popular names aren't as popular as they were back in the day, there's a lot more name variety. I love Anna too.

Other ideas:
Marianna
Lilianna
Julianna
Philippa
Claudia
Julia
Rosalind
Felicity
Verity
Miriam
Lydia
Edith
Meredith
Dorothea
Naomi
Madeleine
Adelaide
Martha
Charlotte
Maria
Cecily/Cecilia
Cordelia
Elena

Vivienne
Hazel

Lucinda
Isabella
Henrietta
Harriet
Petronella
Jessica
Rebecca
Arabella
Florence
Francesca

Just to add that I don’t think the name Jemima itself is racist. It’s the Aunt bit. It’s similar to Uncle Ben’s, and that changed its name, but still kept the Ben bit because that’s not the issue:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54269358

Jacquetta

My first thought was Cressida, which no one else has mentioned. I love Matilda & Jemima too. I’ve only known one other Matilda, who would be in her late 20s now. Jemima was Job’s daughter in the Bible. Her sisters were Kezia & Karen.

I've known a fair few Matildas, but not so many recently (work in a school), only one year group (3) currently has more than one in, and we are 3 form entry. I don't think there are any in reception or year 1.

Lois
Seraphina
Constance
Nancy
Dulcie
Innes

Cecily

I have a Jemima so obviously love it. We call her Mimsy for short whilst she's too young to complain!

You've got some lovely names in the roster OP.

I don't see a problem with Matilda, it's surely not that popular?

Anna is not boring - lovely elegant name.

I also like Jemima and had no idea about any negative connotations. Surely your American friends would just assume it was a normal name in England and a non-issue. They call their children Randy for goodness sake.

I would say that’s more usual though. I have a very common name and I hate it. People have either given me a nickname or needed to attach my surname all the time. Continues in the workplace.

I don’t know how popular Matilda actually is op tbh. I’ve not come across one, there isn’t one in my son’s school year of 90 kids.

I have a Jemima. I do understand your concerns! DH also loved Matilda, so our style is in the same vein as yours. Other names we loved/considered were Julia, Joanna, Jessamyn, Keziah, Louisa, Martha, Philippa, Tamsin, Imogen, Tessa.

Honestly I’d just go with Matilda if you love it. Both my DDs have less common names, and they say they’d love to have something more popular!

Why is Jemima racist?

Beatrice or Beatrix

Delilah - Lilah
Florence - Flo/ Florrie/ Flora
Marigold - Goldie
Harriet - Hattie
Amelia
Celeste
Ophelia
Seraphina

Hiya,
Just thought I would update you all on the name we’ve chosen. After speaking with lots of our American friends we have decided to stick with Jemima as I think her generation are unlikely to make the association and she will be primarily growing up here where it isn’t a concern.
So we’ve gone with Jemima Nicole. Thank you so much for all your advice and ideas it was very much appreciated! x

@user1492757084 , Jemima and Jamima are feminine forms of James
Jemima is not a feminine form of James. It's a completely separate name meaning dove.
Jamima looks like a typo.

The feminine form of James is Jacqueline.