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Original poster

help! my unnamed baby girl is 4 weeks old!!

161 replies

muminmuddle · 07/04/2009 11:31

I need help! my baby girl is 4 weeks old and we still can't decide on her name. in a real dilemma between Martha and Josie. Any thoughts on either name? which shall we go for?

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SilverLady67 · 07/04/2009 15:11

They are lovely names but if I had to choose one, I'm afraid it would be Martha for me

What about Joan? It's a really old name, but I just reckon it's beautiful

iSOLOvechocolate · 07/04/2009 15:23

I was exactly the same with Dd...3 weeks without a name and got so used to just calling her Baby Girl(I still do at times too).

In the end, we got several small pieces of paper and wrote various individual names on them along with the surname and then moved them around, putting them with each other eliminating as we went along and finally got Dd's beautiful names(3 Christian names).

Alishanty · 07/04/2009 15:23

I like Martha but would be worried about it becoming too popular. Also like Josie. My mum's name is Josepha (pronounced Jo-seffa) could be shortened to Josie, although she calls herself Jo.

flooziesusie · 07/04/2009 15:23

Josie is a lovely name and so is Martha - but Josie wins.

High court judge or lawyer, doctor, pilot whatever - nowt to do with it. in 25 years she will be given merit on her abilities and not her name and if it's to 'cutsie'.

Giving her a longer version will put an end to that worry anyway...

ilovesprouts · 07/04/2009 15:31

i like em boh as i know a josie and a martha

wibblewobbly · 07/04/2009 15:34

Im really surprised by this, would never have thought of the name myself but Josie is just LOVERLY!

It definately has the thumbs up for me!

Bettymum · 07/04/2009 15:36

A vote for Martha here. Very pretty.
Have you tried them out on your DD? Talk to her using each name and see how she reacts and see how you feel calling her that name.

lalalonglegs · 07/04/2009 15:55

I like Martha a lot - a Quakerish sense of propriety and self-reliance. Not sure it will reach the top ten outside Stoke Newington or East Dulwich. Josie sounds like heroine of gymkana books.

jellybeans · 07/04/2009 16:36

Josie. Like Josephine too.

georgimama · 07/04/2009 16:45

It can't be that hard. Poor little bugger with no name. How do you address her?

Pick one and go and register her tomorrow. No child benefit until you do!

popsypie · 07/04/2009 18:34

Agree with you taking you time. We had boys and girls names picked out straight away with both ours. Then when second baby born I totally regretted both her names (let DH pick and just gave in!!)then did not dare change it as it was on her baby tag, in congrats cards etc. It still annoys me now that I just think her name is ok not beautiful. Now, this prob won't help but why not think of one brand new name each. You have probably said Josie and Martha so much that they have lost their gloss. Maybe there is one name out there that you have forgotten about and will be just her!! Good luck xx

NorktasticNinja · 07/04/2009 18:39

I like both but I think Josie has the edge for me. A longer version might be a nice option for her when she's older but it's in no way essential IMHO.

Martha is great but you do realise her initials will be MN if you go for that

magnummum · 07/04/2009 19:33

Martha

Hulababy · 07/04/2009 19:39

I love the name Martha.

Hulababy · 07/04/2009 19:39

And I think the MN initials says it all - def have to go for that now

claireybeeinmyeasterbonnet · 07/04/2009 19:51

Have you considered Josiane as a long version of Josie? I LOVE that name

I was always going to call a dd Martha but dh hated it and I'm glad now because there are so many around

IheartEASTEREGGS · 07/04/2009 19:55

Martha Josie

YesSirICanBoogie · 07/04/2009 20:59

They're both lovely but I think I prefer Martha. I know a Josette who's Josie if that's any help.

Marthasmama · 08/04/2009 09:18

I 've just realised why I wasn't sure about Josie. Have you Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore? Her character is called Josie and gets called Josie Grossy at school. Not that it shoudl put you off if you really like the name, but it would personally put me off. And I am biased.

mrsjammi · 08/04/2009 09:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

jessia · 08/04/2009 09:25

Nother vote for Josie here, love it, also knew a 60-s'th strong matriarchal Josie. And love josette, would never have thought of it!

Original poster
muminmuddle · 08/04/2009 10:01

have slept on it....jury is still out...but finding these comments really helpful, thank you.

So, is Martha really a popular name now? How many little Marthas do you know??

OP posts:
MaryAnnSailors · 08/04/2009 10:17

Josie is a lovely name. Liking Jocelyn as the strong adult version also.

Martha reminds me of the biblical story about the sisters Martha and Mary entertaining the Big J, where Martha ends up doing all the housework while Mary chats with J, and J tells Martha off for asking Mary for help with the work. Never seemed fair to me.

savoycabbage · 08/04/2009 10:23

Than what puts me off Martha too MaryAnnSailors. She was the servant in the Bible. The kitchen maids in Agatha Christie books are always called Martha!

MaryAnnSailors · 08/04/2009 11:25

There do seem to be domestic connotations with the name, with Martha Stewart also. With the bible story, I don't mind if she were a servant. Just seems unjust that Martha was putting in the hard yards to make sure the guest is happy, whilst Mary is skiving. And Martha gets told off! By the son of god no less! If Mary had bothered to lift a finger, I bet they would have had it all sorted in no time and they could both listen to J regale them about his wine tricks. I know he's the big cheese and all that, but something tells me Mary must have been a bit of a looker.

Sorry. I'll let you have your thread back. Bit of a rant there.

On the other hand there's Martha Plimpton, a wonderful, yet underrated bratpack actress who got to snog River.