# My baby girl name thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2008, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015 "2008-04-12T09:17:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/21 "2008-04-12T16:43:55Z")
[QUOTE=blinkingblinking] \*\*Amarina \*\*means - rain in one of the Aboriginal languages. **Arabella** means - beautiful. **Belena** is my creation- a mix of Belle and Helena. **Casami** is my creation. **Cosette** means victorious people. **Jenessa** is a mix of Jennifer and Vanessa. **Mizumi** is my creation. Mizu means water in Japanese, and Mi means beautiful. **Virginia** means pure. [/QUOTE] My mother’s name is Marina, and I always really liked it. Very similar to the first one. Other than that, I would be wary of Cosette (it’s very Les Miserables- people will be saying, for the rest of her life, “oh, like that character in les mis!”) There’s also a famous gothic-period english novel called Collette. Jenessa I don’t like. I feel like I’ve heard the name Mizumi before. Isn’t it japanese? Virginia would go well with Darcy. Both are sort of “classic” english names. ---
**Author:** ![Offkenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f08c70/32.png) [@Offkenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Offkenter)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/22 "2008-04-12T16:59:03Z")
[QUOTE=NightRabbit] I feel like I’ve heard the name Mizumi before. Isn’t it japanese? [/QUOTE] For what it’s worth, I thought the same thing, so I just googled Mizumi. It seems to be a popular name for Japanese restaurants and as a screen-name for people in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/23 "2008-04-12T17:12:47Z")
[QUOTE=elfkin477] Heh. I was thinking Bennet[t] which means “blessed” seems to be a nice unisex name 🙂 [/QUOTE] My 19 month old son’s name is Bennett :). We’ve never thought of it as unisex. I do like Arabella from your list, but I’m not so enamored of the others. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/24 "2008-04-12T17:18:57Z")
[QUOTE=Offkenter] For what it’s worth, I thought the same thing, so I just googled Mizumi. It seems to be a popular name for Japanese restaurants and as a screen-name for people in the US. [/QUOTE] I think it’s a fairly standard Japanese name, from what I can tell. It’s used often in anime, and both the words “mizu” and “izumi” have to do with water, which might explain why so many sushi places are called that. ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/25 "2008-04-12T17:47:51Z")
Montana Renee M— call her Tana Is this going to be a Scorpio baby? (late Oct) If so, something unusual/unique, creative, & strong is in order. Tegan Thvia (pronounced Th’VEE-uh) Eira (Welsh/Snow) Vanora (welsh/white wave) Teleri telyn water names: Vanora Eira (hey, snow is made of water!) Naida Nixie Talise Zarya ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/26 "2008-04-12T17:56:34Z")
Amarina …everyone would expect her to have a boat in A Marina Arabella …reminds me of horses. Belena …a new eating disorder? Casami…sounds like something that should go on a pizza. Cosette…vaguely like a high class French call girl. Jenessa …THIS, I LIKE. Mizumi …My second choice, but it does sound like a Japanese car model. Virginia…sort of archaic and every Christmas, she will hear, “Yes, Virginia - there is a Santa Claus.” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/27 "2008-04-12T17:59:32Z")
[QUOTE=Elza B] My 19 month old son’s name is Bennett :). We’ve never thought of it as unisex. [/QUOTE] Well, unisex in the way my name (Shannon) is anyway. Most Shannons are female, and most Bennetts are male, but there _are_ boys named Shannon - I’ve even met two - and girls named Bennett - enough so it’s mentioned as a girl’s name too [here](http://www.mybaby-name.com/baby-name-full-detail/bennett/6460/1). Googling it I found little girls named “Bennett Reese” and “Bennett-Marie.” ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/28 "2008-04-12T18:28:00Z")
Amarina - What DMark said. Arabella means - meh. Belena – Sounds harsh. Casami – As already mentioned: sandwich meat, pizza topping, etc. Cosette – Contrived, sounds like a last name. Jenessa – Pretty good, but why not Vanessa? Why is there a need to create something, just because…? Mizumi – Zoom Zoom. Virgina – Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/29 "2008-04-12T19:59:14Z")
[QUOTE=elfkin477] Well, unisex in the way my name (Shannon) is anyway. Most Shannons are female, and most Bennetts are male, but there _are_ boys named Shannon - I’ve even met two - and girls named Bennett - enough so it’s mentioned as a girl’s name too [here](http://www.mybaby-name.com/baby-name-full-detail/bennett/6460/1). Googling it I found little girls named “Bennett Reese” and “Bennett-Marie.” [/QUOTE] Huh. Learn something new every day :). I never would have thought of my son’s name for a girl - in fact, we named him for Bennett Cerf, the publisher. (I kind of like Bennett-Marie - it’s rather cute - , but won’t tell my husband that you came across that name since he doesn’t like unisex names and discarded all of them that I came up with 😃 - he grew up with a semi-unisex name and hated that.) ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/30 "2008-04-12T20:51:23Z")
\*\*Amarina \*\* - It’s fine. Depends on what the middle/last names are and how they would sound when spoken together. **Arabella** - I like this one, though it makes me think of either spiders or elves. **Belena** - Sorry but the name just screams “overweight.” **Casami** - No no no no! It’s a lunch meat not a name. Way to close to salami. **Cosette** - I like Cosette, but be aware the name will forever be linked to the musical _Les Miserables_ and people will probably think that is where you got it from. **Jenessa** - Either trailer park stripper, or ghetto-fab. **Mizumi** - I love it, but IMO it would seen odd if the baby was not Japanese. **Virginia** - Meh. Old-fashioned. Nothing wrong with the name per se, I’m just not that fond of it. Of the list, my choices would be Arabella or Amarina. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/31 "2008-04-12T20:58:45Z")
\*\*Amarina \*\* very pretty. Will get nicknamed either Amy or Rina. **Arabella** very oldfashioned, but nice enough. Will get nicknamed Bella. **Belena** sounds like a drink or cooking term. Will get nicknamed Lena. **Casami** makes me think of fruit. Will get nicknamed Sami (Sammy) **Cosette** oldfashioned French name…nice enough–no easy nicknames come to mind **Jenessa** will get nicknamed Jenny. **Mizumi** meh. it’s okay **Virginia** hardly unusual, and will get nicknamed Ginny. My opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/32 "2008-04-12T21:54:34Z")
[QUOTE=Shirley Ujest] YOu have a son named Darcy so how can you have a little girl that is anything but Elizabeth Bennett? :dubious: (You could call her Eliza.) [/QUOTE] I do actually like the name Elizabeth. But I do not like any of the nicknames or contractions like Liz, Lizzie, Beth. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/33 "2008-04-12T22:03:10Z")
Naming your son Darcy and your daughter Elizabeth sounds kinda . . . incestuous. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/34 "2008-04-12T23:12:13Z")
I’m not for made up names, and Jenessa has the worst connotations for me. I haven’t met a girl with that name, but I have met a Jenissa; she had four teeth. Even though it’s one letter off, I’m still going to think of a person with four teeth left after excessive meth use. Do you really want people to think of that when they hear your kid’s name? I do, however, like Mizumi, Amarina, and Arabella. However, I’m a little confused as to why you’d want your kid’s initials to spell out “ARM.” Go for Mizumi; she’ll be named after purveyors of delicious food. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/35 "2008-04-13T00:20:02Z")
**Amarina** - is ok. Not really my taste, but not too bad **Arabella** - is my favourite from your list (but that could be because it bears a similarity to Annabel, which is what I just named my daughter… oops! my bias is showing!) **Belena** - made me think of eating disorders. There’s something bulimic about it. **Casami** - I have to agree with those people who thought it sounded like some kind of lunch meat, sorry **Cosette** - isn’t a name I’d choose, but it’s ok. In Australia, I’d be more concerned that people thought you were saying “corset” (remember - we swallow our “R’s”) than picking up the Les Mis connection **Jenessa** - Ok, I know a Janessa and she’s a fantastic, lovely, awesome girl. However, when I mention her name in conversation to people who don’t know her, 9 times out of 10 they will interrupt me to say “Janessa?!?” and I say “Uhuh” and they shake their heads and say “That’s a bloody awful name”. Seriously. I now try to avoid using her name if I’m talking about her just to avoid that reaction. Jennifer is fine, Vanessa is fine, but Jenessa doesn’t add up to the best of both. **Mizumi** - there’s probably nothing wrong with this one, but it’s giving me flashbacks to my neighbour’s dog, Mitzi. **Virginia** - I’ve never liked this name, though there’s nothing actually wrong with it. I just don’t like it. I hope this is helpful. It’s obvious that our tastes are different so it’s probably not, but these were my knee-jerk reactions. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/36 "2008-04-13T00:42:58Z")
[QUOTE=blinkingblinking] I do actually like the name Elizabeth. But I do not like any of the nicknames or contractions like Liz, Lizzie, Beth. [/QUOTE] I have an Elizabeth. I call her Elle, most everyone else calls her Ella. A couple of other nicks for Elizabeth are Liddy, Vieta, Elise, Ellie, oh, and Eli. Lots of options. ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/37 "2008-04-13T01:28:01Z")
Unfortunately, all I see is cruel nickname potential for Belena and Casami, too. Casami Salami, Big Belly Belena (no matter if she is the smallest child on the playground or not), Belena Whale, it could get really ugly. I like Amarina and Arabella a lot. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/38 "2008-04-13T02:01:41Z")
[QUOTE=blinkingblinking] CAH -sa-mee or CAR SAR MEE [/QUOTE] You plan on pronouncing ‘Casami’ as ‘Carsarmee’? This kid is in for a lifetime of explaining how to spell and pronouce her name to everyone she meets. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/39 "2008-04-13T02:05:38Z")
I like Amarina best, but can see it being shortened to Ammie or Mari, or even Rina. I think any of those would be okay nicknames though. Madeline is my favorite girl’s name. I looked up the origin, hoping it would fit your background, but it doesn’t. I know one Virginia – she hates the name and goes by Ginger. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015/40 "2008-04-13T04:16:11Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] Naming your son Darcy and your daughter Elizabeth sounds kinda . . . incestuous. :dubious: [/QUOTE] Mess with their heads and go with Lydia or Georgianna. Or even Jane… Wickham? heh. I like Arabella and am flummoxed at the concern re Arab in the name? Hell, I’d name her that just to fight some major ignorance there. I like Bella as a nick. Jenessa sounds uneducated and trashy, to my mind, but I’m not Australian, and I have a prejudice against J names for girls. I think most of them sound icky. Sorry. Virginia is nice and I love the nick Ginny. The rest are just meh. Muzima sounds like either a small compact car or electrical appliance or a brand of makeup to me. I thought you were having a son? What happened to Tiano? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-girl-name-thread/445015.md?page=3)