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Elizabeth Joan

37 replies

extracrunchy · 27/07/2013 22:52

So it's going to be a girl!

The only name DH and I can agree on is Elizabeth (traditional and easily shortened to something quirkier - any ideas as an aside??) and we'd like to commemorate DF's mother with Joan as a middle name. I was pretty happy till I floated it with my sister who was thoroughly scathing and now I'm having doubts...

What do you think??

OP posts:
NarkyNamechanger · 27/07/2013 22:54

Hmm I like the idea but really not keen on Joan. Sorry!

extracrunchy · 27/07/2013 22:59

That's what I'm thinking... Wish my sis didn't get in my head! I thought initially Joan was an inoffensive middle name along the lines of Jane, and also maybe a bit fashionable nowadays with the vogue for old fashioned names, but am I actually considering embarrassing poor DD for life?! Grin

OP posts:
NarkyNamechanger · 27/07/2013 23:09

Did your mil have a middle name you could use?

squoosh · 27/07/2013 23:16

Joan is not the prettiest of names, no two ways about it, having said that I think honouring your daughter's Granny trumps 'prettiness'. Think of Joan from Mad Men and it doesn't sound too bad!

Besides, it will be a middle name, how often do we think about our middle names?

GeordieCherry · 27/07/2013 23:21

Joan of Arc, Joan Armatrading. I've always been fond of it. And Elizabeth is a lovely name

MrsOakenshield · 27/07/2013 23:24

Elizabeth is lovely - do you have to shorten it? It's lovely as it is.
Joan - hmmm. Well. Maybe it's so unusual now as to be quite interesting?

BlueStarsAtNight · 27/07/2013 23:25

It's ok. Quite a placid, staid kind of name. It's not very exciting but not offensive.

squoosh · 27/07/2013 23:31

Shakespeare mentions her in Love's Labour Lost, 'While greasy Joan doth keel the pot'.

Poor old Joan!

notanyanymore · 27/07/2013 23:34

Love it!! I'd go for Effie as NN
Middle name of Joan is perfect because its a link with her family. Middle names are personal anyway IMO because who ever introduces themselves with their full name anyway? Much nicer to use it for a family connection that means something then go for something 'pretty' but ultimately irrelevant (which middle names kind if are if they don't have any kind of personal significance)

NurseRatchet · 27/07/2013 23:36

My mum is called Joan. She is in her late forties and HATES being called Joan. It is awful.

ExcuseTypos · 27/07/2013 23:41

I know someone with a year old baby called Elizabeth Joan then another name which I won't reveal as it may out me. I think this really works

Could you add another name to 'soften' the Joan?

TiggyD · 27/07/2013 23:43

Have you given birth to a 60 year old?

YABU.

extracrunchy · 27/07/2013 23:49

Haha not yet!

OP posts:
Mollie272 · 28/07/2013 00:00

I have an Elizabeth - it's a lovely name! She's known as Lizzy (but NEVER Liz), I like Libby as a nn for Elizabeth too. Is your DH really set on using Joan? My other dd has a middle name that I wouldn't have chosen if it didn't have special family significance.

thechildrensparkle · 28/07/2013 00:05

I like it. I'm 53 and everyone I grew up with had an auntie Joan. How about modernising it a tiny bit and going for Joanne perhaps?

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 28/07/2013 00:05

What's his mum's middle name?

extracrunchy · 28/07/2013 09:36

No idea - will find out!

OP posts:
Wbdn28 · 28/07/2013 09:46

Joan is a lovely understated name. Elizabeth Joan goes really nicely and would be a great choice with the family connection too.

JoniR · 28/07/2013 09:55

I like Elizabeth Joan. I'm a Joan and love the name, although I've always been known as Joni as my Nan was also Joan. Joni is a younger sounding version if you're worried about Joan sounding too old.

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 28/07/2013 10:01

Joan is lovely! It's very pretty with Elizabeth too. Gorgeous.

Weegiemum · 28/07/2013 10:02

Elizabeth Joan is my Mil's name, so clearly we weren't going there. She's not too keen on it either, but that's probably because she's always been known as Joan, which she thinks is the most boring name around!

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 28/07/2013 10:03

Joanne isn't modern childrensparkle! It's too recent....I am 40 and half my class was called Joanne! Joan is just old fashi

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NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 28/07/2013 10:03

Posted too soon..."Joan is just old fashioned enough to be cool again.

EatYourCrusts · 28/07/2013 10:06

Oh my god I LOVE Elizabeth Joan. I can't believe people dislike it.
Joan is amazingly cool. In fact Joan Elizabeth might be a better name.
Joanie is super cute.

Shut up everyone else. Joan is a fab name.

MsJupiterJones · 28/07/2013 10:11

I think Joan is really cool. It's a great name with a good family association. Ignore everyone else Smile

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