My husbands family is from cape cod and he is obsessed with naming our next daughter Chatham. Although Chatham is a beautiful place I worry that the name isn’t pretty enough for a girl. Any thoughts? If you think it is okay, any suggestions on a feminine sounding middle name? Thanks!
I really like the name! Chatham [name]Arabelle[/name], Chatham Avaliese, Chatham [name]Juliett[/name], Chatham [name]Aurora[/name]…
I don’t like it as a name in general.
Well, if it works for you, go for it!
I went to Chatham University (an all women’s university) so it does seem very feminine to me. However, as a first name, I would dread the nickname [name]Chatty[/name], and I would probably put it in the middle for that reason. Something like [name]Jane[/name] Chatham, [name]Marian[/name] Chatham, or [name]Anna[/name] Chatham could really work well.
I actually really love it! It may just go on my list now…
I don’t like it, I think as a middle it’s fine, but I think she deserves something more feminine as a first name.
No way - I find it hideous, sorry. Something ocean related might be nice.
I echo the fear of “[name]Chatty[/name]” as a nickname. I find it totally usable in the middle name spot. However, if you love it, go for it.
Throwing [name]Marina[/name] Chatham out as a suggestion.
First of all, I don’t really know how to say it, which may be a downside in itself. It’s a nice thought, because it has special meaning, but I don’t think it sounds enough like a name. As a middle it would be meaningful and surprising, though!
I love the name. Chatham mass is a classy, beautiful and happy place, all of the things one wants in a daughter. If it has a good meaning like that, how could you go wrong? [name_f]Chatty[/name_f] as a nickname is adorable…just saying
I’d save it for a boy’s first name or use it for a girl’s middle name. It’s a bit masculine for a girl’s first name.
Chatham is a beautiful place to name your child after. I think with names like [name_u]Salem[/name_u] being used for girls, Chatham could definitely work. As far as a nickname, maybe “[name_m]Chad[/name_m]” or “[name_f]Atty[/name_f]”?
Also another suggestion for a Cape Cod related name would be [name_f]Aquinnah[/name_f]- I know it’s on [name_f]Martha[/name_f]'s Vineyard, but I think it makes for another good choice. And you get the cute nickname “[name_u]Quinn[/name_u]”. Good luck!!!
And for middles, I’d go with traditional feminine names like:
Chatham [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
Chatham [name_f]Catherine[/name_f]
Chatham [name_f]Frances[/name_f]
Maybe if I knew of this classy happy place I’d be feeling this name a bit more. To me it doesn’t sound or look attractive, particularly for a little girl or grown up woman. I’d imagine a Chatham as a boy. The way I’m saying it, it rhymes with [name_m]Adam[/name_m]. Sounds masculine to my ear. It would be nice as a meaningful middle name.
The only Chatham I know is a town in [name_m]Kent[/name_m] in [name_f]England[/name_f], and it’s not exactly beautiful… It just doesn’t work for me. It’s like naming your child it just because the place is nice, although the name itself is far from it, and having people’s associations with such a name (as there are a handful of places called Chatham in the world) all over the place. It’d be a special MN.
[name_m]How[/name_m] did this thread get resurrected?
Sorry - I can only think Chatham House rules.
It’s not the lack of femininity that makes me dislike it (I wouldn’t use it on a boy either) - it’s that it sounds like a surname, which I think it not ideal for a first name.
I agree with this quote - As a middle name it’s OK