I was wondering what anyone thought about ‘[name_f]Ginny[/name_f]’ as a nickname for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]?
Although here on Nameberry, ‘[name_f]Ginevra[/name_f]’ is listed as an Italian version of ‘[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f],’ I have found conflicting sources saying that [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] (Welsh, ‘white wave/shadow’) comes from a different root to [name_f]Ginevra[/name_f] (Italian, ‘juniper’). However, I prefer ‘[name_f]Ginny[/name_f]’ as a nickname to ‘Guin’ or ‘[name_f]Gwen[/name_f].’ I also kind of figure that if ‘[name_f]Jenny[/name_f]’ is short for [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], which is the Cornish form of [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], ‘[name_f]Ginny[/name_f]’ makes sense as a nickname for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f].
I also love the name [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] and was wondering what people thought about ‘[name_f]Ginny[/name_f]’ as a nickname for [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] - too blatantly alcohol related?
All opinions welcomed.
x [name_f]Milagros[/name_f]
[name_f]Ginny[/name_f] is a stretch for [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] (possible, but some people will arch an eyebrow or two), but too much of a stretch for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] could work for [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], but the “Guin” sound of [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is too prominent for [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] to Work.
Unless I’m being really dense (which is entirely possible), guinevere is pronounced with a hard g and ginny a soft g, right? Plus the leading vowel sound in guinevere is an e sound and ginny is an i… Those two combined make ginny too much of a stretch for me to think that they’d work.
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u] nn ginny is a bit better, but still… Hmm. [name_f]Junie[/name_f] is so much more natural of a nn for juniper that I’m not sure ginny would be the easiest nickname.
All that said I think ginny is a fun nickname, and I can see why you like it and want to use it.
I agree with [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] being a great name option though!
As a kid I knew someone who went by Jenny as a nickname for Virginia, which always seemed odd to me. I couldn’t ever wrap my brain around how she had two names. As an adult, I can see the connection, even if it is a stretch. I think Ginny from Guinevere will raise some eyebrows, but it’s not too awful. I don’t think Ginny from Juniper is one you can swing though.
Since you asked if it’s too alcohol-related, I am going to assume you are pronouncing Ginny as in Guinness. I think the nickname will only ring alcohol-related to the heavy Guinness drinker. I didn’t even make that connection.
I suppose it’s fine. There is [name_f]Ginevra[/name_f], Italian version, that leads to [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] without a doubt.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] to clarify, I was concerned that [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] would raise some eyebrows because ‘gin’ is traditionally made from juniper berries! Didn’t think of any association with Guinness.
Thank you for all your replies, I agree that the Italian form ‘[name_f]Ginevra[/name_f]’ lends itself much more easily to [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] as a nickname and [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] to ‘[name_f]Junie[/name_f]’ or ‘[name_u]June[/name_u].’