So, after having a ho-hum reaction to my (agonized over) list of potential girl names for baby #7, I came up with another option that I had never considered before: [name_u]Juniper[/name_u].
It hits so many high points for us–it’s a biblical tree with a fabulous story (The prophet [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] rested in the shade of a [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] tree when he was fleeing from [name_f]Queen[/name_f] [name_f]Jezebel[/name_f], and an angel came and fed him there). It can be a subtle honor name for my grandmother (long, convoluted story that I’ll probably tell if we decide to use the name). And for me, it’s fresher sounding and not in the top 100.
My husband wants to like it, but worries that it’s too “Hippie”. I want to like it, but I worry that it’s too trendy (there have been quite a few baby-berries with that name in the past few years).
So what kind of a name is [name_u]Juniper[/name_u], exactly?
The only other name currently on the table is [name_f]Verity[/name_f], which makes me laugh because my husband rejected it soundly last time, and declared he didn’t care for virtue names. Now it’s his #1 pick, but I’m having second thoughts. And crushing on [name_u]Juniper[/name_u], perhaps beyond reason, logic, or explanation. LOL
Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks in Advance!!
I don’t think it’s “out there,” and I think it fits in well with your kids’ names, particularly your girls! I don’t think it’s hippie but I could maybe see trendy? Though I don’t think it’s quite picked up enough steam to be “trendy.” I don’t know any little [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]'s in real life and would be surprised if I met one in my circle.
Not sure if you are Catholic, but there’s also the patron St. Junipero [name_f]Serra[/name_f] who was recently canonized.
To the average person who isn’t well versed in names, it might well seem out-there. To me, it’s somewhat bold but very usable. It doesn’t really give me a hippie vibe as many people are using nature names these days, and they aren’t all hippies. I also like the fact that it seems to hold significance to you. When it comes down to it, that’s more important than anything else.
I’d say go with [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] if you’re feeling it, and DH is agreeable.
I know a young couple that is expecting a baby girl. They will name her [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]. It didn’t surprised me. I’ve known a couple of little [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]'s in recent years. Not a lot, but enough to make the name recognizable for me. Any of the girls or parents that I met, were hippies. So, I don’t think it’s a hippie name either.
Not Catholic, but that’s interesting to know. I’m glad people don’t think it’s a hippie name. We love nature names, but don’t want to go too over-the-top.
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u] is not too far out at all! It’s beautiful, and slowly rising in popularity (or maybe fast rising, I don’t know), so it will be mainstream soon. It definitely fits with the sibset, especially the girls!
I don’t know. [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]. There’s individual, and crazy. [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] and [name_f]Raina[/name_f].
Individual and fun, but not too wild. She will probably go by [name_u]June[/name_u] or [name_f]Juni[/name_f]/[name_f]Junie[/name_f]/Juny. So make sure you like those before you go giving a name
Like that. People will probably make fun of her to be honest.
I think [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] is fine to be honest, and very far from “out there” in fact. Last year it ranked at #429, between [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] and [name_f]Carolina[/name_f]. I think it’s slowly becoming very mainstream and much less over the top than it was say, 10 years ago.
I highly highly doubt a [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] would [name_u]EVER[/name_u] get made fun of for her name. Also nicknames are often easily avoidable. My mother put a literal end to one given to me when I was born and I was never actually called it afterward - maybe once or twice in school as I got older, but I never liked it because it felt odd/unusual and it didn’t stick. Most nicknames I find don’t actually stick unless it’s something like [name_m]Jacob[/name_m] nn [name_m]Jake[/name_m], or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Liz[/name_f] - my sister no longer goes by her childhood nickname, and most friends of mine who had nicknames growing up have since dropped theirs.
I love [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]. I see nothing wrong with the name! [name_f]Holly[/name_f] is well-received and is the equivalent to [name_u]Juniper[/name_u].
Thanks! The speed At which [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] is catapulting upward is my main concern. The fact that he’s never heard it on a person is what my hubby worries about. Maybe that means we’ve stumbled upon a sweet spot?
I don’t think of it as a hippie name. I think its a great name. I also don’t think of it as a trendy name since the only [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] I’ve met was not a toddler but a 30 year old. [name_f]Verity[/name_f] is nice as well, but personally prefer [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]
I love juniper - it’s on my list but my sons name ends in ‘er’ so I wouldn’t use it (but maybe as a middle name)
I know a 10 month old called juniper - they call her ‘niper’ as a nickname, I think [name_u]June[/name_u] is the better nickname.
I have seen it on a lot of lists lately so I think it might be getting more popular.
It’s definitely not too out there or hippyish and goes great with the other names! There’s quite a few nature-related names already in your list and [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] doesn’t stand out at all. Also, I’ve never actually met anyone with this name so I don’t know how common it actually is. I also think it has adorable nickname potential.
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u] was on our list too but we had a boy. I personally know of 2 baby [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]'s. They go by [name_f]Juno[/name_f]. It’s such a great name that fits so well with all the nature names like [name_f]Willow[/name_f] and [name_u]River[/name_u].
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u] itself may be a little out there but it has lots of cute usable nicknames like [name_u]June[/name_u] and [name_f]Juno[/name_f] for anyone who has a problem with the name itself.
Ultimately it’s your decision and as long as the name isn’t one that will cause bullying or embarrassment you should go for what you love.
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u] definitely isn’t out there or too hippie-ish (although personally I don’t see a name being ‘hippie’ as a problem). It fits in really well with your older children’s names and it is lovely that it also has a personal significance to you. On the other hand if you don’t love it enough to go for it [name_f]Verity[/name_f] is a lovely choice too!
Thanks! It’s funny, I’m not really sure what makes “[name_u]Juniper[/name_u]” cross over into “Hippie” territory for my husband. He has such a strong preference for botanical names. To me, for a name to sound “Hippie” it has to be really out there–like Moonbeam or something like that…
Maybe it’s the fact that it sounds more spunky and energetic than our other girls names?
Not out there at all! It’s a lovely name. I don’t think it’s particularly hippie or trendy either. I just think its sweet, but different. A slightly more interesting choice of floral name.
