We live in the US : D (where these names are both rare). What do you think? Is it too much to put two popular British names together into one rare American name?
Backstory: [name]Freya[/name] is one of the few names my husband has consistently talked about liking. I like it, but I don’t love it. I’d love to put it in the middle spot, but it doesn’t really go that well with my main favorites (at least I don’t think so).
Today the name [name]Imogen[/name] came up and it turns out he likes it - I was surprised. I’ve always liked it. I can see it together with [name]Freya[/name].
[name]Imogen[/name] [name]Freya[/name], what do you say? (If you’re in the UK, try to imagine that these names are like, never used : D).
Could [name]Imogen[/name] pair well with any of my other favorites? I sort of hear it…and sort of don’t.
[name]Love[/name], love, [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Freya[/name], it’s been on my girls name list for ages (I’m also in the US). I really want to like [name]Imogen[/name] but I think the only thing holding me back is the potential for a “[name]Jenny[/name]” type nickname. That being said, I personally really like the combo, but perhaps another name (as a 2nd middle or as a substitute for one or the other) that is a little more well-known is needed to ground the name as a whole? Not sure. Good luck!!
I love it! They are both lovely, established names, and i think they go together nicely. I wouldn’t be worried about the nn [name]Jenny[/name], as a pp mentioned. I see Immie as the go to nn. I just watched [name]Fried[/name] [name]Green[/name] Tomatoes for the first time recently and have been struck by the nn Idgie as a nn for [name]Imogen[/name] since that’s one of the main characters names.
Thanks both for the thoughts! I really like [name]Immy[/name] and Idgie and wouldn’t mind [name]Jenny[/name]/[name]Genny[/name] personally (undertand why some would…but it’d be OK). Also wouldn’t mind [name]Mo[/name] or Moji, something like that.
[name]Freya[/name] is lovely enough for the first, btw, and glad to see you like it too – I just can’t warm up to it enough. Our last name is pretty simple, maybe that’s why? I feel like we need a few more sounds up in front to carry the name along.
[name]Ah[/name], yes, I think the simple last name would be enough to ground it! I do NOT have a simple last name, lol… a 3-syllable Russian name, so I can’t go too “out there” with my own selections [name]Imogen[/name] is definitely growing on me more and more.
I love [name]Imogen[/name] and only sort of see the appeal of [name]Freya[/name]. I think [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Freya[/name] is nice, but [name]Imogen[/name] isn’t anywhere near as girly/sweet as most of my favorites–it’s feminine, just not girly to me–so I would probably pair it with something softer–[name]Imogen[/name] [name]Sophie[/name], [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Charlotte[/name], [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Lily[/name], etc. I do like [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Freya[/name], but it’s not my favorite. I like the idea of [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Helena[/name] or [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Louisa[/name], even [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Sylvie[/name], if you wanted to use some of your favorites as a MN for [name]Imogen[/name]…
I [name]LOVE[/name] that name! [name]Imogen[/name] has been on my list for awhile, and [name]Freya[/name] just made it on the list last night. I think they are both great names!
Thanks all! @bellab - I can see how [name]Freya[/name] would be a better first fit with your last name especially : D.
@ashthedreamer - I can sort of hear what you mean, I’m not sure if that’s exactly why I can’t love it quite enough to want it up front, but it might be part of it (I think the simple last name is the bigger thing - even though I think [name]Vera[/name] manages to work, [name]Eve[/name] probably doesn’t). I would probably stick with [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Freya[/name] to get [name]Freya[/name] in there, and because I really do like the flow, but I really do like [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Sylvie[/name] especially, thanks for that thought! I was asking more about potential future siblings. I think I could see [name]Imogen[/name] and [name]Louisa[/name], [name]Imogen[/name] and [name]Helena[/name], less [name]Imogen[/name] and [name]Sylvia[/name] but maybe [name]Imogen[/name] and [name]Sylvie[/name]. I don’t mind giving any sons I have more familiar names, as I think that’s the way gendered naming cuts sometimes.
I think it’s going on the list…I like that [name]Imogen[/name] would be Shakespearean, like my name ([name]Jessica[/name]), and [name]Freya[/name] would sort of honor a family member [name]Faye[/name], as well as general Scandinavian heritage. Two dear friends briefly toyed with [name]Imogen[/name] for one of their children, and decided it just didn’t fit in with the way their other family names sounded, so in a way it’s a nice connection. I am like an aunt to their kids, and they’ll be in that role to ours, so I bet they’d like to see it used (they say they are done having kids, and I got the sense it was ruled out once-and-for-all, although I’d probably still double-check).
@rhiatayler - feel free to use the combo if you’d like : D! Fun!
I love the name [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Freya[/name]. [name]Freya[/name] is my favourite name ever! A little Imi would be sooo cute. I live in the UK btw and both names have always been amongst my faves for the past 10 years and am not too bothered if they are popular here as they are both stunning names!
Joblossom, it’s really nice to hear that from someone in the land where these names are known entities : D.
And it’s just been interesting and encouraging to see such a heavily positive response here (less positive responses still welcome though). Good to know!
[name]Imogen[/name] [name]Freya[/name] is just perfect, very hip, stylish and cool. Feminine without being frilly or fussy. [name]Love[/name] it. [name]Imogen[/name] getting quite popular in Australia however [name]Freya[/name] hasnt reached the top 100 yet but I’m sure we will follow the UK’s lead. As for nn’s my sister has a friend named [name]Imogen[/name] who goes by [name]Immy[/name] not [name]Genny[/name].
Thanks for the thought and Australia insight babyoneday! That is interesting that it is rising in Australia. I wonder what will happen in the US. I can imagine a bit of a bump because [name]Imogen[/name] Heap was sampled in some hip hop song, after having a piece of hers featured on [name]Saturday[/name] [name]Night[/name] Live (live comedy show), but, that was all already 2 years ago, and if it didn’t enter top 1000 then, I’m not sure when it would. Maybe since all of the [name]Em[/name]- names have been so popular for so long, people might turn to [name]Imogen[/name] as an alternative. [name]Immy[/name] is pretty close to [name]Emmy[/name] and especially in parts of the southern US there’s basically no distinction - actually when I say them there’s little distinction (but it is there a touch).
Over the last 3 years, both names have hovered between 100 and 125 uses for girls if I’m looking at the SSA right, so that is very low.
It’s not like I even care about names being popular other than maybe the very top ones. So even if it’s rising here, if she’s ahead of the timing curve, I’m OK.
Forgot to add that I think I love the flow of [name]Freya[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] just as much as [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Freya[/name]! It’s so interesting how [name]Imogen[/name] isn’t even in the top 1000 in the US, you guys are lucky, so many nice names that you’d think are uncommon are top 100 names here which can be a bit disheartening but then I guess if you love a name popularity shouldn’t matter anyway!
[name]Freya[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] is also nice…but baby’s initials would spell FIB for us : D! Ack! (I am OK with IFB, it’s almost sort of poetic, like “if it be…”). But you’re right, it works well as a combo.
I suppose the grass is always greener…there must be some names popular in the US that are rarer in other parts of the anglosphere…although perhaps they’re less charming that [name]Imogen[/name] and [name]Freya[/name] in some cases! : D. Has [name]Nevaeh[/name] gotten around the English-speaking world yet?
[name]Imogen[/name] is definitely growing on me more and more.
I think they are both great names!