Like many of you, I am searching for a name for my baby girl due [name_u]January[/name_u] 2022.
As a [name_u]French[/name_u] Canadian living in the US, it’s important to me that the name have a [name_u]French[/name_u] origin, but is also easy to say in english. This brings me to a name on my short list, [name_f]Justine[/name_f].
I have met 3-4 Justines in my life (I am in my early 30s) - the name has always struck me as classic, youthful and beautiful. It has a nice meaning (‘fair, righteous’). It’s also easy to say and spell (I think). For all these reasons, I always assumed that is was a fairly popular name in [name_f]France[/name_f] and the US.
It turns out that’s very much not the case! [name_f]Justine[/name_f] doesn’t even make the top 5,000 girl name list in the U.S. and I couldn’t find it on a top 1,000 list of girl names in [name_f]France[/name_f].
What gives? Is my opinion that this is a great name inaccurate?
What are your thoughts about [name_f]Justine[/name_f]? Does the name sound dated? Please give me your honest thoughts - I would love to hear different perspectives!
[name_f]Justine[/name_f] is a sweet name I agree it is easy to spell and say it also works in both [name_f]France[/name_f] and the US. A lot of names go through phases of being popular and unpopular so this could be happening with [name_f]Justine[/name_f].
Personally I find it a bit dated but everyone has different opinions on names so no matter what some people are going to like the name and some people aren’t. If you think it is a great name then that’s what matters!
Are you sure you are using the official data? France doesn’t release a top 1000, but a top 500, and Justine is there. In America it used to rank high but left the charts some time ago.
Thanks for your feedback! I looked at a few lists including the official one with the top 500 - not sure where the data for the ‘top 1000’ came from. Yes it definitely seems like the name peaked in around 1990 (some say due to [name_f]Justine[/name_f] Bateman’s popularity?) and has since been on the decline. Thanks again
I’ll be honest and say that it’s not my most favourite name in the world. I know and love a lot of [name_u]French[/name_u] names (I grew up and live in a [name_u]French[/name_u] speaking country) but [name_f]Justine[/name_f] isn’t one that I have particularly warmed to. I know of two Justine’s. One was born around 1998 and she is from the [name_u]North[/name_u] of [name_f]England[/name_f] and the other is the daughter of my Grandma’s best friend. I believe she was born to [name_f]English[/name_f] parents but she was raised in [name_u]South[/name_u] [name_f]Africa[/name_f] and must be in her early to late 50s. I know for me personally, the younger [name_f]Justine[/name_f] wasn’t a particularly nice person which has put me off somewhat. Also, people of my generation who had their childhood in the early 2000s and grew up in [name_u]Britain[/name_u] will probably associate the name [name_f]Justine[/name_f] with a not very nice character from a television series called ‘The [name_u]Story[/name_u] of [name_u]Tracy[/name_u] Beaker.’ That personally doesn’t put me off too much but I guess there is still that connotation for some people.
I’m not personally a fan of [name_f]Justine[/name_f], just because I knew a few growing up (and to be honest, none of them were very nice people). It seems a bit dated to the early 2000’s for me. I have a hard time picturing it on a small child.
However, if you love the name, that’s really all that matters! It isn’t a bad name in any way, so I think you loving it is what’s important.
also, you didn’t ask so I’m sorry if you didn’t want any, but I just wanted to suggest [name_f]Celestine[/name_f], [name_f]Faustine[/name_f], and [name_f]Frostine[/name_f]! I think they’re lovely, and are similar to [name_f]Justine[/name_f], so I wanted to mention them!!
I really like [name_f]Justine[/name_f]. I love the meaning (it makes me think of fairness and justice as soon as I see it!) and I think it sounds strong but friendly. I am partial to -ine names (Maxine is another favourite of mine) and I think it would sound sweet and fresh on a little girl.
I live in the UK and have never met a [name_f]Justine[/name_f] so I haven’t got any associations with real people.
[name_f]Justine[/name_f] is my mum’s name and a name from my favourite book so I’m endeared to it. [name_f]My[/name_f] mum doesn’t particular like the name as it rhymes with dustbin and people confuse it with [name_m]Justin[/name_m]. Not sure if that would be a big deal in [name_f]Canada[/name_f]
I think its the sounds maybe? People prefer vowel heavy names now and the -een sound at the ending seems unpopular now too. Doesn’t help that [name_m]Justin[/name_m] is sort of dated as a boys name.
Not that its a bad name at all just my guesses at why its not more popular.
I love [name_f]Justine[/name_f]! I agree that it is easy to spell & pronounce in both languages. I think that it hits that sweet spot between familiar and uncommon, a little [name_f]Justine[/name_f] may never meet another, but everyone will know how to spell and say it!
[name_f]Justine[/name_f] may not be super popular right now but it was in the past. It was in the top 1000 in the United States every year starting all the way back in 1900 up until 2008. It peaked in the 80s though.
