I [name]LOVE[/name] the name [name]Jemima[/name]. I love that it means “dove” and its connections with a lovely childhood story (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). I think nicknames [name]Jem[/name], [name]Jemma[/name], [name]Mimi[/name], and [name]Mima[/name] are cute. I know a lot of people have problems with this name being offensive, and I have some idea of what this is about - but I have never seen anyone actually explain what is so wrong and offensive with [name]Jemima[/name].
Oh gosh, not another. [name]Read[/name] this- Nameberry - Welcome to the Nameberry Forums
Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but save yourself the trouble of starting another one of these.
Agreed. I was just coming here to post the same link.
I don’t know. I’m Australian and love it but my two year old watches alot of Playschool and loves [name]Jemima[/name] so I could never use it.
I would read the link other people have listed but want to note outside of the US [name]Jemima[/name] is not a problem, in the US it’s controversial and not usable to some of us.
I always miss the “offensiveness” of names… I understand it being a touchy name, but if I parent really loved it I’m sure no one would take actual offense to it. I don’t think a parent would choose this name to be controversial or make a racial slur via a child’s name. If I met a little [name]Jemima[/name], I would assume her parents were name lovers and knew the name’s meaning and just liked the sound.
I’m from the South, and honestly I’ve never heard the name [name]Jemima[/name] used as a racial slur or derogatory remark. People would immediately think of the syrup though, which might be a hard image to shake.
I remember watching an episode of [name]True[/name] Blood once and one of the characters is a tough [name]Black[/name] girl named [name]Tara[/name], and one of the other characters made a reference to how her name was offensive and “Why is a [name]Black[/name] girl named [name]Tara[/name] anyway?” I was so confused. My husband had to explain to me that it was a Gone with the Wind reference or something, I’m still not 100% sure why it’s so bad… I’ve never seen Gone with the Wind. 
There’s nothing wrong with it, as far as I’m concerned.
@rowangreeneyes - Tara is the name of the plantation in GWTW and not a person, there were slaves at Tara which I guess is why the name is questioned on TB.
Thanks for the links and the info. I personally subscribe to the notion that so long as the name is not actually a racial slur or a derogatory term, then it should be fine for parents to use if they love it. Otherwise, there would be a hell of a lot less names people could use. Thanks again, and sorry if this is the 100th time you heard this question!