WDYT of Jemima?

GrayGhost13

This is more out of curiosity because we've already chosen names and this one didn't quite make the cut. Nonetheless, I'm curious what people think.

So, how do you feel about the name Jemima? I really like it, and I understand it's already somewhat common in the UK. I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association enough for the name to make a comeback or if you think it's way too much of a teasing target?

tribe99

I am sure that once I met an adorable baby girl named Jemima I would get past the Aunt Jemima association pretty quickly and like the name, but as a hypothetical name I am just not crazy about it.

lovemytwoboys

TobioLovesAce:

I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association

Nope. I can't at least.

I don't like the name regardless of the association though.

andrea922

I think British, but never thought Aunt Jemima

mrs_tacos

tribe99:

I am sure that once I met an adorable baby girl named Jemima I would get past the Aunt Jemima association pretty quickly and like the name.

This. And I actually like the name- I think it's cute

PLBL08

I will always think of Aunt Jemima.

welshgirl

I'd say it's more common here but I've lived here for a decade and still never come across a real person named Jemima. And I still think Aunt Jemima - but that's not insurmountable IMO.

jenna0627

I don't like it and I didn't associate it with syrup either.

strangebird

tribe99:

I am sure that once I met an adorable baby girl named Jemima I would get past the Aunt Jemima association pretty quickly and like the name, but as a hypothetical name I am just not crazy about it.

This. Also, I'm not sure the name matures well. Or rather, it matures from "cute little girl" to "grandmother" all too quickly. I have a very hard time picturing any 30-year-old with the name Jemima. 

Under.the.Rose

PLBL08:

I will always think of Aunt Jemima.

Me too. 

How about Gemma? 

anna7602

There are plenty of commercial associations with other names (Uncle Ben's Rice, etc.) that aren't dealbreakers for me, but I just don't like the name Jemima in and of itself very much. I much prefer Gemma.

nycitylove

lovemytwoboys:

TobioLovesAce:

I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association

Nope. I can't at least.

I don't like the name regardless of the association though.

This. Regardless of the association, I do not like the name at all.

*JCsGirl*

I think Jemima Puddle Duck because I love Beatrix Potter. 

GrayGhost13

Under.the.Rose:

PLBL08:

I will always think of Aunt Jemima.

Me too. 

How about Gemma? 

If we had used Jemima, I think we would have used Gemma or Jemma as a nickname, but I was interested in using the full version of Jemima as it was my great-grandmother's middle name.

Ultimately, the name didn't make the cut for first-choice girl's name,  but I appreciate the honest feedback because it may come back up if we have a second girl someday in the future.

plunderb

I LOVE Jemima. Unfortunately, it is on the list of names that I love, but will probably never be able to use for one reason or another (Jerusha, Una, etc.).

For me, the problem is not necessarily the fact that Jemima is the name of a condiment. The problem is that Aunt Jemima epitomizes the racist marketing of commercial products since the late 19th century. Ever since reading Slave in a Box: The Strange Career of Aunt Jemima by Maurice Manring, I don't think I can ever really dissociate the name Jemima from the idea of the racist "mammy" imagery that accompanies it.

Other names, like Ben, don't suffer as much from associations like Uncle Ben because they are common enough that that is only one of many associations. Still others, like Amos, are somewhere in between Jemima and Ben.

ETA: I should be clearer: I don't think that use of the name Jemima is itself racist. I just mean that I cannot get past the connotations enough to let me use it for my own child without reservation.

sunnyday016

Mmmmm pancakes.

starsmaycollide

plunderb:

I LOVE Jemima. Unfortunately, it is on the list of names that I love, but will probably never be able to use for one reason or another (Jerusha, Una, etc.).

For me, the problem is not necessarily the fact that Jemima is the name of a condiment. The problem is that Aunt Jemima epitomizes the racist marketing of commercial products since the late 19th century. Ever since reading Slave in a Box: The Strange Career of Aunt Jemima by Maurice Manring, I don't think I can ever really dissociate the name Jemima from the idea of the racist "mammy" imagery that accompanies it.

Other names, like Ben, don't suffer as much from associations like Uncle Ben because they are common enough that that is only one of many associations. Still others, like Amos, are somewhere in between Jemima and Ben.

ETA: I should be clearer: I don't think that use of the name Jemima is itself racist. I just mean that I cannot get past the connotations enough to let me use it for my own child without reservation.

This, exactly. It's not that it's a bad name, or even that it is the name of a product-it's the connotation of racist advertising/jokes associated with it. I see it as a very negative association. 

Jinsy80

Lol, my co-worker wanted me to name this baby Jemima. I nearly died. It's a biblical name (Jemimah I think) and popular in the UK, but I can only think of syrup.

Stimpy09

PLBL08:

I will always think of Aunt Jemima.

Me too.

GrayGhost13

starsmaycollide:

plunderb:

I LOVE Jemima. Unfortunately, it is on the list of names that I love, but will probably never be able to use for one reason or another (Jerusha, Una, etc.).

For me, the problem is not necessarily the fact that Jemima is the name of a condiment. The problem is that Aunt Jemima epitomizes the racist marketing of commercial products since the late 19th century. Ever since reading Slave in a Box: The Strange Career of Aunt Jemima by Maurice Manring, I don't think I can ever really dissociate the name Jemima from the idea of the racist "mammy" imagery that accompanies it.

Other names, like Ben, don't suffer as much from associations like Uncle Ben because they are common enough that that is only one of many associations. Still others, like Amos, are somewhere in between Jemima and Ben.

ETA: I should be clearer: I don't think that use of the name Jemima is itself racist. I just mean that I cannot get past the connotations enough to let me use it for my own child without reservation.

This, exactly. It's not that it's a bad name, or even that it is the name of a product-it's the connotation of racist advertising/jokes associated with it. I see it as a very negative association. 

I guess this is kind of what was holding us back too. I accept that there will always be either fictional characters or real-life celebrities with just about any name, so that's not a big deal, but for it to be a character with a lot of negative baggage makes me a little nervous.

I guess this name isn't quite ready for a comeback yet. Thanks, ladies!

HappyMrsK

TobioLovesAce:

This is more out of curiosity because we've already chosen names and this one didn't quite make the cut. Nonetheless, I'm curious what people think.

So, how do you feel about the name Jemima? I really like it, and I understand it's already somewhat common in the UK. I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association enough for the name to make a comeback or if you think it's way too much of a teasing target?

I really doubt this name will make a comeback in America. I think the pancake association is too strong.

I'm also just not a fan of the name in general.

ReniaB

TobioLovesAce:

could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association enough for the name to make a comeback or if you think it's way too much of a teasing target?

No.  I thought this was posted as a joke when I seen the name

k*princess

I can't get past the syrup, plus I just really do not like the name.

ckmommy

I love it but spelled Jemimah as in the biblical version. She was one of Job's Daughters and in the stories her name means Dove. I never think of the syrup but that's probably because I never eat syrup.

loveyoubean

I think "please pass the maple syrup."

tct1219

lovemytwoboys:

TobioLovesAce:

I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association

Nope. I can't at least.

I don't like the name regardless of the association though.

same here. i think it's going to take some really famous celebrity with the name to break that association.

lrn327

TobioLovesAce:

This is more out of curiosity because we've already chosen names and this one didn't quite make the cut. Nonetheless, I'm curious what people think.

So, how do you feel about the name Jemima? I really like it, and I understand it's already somewhat common in the UK. I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association enough for the name to make a comeback or if you think it's way too much of a teasing target?

 I could not - I love pancakes too much!  

laurenbrooke_09

I just think...

 

Pancakes.

Sorry. 

cjheidi

lovemytwoboys:

TobioLovesAce:

I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association

Nope. I can't at least.

I don't like the name regardless of the association though.

this 

magsugar13

lovemytwoboys:

TobioLovesAce:

I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association

Nope. I can't at least.

I don't like the name regardless of the association though.

me either

biblionerd

I was listening to an audio book with a character named Jemima in it. At first I thought it was so bizarre and couldn't get past the pancake syrup. After a while though it grew on me and I thought it was really cute and didn't think of the syrup at all. I actually wish there were more around!

skio

Nope. Pancake syrup.

macchiatto

lovemytwoboys:

TobioLovesAce:

I'm curious if you think Americans could get past the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup association

Nope. I can't at least.

I don't like the name regardless of the association though.

This.

Spookster

I would forever think syrup.