New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Imogen
This name has been growing on me lately. I was wondering why it seems pretty common in England, but not in Canada, the US etc. and then when I looked it up on the database, I noticed that it says the usage is English (British). Sorry if this sounds dumb but...what's up with that? Why is the name Imogen hardly ever used in other English speaking countries? I'd be interested to hear your opinions on the name as well.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I don't know why it's not used more in my country (USA.) It does feel very "English" to me. I love it, it's so soft and unusual sounding. It's hip. There's a movie coming out in the US this summer called Girl Most Likely, and the main character's name is Imogene. So maybe after that Imogene/Imogen will get a little more use.
1
I love Imogen. I'm in Australia and work with kids and it's fairly popular, more so with the under-10 kids but I had an Imogen in my grade in school (I'm 24) and I wouldn't think it unusual to meet someone older with the name. I think it has been fairly consistently in use here since the 70s/early 80s.
I find it odd that it isn't used in the US. I think it would just take a celeb to use it or a celebrity named it for it to catch on.
I find it odd that it isn't used in the US. I think it would just take a celeb to use it or a celebrity named it for it to catch on.
1
Good point - I've only met one South African Imogen. But I enjoy it greatly, and would have used it given enough daughters - which one never is!
Possibly there might be pronunciation issues? My spellcheck tried to sell me on Imogene until I put it right. Or unfamiliarity with any Shakespeare play outside the Big Six?
Possibly there might be pronunciation issues? My spellcheck tried to sell me on Imogene until I put it right. Or unfamiliarity with any Shakespeare play outside the Big Six?
1
It's top 50 popular in Aus too. I was very surprised to hear how uncommon Imogen, Lachlan and Gemma/Jemma were in the Us...they are so normal in Aus! Gemma has started to show up, but not the other two. I don't it. They don't seem that out there.
I love it. It reminds me of the word Imagine and has a very dreamy feel to it to me. It's on my potential use for a daughter list.
I love it. It reminds me of the word Imagine and has a very dreamy feel to it to me. It's on my potential use for a daughter list.
1
It's weird how certain names become really popular in one country, and so unpopular in another, despite the language being the same. I didn't realise Imogen was so popular in Australia too!
1
I like it. I once heard it in a really bad movie with Julia Styles and Freddie Prinze, Jr. I don't know what the movie was called, this was some years ago.
Imogen seems like an adult name, though. I find it hard to imagine anyone younger than 40 having it. Even though in the movie Julia was a college student, I believe.
It reminds me of imagine and I really, really like that. I hate Imogene though.
Imogen seems like an adult name, though. I find it hard to imagine anyone younger than 40 having it. Even though in the movie Julia was a college student, I believe.
It reminds me of imagine and I really, really like that. I hate Imogene though.
1
The young Imogens I know go by Immy, which is more approachable for a little girl.
1
I don't like it mainly because it sounds like "imaging." So it seems vaguely superficial or vain?
I think maybe there is some confusion about how it's pronounced, too. It just hasn't been heard enough.
It also sounds like a name for an institution or corporation selling some kind of genetic technology. I googled it and there is such a thing as Innogen Pharma.
And because it sounds snobbish/stuckup & sheltered to me. I do not know where I got that association but it might just come from the Shakespeare and the sound-similarity to imaging and innocent.
I think maybe there is some confusion about how it's pronounced, too. It just hasn't been heard enough.
It also sounds like a name for an institution or corporation selling some kind of genetic technology. I googled it and there is such a thing as Innogen Pharma.
And because it sounds snobbish/stuckup & sheltered to me. I do not know where I got that association but it might just come from the Shakespeare and the sound-similarity to imaging and innocent.
This message was edited 5/23/2013, 5:28 PM
1
I think Imogen is lovely, very endearing. Not sure why it hasn't caught on, but in a land where the -aydyn's rule, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised..
1
When I first came across the name a couple years ago, I assumed that it was pronounced uh-MO-gen, with a hard g, so I agree that there is likely some confusion about the pronunciation. I guess that's because the name is practically unheard of over here, and I don't understand why.
1