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[Opinions] Re: Genevieve
I knew a Genevieve once who was the most ordinary child in the school. (Her sisters were Colleen and Anne.) And that made the name seem pretentious and inappropriate: perhaps if she'd had personality and good looks, it would have fitted better. The French pronunciation is only feasible in France, I think, or other Francophone regions, and there is a much easier way for English speakers to have a daughter known as Jenny. Easier to spell, too.
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How would you feel about it with Caroline and Elizabeth?My sister is Genevieve and it really never struck me that she -- or we -- might be too ordinary to use it. My Genevieve can pull it off, I think. She's great looking, quick as hell, and she's a little spitfire. I think I'm a better Caroline. On me the name might feel bizarrely fanciful.

This message was edited 2/10/2019, 1:36 AM

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I can't imagine any family with you in it being ordinary! Just that the Genevieve I knew was so ordinary, it rubbed off on her name. And, my first daughter was Caroline and my second daughter has Elizabeth as her first mn, so clearly I like them both a lot. Do you use the English or the French pronunciation? I'm conflicted there, because it's difficult to suddenly give a word its French sound while speaking English: difficult, and unconvincing! But between jen-uh-veev and Jennifer, I'll take Jennifer every time. Your sister sounds wonderful, as if she could take any name, from Abigail to Zoe, and make it triumphantly her own.
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:) you're very nice. We use the jen-uh-veev pronunciation. The French pronunciation would seem especially affected where we grew up. I call my sister Genny, but she's started going by Genevieve more often with everyone else, so that only the family calls her Genny or Ducky (her nn). She is wonderful.
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