How Does the Name Josephine Sounds to American Ears?

It does sound a little old-fashioned considering all the trendy names these days, but I personally love old fashioned names and think Josephine is beautiful.
If for some reason she didn't like it she could always go by Josy!

Personally, I have always loved the name Josephine! She can always go by a nick name if she doesn't like it so much... There is Jo, Josie, or evey Joey. I don't think she would be laughed at.

I like the name Josephine & don't see any reason you shouldn't name you daughter that. It's cute.

I think she might be called Jo or Joi for short as she gets older. I can't think of anyone to tie that name to historicaly speaking here in the US. I'm sure there are some out there I just can't think of one. I think Josepine is a nice name.
I named my youngest daughter Chloe after a friend I knew in school who transferred from France for the year.

HTH- Elaine M. to Emily 5 and Chloe 2

I think it is a wonderful name, but then again I am into the old fashion names that are strong!! My great Aunt name is Josephine and we have called he Auntie Joy or Joy for short!! She has always been a joy to us and I am sure your bundle of joy will be!! Congrats!! Keep us posted as to what you decide

I think Josephine is a beautiful name. I only meet one person named Josephine and it was my cousin. It was one of the many names I liked to name my girls but instead we went with Victoria, Alexandria and Olivia. My husband liked how all their named would end in ia.
Congrats on your new bundle of joy!

First, Congrats on your new baby on the way! How exciting! Second, I'm partial to the name Josephine as I had a very special doll that was given to me, before I was born, that was named Josephine. I still have that doll 30+ years later if that's any indication of how special she was to me. Third, I can't think of anyone famous or from American history with the name of Josephine that would cause a problem for your child. The only famous Josephine I can think of is Napoleon's Josephine. As with most any name, kids will try variations like Jo, Josey, Josefina, Feeny, etc., but that happens with most names. My name is N. and people always wanted to call me Nikki when I was a child. I hated that name! What's sad about it is my 2 year old son's name is Nicolas and we call him Nicky all the time. Go figure. Anyway, I digress. I think Josephine is lovely and I wish you tons of happiness with your soon to be new bundle of joy! N. :-)

Hi F.,

I think that Josephine is not necessarily a common name but it's not totally uncommon in America, either. There is a doll series with a Josephine in it that is popular right now. The only famous Josephine that I could call to mind was Josephine Baker (the singer) and I don't think there is any negatie connotations to her.

As for history of the name, I couldn't think of anything negative there, either, so I looked it up in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_(name)
and didn't find anything negative there, either.

I don't think she would be laughed at because of her name... it is not so unusual as to raise the flag of "different" here.

Congratulations!

Oh, and there is a town called Josephine just to the east of Plano. :-)

P.

Josephine is a great name...but like a couple other moms have said, it most likely will get shorten. Joy, Joey, Jo or something like that. If you want only Josephine, insist on it as much a possible, but remember that once she is in school and they shorten it...there won't be much you can do. We named our 6 month old son Christopher and I am already hearing people call him Chris...but to mom, he will always be Christopher. Good luck with the baby and it really is a beautiful French name!

I love the name! But you have to ask yourself how much you like all the nicknames she will get during her lifetime, Josie, Joey, Joy, Jo. (I think Josie is cute). So if you can handle all of those, go for it! Well, pretty much any name you go with will get unwanted nicknames, my Isaac is "Manman" by certain family members and I have no way to escape that.
Congrats!

Hi F.,

My given name is Jo L.. My mother was Mary Josephine. So you see where I get the Jo from. Josephine is a great name. There are no negative things I can think of in history about that name.

Her name will be changed by her friends as she gets older that's just what kids do and believe me, you can't protect your kids from negative name calling no matter what you name them. It's just part of the process of growing up.

That being said, my brother hated my name when I was born. He renamed me Jodi and it stuck. So my coronation came the day I came into this world. I call him Bubba... his name is Jim. That totally makes sense eh? :P

You just have to go with a name you like. You really can't name your kids anything based on other children. Kids will be kids... Enjoy your new little bundle and the one you already have!

Good luck!
Jodi

Congrats on your upcoming baby!
I think it is a beautiful name.

Hi F.!

I secretly have a pet peeve about names anyway and so from all of the dumb names that people named their kids,(and I have heard plenty!) Josephine is a beautiful name. No one else cares if people like their kids name or not, they don't even think about other kids making fun of it or anythinhg else about a name, so that is great that you are at least thinking ahead.

Just to warn you though, most people might try and shorten it to Josey (Josie) or something along those lines, you have to be firm if you want her called Josephine. I think it is a very nice, but strong name. It is not popular right now and that is great! I hate names that everyone has and I won't even mention what they are!! My son is named Matthew and alot of folks try and say Matt, but I tell them firmly, my son's name is Matthew, thank you. When he gets older, if he wants to be called Matt, then that is fine, but I will always call him Matthew! A good, strong Biblical name that means "gift from God"!

It is great to think about that, but ultimately it is your decision.

Good Luck!

Gladys (btw, always hated my named because it is so old-fashioned, but I never took the time to change it, so now it is here to stay!)

I just wanted to say that first of all my mom's name is F. and I have never met another. :)Congrats on your baby! You should look up Josephine in the baby book to get the origin and meaning if you are curious about that. But....I think if you think it is beautiful who cares what anyone else thinks really. My mom named me C. after her Aunt and I have always hated it and gone by my middle name. Now I love it because it is different and special. Josephine is also a popular American girl doll.

Hope this helps:)

C.

Josephine was my grandmother's name. She was a wonderful woman who recently passed. So maybe I'm biased, but I have nothing but warm feelings for that name. Her friends called her "Josie". I don't think you can ever go wrong with the classical names.

I love the name Josephine. It was my great grandmother's name and I always thought it sounded so pretty and elegant.

Congratulations!

M.