Tohru Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I like Geneva, but do you think that it sounds too much like Genevieve? Since Genevieve is a bit more popular, do you think people might confuse the two names? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 No, I don't think the names are the same. Of course, I think of Geneva as the city in Switzerland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 No, I don't think the names are the same. Of course, I think of Geneva as the city in Switzerland. :iagree: I do not think they sound the same at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 No, I don't think the names are the same. Of course, I think of Geneva as the city in Switzerland. :iagree: I also think, "Switzerland" when hearing the word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I love it. I think its beautiful and feminine and I don't think people would confuse the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nyssa Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I knew someone with that name & nobody confused it, that I know of! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristinaBreece Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I love the name Geneva. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalknot Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Is it pronounced like the city in Switzerland, or are you saying it with the emphasis on the first syllable - like JEN-uh-vah? If the former, no. If the latter, yes. Where I live, local accents would make Geneva sound very similar to Genevieve. I wouldn't think that too big a problem, though; it wouldn't stop me from using it :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I know a young girl named Geneva and no one mixes it up with Genevieve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 makes me think of switzerland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 (edited) No, I don't think the names are the same. Of course, I think of Geneva as the city in Switzerland. Otherwise it seems (to me) a little odd to call a child that. I wouldn't confuse it with Genevieve though. Laura Edited October 13, 2011 by Laura Corin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 No; I thought "Ginevra" as in Ginny Weasley in Harry Potter. (Personally, I liked Ginny's name so much more once I knew it was short for Ginevra. I like Ginevra!) There's no telling what people will do, though. People constantly think my dd is "Kayla" because she is "Kyla." Even though they are not the same name, the letters make people think of the more-common Kayla. It's not a deal-breaker though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 Otherwise it seems (to me) a little odd to call a child that. I wouldn't confuse it with Genevieve though. Laura It is our sweet great-auntie's name. Geneva was a very popular name for baby girl's born in the 1920's. Our Great-Aunt Geneva is still living :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I have an aunt Geneva, accent on the NE, Ge-NE-va. I like the name, although I do think it could get confused with Genevieve. The confusion wouldn't bother me, it's separate enough and it's a real name, not just a variant spelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samba Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 My grandmother's name was Geneva and, no, I don't think it would be confused with Genevieve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Other: I think the are two different names, but I think that it would be possible for people to confuse them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 They're two different names, but my grandma (Genevieve) was sometimes called Geneva. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in SWVA Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 What an exciting poll for me! I am going to have a granddaughter within the next week or so whose name is Geneva Suzette. Susie in SWVA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabella Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Other: I think the are two different names, but I think that it would be possible for people to confuse them. :iagree: We have cousins (2 families) that between them have a Junea, and Juvena, (girls) and a Jehan (boy). It's quite hard getting them all right, and getting the right name for the right kid. I love all the names, though, as well as Geneva! Very pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 No, I don't think the names are the same. Of course, I think of Geneva as the city in Switzerland. I agree. Isn't it also a typeface/font? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 No, I don't think the names are the same. Of course, I think of Geneva as the city in Switzerland. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Sure, some people will confuse the names. But I don't think that's a reason to discount a name you love as a possibility. Growing up, "Abbey" was a rather unusual name (despite being a fairly common derivative of a classic) and people would occasionally mishear my name as Amy, Ashley, Gabby, Happy (that was the worst, lol), and who knows what else. ... I've survived. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higginszoo Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 They're close enough that I don't think I'd use the two names with sisters, but I don't think that you'll get too much confusion. I knew a Geneva growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I'm thinking Switzerland, too. When I think of Genevieve, I picture Genevieve Gorder (I think that's her name) from HGTV. But I voted NO in the poll. I don't think the two names sound very similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 No, I don't think the names are the same. Of course, I think of Geneva as the city in Switzerland. :iagree:I hear 'Geneva' and automatically attach 'Convention'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 :iagree:I hear 'Geneva' and automatically attach 'Convention'. Well, there you have it. The perfect middle name! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeneralMom Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I also think "Switzerland" and "Convention" when I hear Geneva, but maybe that is because I have never met a "Geneva" IRL. I would not confuse the two names Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 It is our sweet great-auntie's name. Geneva was a very popular name for baby girl's born in the 1920's. Our Great-Aunt Geneva is still living :) If it's a family name. I hadn't heard of it as a name. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeekingSimplicity Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I worked with a woman who was legally named Genevieve. Her mother actually meant to name her Geneva, but whoever filled out the birth certificate didn't know how to spell so legally her name is Genevieve. That aside, I don't think most people would confuse the two names. They're both lovely names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara in AZ Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 My sister is named Genevieve (named after our grandmother who randomly went by Jenny.) Anyway, sometimes people who can't figure how to pronounce Genevieve for some reason have called her Geneva. Geneva is simpler than Genevieve, so I don't think you would have that problem in reverse. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I also think, "Switzerland" when hearing the word. Me too. I love Genevieve though. So elegant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I think they're too similar to have both in the same immediate family. But not so similar that many people would get confused. I like Geneva as a name, and I don't think it's weird at all - names that are also places have always been popular (India, Asia, Jordan, Sydney, Paris, Dakota, Virginia, Chelsea, etc etc etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I think they're too similar to have both in the same immediate family. But not so similar that many people would get confused. I like Geneva as a name, and I don't think it's weird at all - names that are also places have always been popular (India, Asia, Jordan, Sydney, Paris, Dakota, Virginia, Chelsea, etc etc etc). In the UK, place names (unless there was a strong family connection) have not been common as given names until recently. I've never connected the name 'Virginia' with the state - it has a meaning separate from that. 'Sidney' was originally a surname. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liza Lee Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 (edited) Other. They look awfully similar and some people will confuse the two when they see it written. OTOH, once someone hears the name they will not confuse them. I know someone who named her dd Geneva because it was a family name. They called her Genna for short. There was a restaurant in my hometown named Geneva's because that was the owner's name. When I hear the name Geneva, I think old lady, but it's pretty common for one generation's "grandparent names" to become the next one's baby names. I think it's a great choice. Edited October 14, 2011 by Liza Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunD Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 They could be confused, but I don't think it would be a huge daily problem that would merit choosing a different name. For example, I know people named Damien, Melody, and Davin. About 1/3 of the time that they introduce themselves, the other person says "Oh, nice to meet you, Damon." "So, where are you from, Melanie?" "Hi Gavin, I'm Bill." After they repeat their actual name, the other person usually gets it right. They also immediately spell it when someone is writing it down, otherwise it's often written as the other name. But this doesn't really bother them and it's not a big issue most of the time. It seems much different than a totally unheard-of name or having to spell out something complicated and unintuitive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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