Chris in VA Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 It's fine. Not my taste, tho. I usually pick a name that has some history in the family, or has a nice meaning. Cleo means, "glory or fame," according to one name site. What would you put with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 A bit too masculine for me. What about Chloe (or alternate spelling)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspasia Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 It's fine. Not my taste, tho. I usually pick a name that has some history in the family, or has a nice meaning. Cleo means, "glory or fame," according to one name site. What would you put with it? I had to give up on finding family names or names with meaning that I also liked. Our first two kids have such names, but the last two (our first passed away, so he isn't in my signature)...it was all we could do to just find a name that we liked enough. We can no longer burden ourselves with finding names that ALSO have meaning. It's just too hard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I had a great aunt named Cleo. I like it but am also partial to Hazel. I think you either like that style of name or you don't. Funny that those are similar to you! My daughter is Hazel, named for my great-grandmother, and I'd never really considered Cleo before this thread, but I like it, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 My ex and I chose Cleo Marie for our future daughter, in honor of his grandmother. I love it.. I think it's a perfect sister name for Phoebe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I like Clea better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSOchristie Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 It makes me think of the fish in Pinocchio. ETA she was a very cute fish :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I did have a cat named Cleo. But she was my favorite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I did have a cat named Cleo. But she was my favorite! I also had a cat named Clio, named for the muse of history. (We also had a Zeus) I love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I love Cleo for a childhood primary-use nickname. However, I'd definitely provide a less exotic legal name for her to have as a fall-back "grown up" name for her diploma(s), in case she becomes a judge or a war correspondent or something. To me, Cleo is like "Minnie" or "Josie" -- technically a name, but one with fairly strong characteristics of names you call someone who is dear to you, and really a sweet little thing. I don't mean that to be insulting. I have a Josie: her legal name is Joscelyn. "Chief Jusitce Josie Lastname" -- just didn't sound acceptable in my imagination, so I made room for a more formal name. So, yeah, have a Cleo, but don't make her live with it forever if she doesn't end up wanting to be Cleo to everyone. Any "C" name would be fine, because nicknames don't have to be really that close. (In fact, many girls of previous generations were called by primary-use nicknames when they were named after a mother or living grandmother -- avoiding the confusion. In those cases sometimes the nickname isn't even vaguely similar to the legal name.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Oh, wow! I don't think of Cleo as being cutesy nickname-ish. It sounds quite sturdy to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocelotmom Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I see it as a boy's name. A boy's name that's somewhat ambiguous. I knew a Cleo who introduced himself as "Cleo, but I'm male", so I'm guessing he had problems with people knowing which it was supposed to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I like it! And FTR, I would never associate it with Clifford the Dog. I think it is a lovely, euphonic name. However, the first thought that comes to my mind is that 900-number psychic, Miss Cleo (because I'm highbrow like that). In a very bad accent: Call me now! Apparently I'm highbrow too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Cleo Makes me think of a feminized version of Leo. Reminds me of the only Cleo I know. A middle aged, loud mouth, trouble maker who I used to work with. Cleo the poodle from Clifford the Big Red Dog. It seems like a middle aged woman's name to me, not a baby/child's name so I can't imagine it in that context. I am sure if I knew a little Cleo who was a sweet little girl, or a feisty little kid, I would have a different interpretation, but alas, till then, it still belongs on a 45yo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Love it. Oh, wow! I don't think of Cleo as being cutesy nickname-ish. It sounds quite sturdy to me.I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I like it. Never would associate it with a cat or dog name, either. I dislike Chloe just because it's become so common. I also don't understand those who are calling it cutesy. I see it as quite a strong but feminine name . I agree with that too. Strong but not masculine at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphus Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I like it! But full disclosure- it's my dogs name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamzanne Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I immediately think of it as a pet's name. But I could see it working. She must have her hair cut in an above the shoulder bob cut with blunt bangs, in my mind. It is strange how the mind works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerico Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I like it. Abby from appellation mountain (my favorite baby name blog!) has a daughter named clio (i think its a nickname but no one calls her by her full name). I've seen her mention cleo before too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspasia Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 I love Cleo for a childhood primary-use nickname. However, I'd definitely provide a less exotic legal name for her to have as a fall-back "grown up" name for her diploma(s), in case she becomes a judge or a war correspondent or something. To me, Cleo is like "Minnie" or "Josie" -- technically a name, but one with fairly strong characteristics of names you call someone who is dear to you, and really a sweet little thing. I don't mean that to be insulting. I have a Josie: her legal name is Joscelyn. "Chief Jusitce Josie Lastname" -- just didn't sound acceptable in my imagination, so I made room for a more formal name. So, yeah, have a Cleo, but don't make her live with it forever if she doesn't end up wanting to be Cleo to everyone. Any "C" name would be fine, because nicknames don't have to be really that close. (In fact, many girls of previous generations were called by primary-use nicknames when they were named after a mother or living grandmother -- avoiding the confusion. In those cases sometimes the nickname isn't even vaguely similar to the legal name.) This is funny, because our baby name test is, "Could this person run for President or be a kicka$$ lawyer and be taken seriously?" Because there are some names that make it difficult to take a person seriously. I definitely thought Cleo passed the test, though. Hmmm... Chief Justice Cleo Lastname. I don't think it's crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspasia Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 The dog/cat name thing is tough. I know a lot of people associate Cleo with pets. But I have a friend named Darci (which seems like a dog name to me), and she pulls it off. There's also Felix, which is making a real comeback in the human name department. And let's not forget the classic dog name, Jack. Also a great human name. Ten years ago, if someone had pitched Jack for a baby name, I would have said it was a dog name (it actually is my dog's name). But it's still a pretty great name for people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I'm in the group that immediately thinks pet name. Cat first, but then I think of the dog in Clifford. It's not my style, but if you and your dh are agreed then that's what matters most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I see it as a boy's name. A boy's name that's somewhat ambiguous. I knew a Cleo who introduced himself as "Cleo, but I'm male", so I'm guessing he had problems with people knowing which it was supposed to be. :confused1: How on earth would it be a boy's name? I've only ever known girl Cleos, and of course the most famous is Cleopatra - another female. The boy you're talking about also obviously ran into everything thinking it was a girl's name... 'cause it is. I like Cleo. :) Yes, I do know one cat named Cleo, but I have cats named Tommy and Isabel, so I don't think just 'cause a pet got named a human name it makes it unfit for humans... it's a good human name that also sometime is used for pets (like many other human names). It's not Fido or Rover, for Pete's sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 :confused1: How on earth would it be a boy's name? I've only ever known girl Cleos, and of course the most famous is Cleopatra - another female. The boy you're talking about also obviously ran into everything thinking it was a girl's name... 'cause it is. I like Cleo. :) Yes, I do know one cat named Cleo, but I have cats named Tommy and Isabel, so I don't think just 'cause a pet got named a human name it makes it unfit for humans... it's a good human name that also sometime is used for pets (like many other human names). It's not Fido or Rover, for Pete's sake. Cleo can be either masculine or feminine, I imagine which people think of first depends on who they have known or known of with the name. The only Cleo I ever knew was male. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspasia Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 I have a gender ambiguous name (spelled differently than the male version), and that hasn't ever bothered me. Lots of names are gender ambiguous: Kim, Riley, Courtney, Dana, Cameron, Reese, Jamie, Taylor, Tracy, Adrienne/Adrian, Morgan...and let's not forget Pat. ;) No big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 It reminds me of Miss Cleo the phone psychic. (Who I may have called and charged a $47 phone bill on my parent's line in a not so sober college moment....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I would vote no on the baby's behalf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I do not like it. However, I am a bit biased as I had an aunt named Cleo and she wasn't all that nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsrevmeg Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I like the name. My husband's grandmother's name was Evelyn Cleo. I think it was really pretty. Along the lines of people associating it with Clifford and the psychic ; Once, many years ago my oldest son was playing with his toy phone. He was "talking" to Cleo. My husband thought he talking to Miss Cleo, while he was really talking to Clifford's friend. Different people are going to associate names with different things. You can't please everyone. Name your child what you and your husband feel is best. Raise her in a way that everyone who knows her associates her name with good things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I would not choose it. I've only known one Cleo, my grandmother's landlady, and it makes me think of her. Even though I wouldn't choose it, I don't think it's a weird name. Not like Apple or Kleyyyyyo, something where you're trying too hard to be different and the poor kid is stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I wouldn't let the pet thing bother me as I have an Emma and Lily and those both seem to be popular names for cockapoos for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspasia Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 I'm on the verge of naming this baby Anne. It's solid, classic, versatile, and I don't have to think about it anymore. I'm just so tired of searching for names. I swear I saw every girl name in the universe when we were searching for a name for the last baby girl. I've seen them ALL, and I've grown to hate them ALL. Whenever I start looking for a name for this baby, it feels exactly like it did toward the end of the last name search. Nothing has changed for me. I still hate all those names (or at least they just don't fit for some reason). We were lucky to eke out a name we liked last time (and fortunately, we have grown to really, really like it). I just don't think there is anything left to eke out of girl names. Dh isn't big on Cleo. He likes Rose--actually Rosie, which I like, too. But Rose just seems really, really old lady to me. I know old lady names are in (I've already got two girls with them), but Rose doesn't belong on anyone younger than 60. Would she just go by Rosie until then? I give up. Anne for President! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrub Jay Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I think Anne is beautiful (and I love that spelling). But if we had a 3rd girl we plan to name her Rose. I don't think it is old lady at all - classic, just like Anne. And I love Rosie as a nn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Actually I like Anne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 My BFF just used Rose as a middle name for her DD, and I considered it also as a middle when we didn't know if DS would be a boy or a girl. Anne is very nice also. Anna Rose is pretty. Roseanne... you'd have to start another thread about, LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspasia Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 I do like Anna Rose. Very pretty. I also like Rose Maria--my grandma was a Maria (Italian). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 This is funny, because our baby name test is, "Could this person run for President or be a kicka$$ lawyer and be taken seriously?" Because there are some names that make it difficult to take a person seriously. I definitely thought Cleo passed the test, though. Hmmm... Chief Justice Cleo Lastname. I don't think it's crazy. That was our criteria too. Especially with girls, I think sometimes people name the little girl they are dreaming of rather than the potential adult woman she will become. Cleo works for a girl, and it works for a woman. I have never heard of the psychic, and I haven't watched Clifford recently, so I don't really have a lot of associations with this name. My first thought was that it seems like a nick name, but when I think what you could name someone if you want to call her Cleo, Cleopatra is all I could think of, and that won't do. So I think if you like Cleo, go for it. I could see a Cleo as a lawyer, an athlete, a musician. It's a nice name, and it doesn't (to me) have a heavy character to it. There are some names that, when you hear it, you know what "kind" of girl the parents were hoping for - super feminine princess names, traditionally masculine names, etc. I think "Cleo" is a name you would see on a resume and not necessarily form an impression of what that person should look like or act like, if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I wouldn't choose it for one of my own kids, but if one of my friends named their daughter Cleo, I wouldn't bat an eye. I might ask if it was short for something, not because here's anything wrong with it, but because it sounds as though it might be a shortened form of any number of longer names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I'm on the verge of naming this baby Anne. It's solid, classic, versatile, and I don't have to think about it anymore. I'm just so tired of searching for names. I swear I saw every girl name in the universe when we were searching for a name for the last baby girl. I've seen them ALL, and I've grown to hate them ALL. Whenever I start looking for a name for this baby, it feels exactly like it did toward the end of the last name search. Nothing has changed for me. I still hate all those names (or at least they just don't fit for some reason). We were lucky to eke out a name we liked last time (and fortunately, we have grown to really, really like it). I just don't think there is anything left to eke out of girl names. Dh isn't big on Cleo. He likes Rose--actually Rosie, which I like, too. But Rose just seems really, really old lady to me. I know old lady names are in (I've already got two girls with them), but Rose doesn't belong on anyone younger than 60. Would she just go by Rosie until then? I give up. Anne for President! I have a niece named Rose. She's the cutest little thing! I don't think it's old-woman at all. Anne is beautiful too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I associate it with names for pets. Mine were older ones were little when Clifford the Big Red Dog was on and the poodle was named Cleo. I knew someone with a cat named Cleopatra that she usually called Cleo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I like it. I associate it with the jazz singer Cleo Lane. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I vote for Cleo. In my mind, it's a feminine name. Anna is nice, too, but I like Cleo better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Anne is lovely. I like it way more than Anna, though I can't say why. I guess Anne is the name of Queens, poets, martyrs, scholars ... and Anna seems to have less gravitas. I would have named a daughter Anne, if I had one. But now you have me thinking about Cleo, and I like it more every time I think about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspasia Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 What do you guys think of Mabel? I think I could like it. It's not common at all yet (not even in the top 1,000 on the SSA website), but I worry about it making a sudden jump in popularity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I love the name Mabel. It doesn't go at all with our last name, so I never considered it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Cleo - feminine, but I prefer Clea Mabel - the name of my great-grandmother, so I love it. I do expect it to jump in popularity though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Maeve is similar in "flavor" to Mabel. I am on my phone, so a bit difficult to check popularity, but I think it is pretty even-keeled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I have a friend who named her last baby Ruby Rose. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 What do you guys think of Mabel? I think I could like it. It's not common at all yet (not even in the top 1,000 on the SSA website), but I worry about it making a sudden jump in popularity. I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learning fun Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I think it's darling. How about Cleo Roseanne Lastname? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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