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[Opinions] Susannah & Jemima
I'm reading a book with these two names for sisters. What do you think of Susannah and Jemima? Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
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I was thinking about Susannah recently. I think it's a nicely balanced soft-bright name. It'd probably seem like Shoshana to me if it was less familiar, and I think that is quietly gorgeous. Bizarrely, though, right now I prefer Hannah, which I usually dislike, and I prefer Johanna to that...I have met a Jemima. I think it has a fun sound and would like to see it used more.As three syllable biblical names meaning dove and lily...they do match pretty well conceptually.

This message was edited 11/8/2022, 6:19 PM

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I really like Susannah. It is my mama's name and I am biased. I would humor the idea of using the Suzanna variant on a daughter to honor her but using Zanna as a fun/more modern nickname than simple Susie. *Zanna would make less sense with the Susannah spelling* Jemima was actually a childhood friend's nickname I had given her in our group of friends that all gave each other biblical character nicknames (her real name was just Carrie). She (biblical Jemima) was one of the daughters of Job and was said to be one of the most beautiful women in all the land. She gave me Delilah... in retrospect in the grand scheme of things considering she ended up not being a good friend or person I should have seen that coming by her choice in name for me. Overtime I came to learn she would make fun of me behind my back and start rumors of me at school. In the present day Jemima leaves the sour taste in my mouth because of that connection. Some names are ruined by people & this is one for me.

This message was edited 11/7/2022, 9:19 AM

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I think Susannah is old-fashioned but that what attracts me. Jemima is okay, I think it sounds chimey because of its similarity to Gemma.
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I love Jemima and Susannah is alright.
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Quite like both but perhaps Jemima a bit more.
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I only like the name Susannah.
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They're okay. I don't like the sound of Jemima - I get a similar vibe to Jedidiah.
The image I have of them together is - antique Americana stereotype. Nostalgic in a way I personally find cloying.

This message was edited 11/6/2022, 10:03 AM

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The book takes place in the 1760's, on the frontier. It's about the women in Daniel Boone's family.
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Love them both
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I love Jemima. I’m an American and never saw anything wrong with the syrup lady. I mean, was it because she was black? I don’t understand how it could ruin a name.
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Well, I think the issue is that Aunt Jemima was/is a mammy stereotype, not just that she's black.

This message was edited 11/6/2022, 7:34 AM

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I guess an older black woman cooking doesnt bother me enough. Should it? She just looks like a happy mother to me. Mammies were/are just helpers who work to support themselves. They wouldn’t imply slavery on a syrup bottle; in fact I support the visibility of a minority. I feel like I am on a different wavelength.
This message was edited by the author today, 11:34 AM
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The logo has a long and complicated history. Here is a link, in case you're interested:
https://www.businessinsider.com/aunt-jemima-history-logo-changed-6-times-rooted-racial-stereotypes-2020-6
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I like them both. I'd be more likely to use Susannah, because it's a family name and also because Jemima could shorten to Jim which I like as a male nn but not on a female. And Mima would be awful.
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Ive only known Jemima to shorten to jem and jemma
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I just like Jemima.
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Both great names
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They definitely sound like sisters. Puritan-era sisters, or Quakers.
Susannah is okay, though I think Suzanne or Susan has more spirit.
Jemima I don't like; I don't like repeated m sounds in names, and the pancake and Puddleduck associations are just not appealing. Jemima just sounds goofy.
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I like Jemima, I don’t like Susannah
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