Message: "India... again. I'm sorry."

India... again. I'm sorry.

by Ottilie

9/5/2014, 5:51 PM

Quite genuinely sorry. But I've always struggled with finding middle names for Josephine and now I feel like I've found a combination I love, only it uses India.

What do you think of Josephine Alice India? Is India any more usable as a middle name? Feel free to rip the combo to pieces, especially if you think India is totally unreasonable.

Much obliged!

Ottilie

http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/116467

Replies

- Pie +1

9/6/2014, 12:43 PM

If the names are significant to you, the combination doesn't matter as long as you're happy with it. In my experience, multiple middle names are usually given after relations (or in some cases, places, or events, or whatever) and nobody really expects them to 'flow'. Nobody's going to be yelling out all three of her names anyway.:)

This message was edited 9/6/2014, 12:45 PM

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 1:10 PM

All quite true. Thank you! :)

- Emaleigh (Lilly-Elise) +1

9/6/2014, 12:28 PM

I love India. Josephine Alice India is beautiful, imo. I'd actually prefer Alice India Josephine, but either way is gorgeous.

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 1:10 PM

Yay, thank you! :)

- Finch (lastonomast) +3

9/6/2014, 7:13 AM

Well, the flow is decent, but I think it's really a mouthful with the pretty long "ee" sounds near the end of both Josephine and India. I think India's usable as a middle name if you can comfortably and concisely explain why you used it if someone asked.

- Ottilie +2

9/6/2014, 7:22 AM

I'm not sure if I could comfortably and concisely explain it just yet, though I could give it a good try, and I think that's a fair part of what bothers me. Is saying I'm using it in relation to a favourite song and a favourite childhood book good enough? I can't decide...

- Finch (lastonomast) +1

9/6/2014, 8:38 AM

Well I take children's book and favorite songs very seriously so, yes, that would actually be enough for me! Though only if it was direct, like this character was named India, as opposed to this song was recorded in India, or the bassist's middle name is India...

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 8:49 AM

Haha, good! The character was named India, and the song has India in the title :)

- RoxStar +5

9/6/2014, 6:53 AM

I think India is an attractive-sounding name, though I can't say I'd want to be called India or would use India myself. But it's so flashy and assertive it seems a shame to relegate it to the middle name slot, especially the second middle name slot, behind two names like Alice and Josephine, which are so different from India that they seem to smother it.

India Josephine or India Jo works much better.

- Ottilie +4

9/6/2014, 7:17 AM

Gah, if I weren't so fearful of it being kind of insensitive, I would use India Josephine in a heartbeat.

- RoxStar +3

9/6/2014, 7:30 AM

I don't see how it would be insensitive; hasn't India been pretty popular in the UK in the past few years? No more insensitive than naming somebody Paris, or Sydney.

- Ottilie +2

9/6/2014, 7:38 AM

It has -- it's at #143 at the moment. I guess it is somewhat similar to using Sydney, at least. I'm really not sure why I'm so confused over this name, as, not too long ago, it would have definitely been a "no" for me. I guess it's just the cultural baggage of it, particularly with colonialism, and me being a white Brit, that's making me want to talk my self out of suddenly loving it. I almost hope it's just a bit of a name-fling.

This message was edited 9/6/2014, 7:39 AM

- RoxStar +1

9/6/2014, 8:29 AM

you're overthinking it

Either like it or don't like it. It's not like you're looking at having to name an actual baby in the near future.

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 8:46 AM

I understand what you mean, but I do have a tendency to micro-analyse, even things that aren't vitally important at the time. I guess I consider it, in this case, as being... conscientious, perhaps?

- Anneza +1

9/6/2014, 6:12 AM

India is fine as a mn, if it really appeals to you. Josephine Alice is a good beginning for your combo.

I don't enjoy geographical names that are chosen because they sound nice. If you're distantly related to the last Viceroy, then maybe. But really - don't you find the romance and beauty of India somewhat overshadowed by the poverty, the over-population, the pollution, the corruption, the male domination ... ?

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 6:49 AM

It does have some significance to me, though more so relating to the name than the country. I do agree that the romance and the beauty is marred by the negatives you've listed, but then isn't that the same with any place? As much as I love London, as a place, its iconic history and beauty is overshadowed, for me, by the violence, the overcrowding and the poverty. Ah, I don't know. I might keep a few options on my list for Josephine's middle names, there's no rush in deciding.

This message was edited 9/6/2014, 6:49 AM

- Pink Princess +1

9/6/2014, 1:05 AM

Josephine Alice India sounds alright and if you like it, then that's what matters. I don't love the name India, but I don't hate it either.

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 5:52 AM

Thank you! :)

- LMS +1

9/6/2014, 12:29 AM

I think India is fine when it evokes a Gone With the Wind classic "Britannia Rules the Waves" sort of vibe but I find it odd when it's used just for the sake of the country name like Ireland or Holland, as India on one hand conjures up really lovely images of Holi and bright cloths and the Taj Mahal and then turns on you and makes you think of the caste system, poor sanitation, etc.

I think it works fine in the combo you listed.

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 5:52 AM

Ooh, interesting perspective on it - thanks :)

- Julia (JuliaF) +1

9/5/2014, 9:09 PM

I still think India is tacky and cringe-inducing, and it also sticks out like a sore thumb next to the pretty, classic Josephine Alice. It feels very random and tacked-on.

I do love Josephine Alice, though.

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 5:51 AM

Thanks!

- Viatrix +1

9/5/2014, 8:54 PM

Josephine Alice is lovely. I don't care for India in it though, it kinda smushes with Alice.

Combo ideas:
Josephine Alice Victoria
Josephine Alice Lilian
Josephine Alice Ruby
Josephine Alice Wilhelmina
Josephine Alice Beatrix
Josephine Alice Fern

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 5:51 AM

Ahhh, Wilhelmina! ♥ Thank you :)

- araslanka +1

9/5/2014, 8:53 PM

Josephine Alice is so beautiful!! No one could have this name and not be beautiful.

I'm never crazy over two middle names but Josephine Alice India is pretty nice. Somehow though I don't think Alice looks best next to India? Maybe because you honestly don't get much more English than Alice? I like Josephine next to India better.

And you already know what I think on how usable India is :p

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 5:50 AM

Hehe, I do know what you think! Thank you! :)

- Bex +1

9/5/2014, 8:47 PM

India is so unbelievably trendy here. Its boring and bogan. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bogan

I feel Josephine Alice is so cute, english rose etc. and India ruins it. If you'd asked me five years ago I would have liked it, but not now!

What about

Josephine Alice Magnolia
Josephine Alice Peony
Josephine Alice Rose
Josephine Alice Cordelia
Josephine Alice Evelyn (this one I really like)
Josephine Alice Olympia
Josephine Alice Aurelia
Josephine Alice Eve
Josephine Alice Verity
Josephine Enid Alice
Josephine Amelia Alice
Josephine Alice Bronte
Josephine Philipa Alice
Josephine Nancy Alice
Josephine Zoe Alice
Josephine Alice Cosette
Josephine Alice Simone

I'm sleepy so theese combo's might suck altogether.

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 5:49 AM

Bogan? Oh dear... Funny, though - I think it's considered quite middle class, here. Thanks for the combos!

- Ismene (Madyson) +1

9/5/2014, 8:12 PM

I think India works just fine as a middle name. The flow is really nice but India seems a bit out of place next to the other two. In any case since it's in the middle I don't think that really matters, as long as it suits you!

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 5:47 AM

Thank you! :)

- New_Chloe +5

9/5/2014, 7:51 PM

I don't think India is unreasonable, but it does come with a lot of Imperialist baggage, and the combo Josephine Alice India has a huge amount of Imperialist baggage happening. If you're ok with that, then it's all fine. It is a pretty combo.

I myself would prefer something like...

Josephine Alice Lydia
Josephine Alice Lucinda
Josephine Alice Melinda
Josephine Alice Mirinda

The combo is great but I would feel skeezy about using India. But that's just me.

- Ottilie +4

9/6/2014, 5:47 AM

QuoteJosephine Alice India has a huge amount of Imperialist baggage happening

Could you explain that? I understand with India, of course, but not so much Josephine and Alice.

- New_Chloe +1

9/6/2014, 4:37 PM

Josephine and Alice, to me, are both Old White Rich types of names, and pretty strongly associated with royalty; the main "culprits" of Imperialism.

- Ottilie

9/7/2014, 5:02 AM

I see - thank you! I've decided to leave India on the guilty pleasure list, anyway.

- Caroline (CarolineCarolina) +1

9/6/2014, 7:29 AM

I don't know what New_Chloe meant, but there's something about the order, *two* (Josephine India or Alice India wouldn't be so intense) Anglo names with India last. It almost reads like a sentence where this Angloness modifies India.

- Ottilie

9/6/2014, 7:31 AM

Oh, right, I see! So perhaps if I choice another name less distinctly... not English, but classically so, it might be better? I'll have a play around with that idea and see what I can come up with :)

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