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Help[Opinions] Re: Zoe
in reply to a message by Perrine
I've known two women named Zoe. One was my mother, who has been deceased for many years but would be about to turn 90 if she were alive. The other was my college roommate, who is 58 now. So both received the name at a time when it was unusual. I've never known a younger Zoe, or known anyone who used it. I only know it's popular from seeing the statistics.
I like it, though I used to dislike it. I think that I was influenced to dislike it by the fact that my mother hated her name. I had to break free from that association. I agree that, to some extent, alternate spellings and overuse have ruined it a bit. When I gave my daughter the middle name Zoe to honor my mother, it was still an unusual name, and it stood out. Now, anyone would think she was just given a popular name as a middle, rather than an honoring name. Same for my granddaughter, whose middle name is also Zoe.
I've always wished that my mom had lived to see her name become popular, while the names she bestowed upon her daughters, common and popular ones at the time, are "dated old lady" names.
I like it, though I used to dislike it. I think that I was influenced to dislike it by the fact that my mother hated her name. I had to break free from that association. I agree that, to some extent, alternate spellings and overuse have ruined it a bit. When I gave my daughter the middle name Zoe to honor my mother, it was still an unusual name, and it stood out. Now, anyone would think she was just given a popular name as a middle, rather than an honoring name. Same for my granddaughter, whose middle name is also Zoe.
I've always wished that my mom had lived to see her name become popular, while the names she bestowed upon her daughters, common and popular ones at the time, are "dated old lady" names.
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Replies
hey, isn't Zoe...
your granddaughter's mn? That means you know three Zoe's, even if it is her middle!
your granddaughter's mn? That means you know three Zoe's, even if it is her middle!
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Yes, it is. If we're counting middle names, then I've known four, because it's also my daughter's middle name.
This message was edited 5/6/2018, 7:06 AM
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I hope this doesn’t sound odd, but I always think about your mother in reference to Zoe now — that’s how surprised and interested I was to know of one from her generation. I grew up with four in my grade (not uncommon to have two in a class) and have met several since then. To me, it was one of the common names. My parents commented way back in the day how surprised they were that it was so common — they’d never known one. “We just had six Susans,” said my mother.
I like that you gave the name to your daughter (and then she gave it to hers! So cool) — I think it pairs beautifully with Victoria.
I’d love to know what she’d feel about it if she could meet all the lovely young women and cute babies named Zoe everywhere now.
I like that you gave the name to your daughter (and then she gave it to hers! So cool) — I think it pairs beautifully with Victoria.
I’d love to know what she’d feel about it if she could meet all the lovely young women and cute babies named Zoe everywhere now.
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Thank you. Those are sweet things to say.
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