[OldFashionedGirl]

My SO wants to name a girl Gillian. With a G. Initially, I was okay with this. The more I think about it, though, the more I'm not sure.

I have a lot of negative associations with the name Jill and Jillian. With a J. (I swear to GOD, every person I know with this name is a bimbo/dingbat/"get around.") I do NOT want a child of mine to be called Jill.

SO assures me that if it's Gillian with a G, no one will ever call her Jill. I'm certain that once she gets to HS the natural flow of things is going to shorten her name to Jill. Even if she doesn't write her name that way on papers and such, her friends will call her that, even if I still call her Gillian. I DO NOT want a Jill! (Am I being adamant enough

?) And I do not want to be a psycho like my dad's mom, who insists upon calling him Raymond, even though people have been calling him Ray for 40+ years (and that's how he identifies himself).

So, the question is: In due time, will Gillian get shortened to Jill?

 

[kerikadi]

What it comes down to I think is that it is her name and she may choose to go by Gill or Gilly and you can't stop it. If Gill, Jill or Jillian bothers you that much then I'd avoid the name. I personally love the name and it is on my list but I would spell it with a J. I have never met a Jillian in real life.

Keri

 

[LizaBear]

I would guess that the strong majority of children named Jillian / Gillian will be called Jill at some point in thier life.

Even if it is something YOU don't like, it may end up being HER preferance.

Also, being spelled with a G, are you willing to be correcting people who try to pronounce it with a 'g' sound - like gilligan - instead of a 'j' sound ?

 

[MidnightCommando]

I went to high school with a girl named Jillian and nobody ever called her Jill. I love the name and personally like how it looks with a J. When she gets older, if she wishes to be called Jill - that is her decision. She might just be as adament as you are about the nickname. My dad gets steamed when anyone calls him Dave instead of David and lets you know right away his name is DAVID.

 

[mary3mama]

I think it's a lovely name...but I think that "Jill" will be a natural nickname.

This is why we didn't name DS#2 Theodore...cause I hate the name Ted (no offense to any partners/parents of Teds out there...specific bad association), so we named him Theo instead...no 'Tedding' around here...

 

[Individuation]

Gillian and Jillian are not the same name. Gillian has a hard G (I've heard it used in Scotland, but think it may actually be Welsh). Pronouncing Gillian as Jillian is an American mis-pronunciation, Gillian Anderson notwithstanding.

That said, there are many American mis-pronunciations that have become so common as to have gained a certain validity (Caitlin pronounced Kate-lynn, anyone?), and it is likely if you give her the name, people will call her Jillian.

I'd advise against it.

 

[citizenfong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by halalove Gillian and Jillian are not the same name. Gillian has a hard G (I've heard it used in Scotland, but think it may actually be Welsh). Pronouncing Gillian as Jillian is an American mis-pronunciation, Gillian Anderson notwithstanding.

Hmmm. I have a friend from New Zeland named Gillian and she pronounces it like "Jillian". <And, yes, she goes by "Gill"> Perhaps we exported our bad pronounciation to NZ?

 

[OldFashionedGirl]

Acutally, Gillian Anderson is where he got the name from. And I'm fine with Gillian (with a G), and I'm not even concerned about people pronouncing it with a hard G.

That said, I cannot live with a child called Jill/Gill. I told him the other night that I was not naming my kid Gillian. He can pick something else. (Besides...he got to pick the boy's name....shouldn't I get to pick the girl's?

)

 

[tresleo]

Well, I am Jillian! LOL And I do get Jill all the time. Although, most people like Jillian better so I get that alot, especially now that I'm older.

I'm not a bimbo or a dingbat and I certainly never "got around" LOL!! (just joking, I know what you mean...I have the same kind of name associations!)

A friend of mine from Ireland always writes my name with a G, but called me Jillian, with a "j" sound.