From the AskNomi Mailbag

[gnomi]

Here's a recent AskNomi question-and-answer exchange:

Hi - I am taking you up on your offer of no question to wierd :)

My husband and I are expecting a little girl and are considering
the name Nomi. It actually is on the top of our list. It came to
my husband as he was spouting different names off and said Naomi
and then said Nomi and we both loved it.

I haven't seen it in any books or online names... We weren't sure
if it was too different (we don't want her to hate it) but we don't
want to go with a 'popular' name either... I put Nomi into google
and have stumbled on to your site among a few others.... but yours
offered to answer any questions, so.......
I was wondering... what do you think of your name? Do people react
confused when you tell them your name? Were you teased?

I notice that it seems to be a jewish name... ? is this just a
coincidence?

Thanks for any info......

Kathy

Hi, Kathy,

First, congratulations on the upcoming birth of your daughter!

Nomi is a variant of Naomi, and is, to some extent, closer to the
original Hebrew pronunciation of the name. It is commonly a
nickname for Naomi; in fact, my name was Naomi (though my family
called me Nomi) until I had it legally changed when I was 14. I was
tired of having people mispronounce Naomi (I pronounced it
"Nay-o-mee"; most people pronounced it "Ny-yo-mee" or "Nee-yo-mee,"
so I gave up and took the "a" out). I've never been teased for
having the name; I've had some people ask me about it, and I've had
others not be sure if it were a male or female name, but in general
I have had good experiences. The one warning is that some people
will see it as a typo and "correct" it to Naomi.

While the name is often seen as a Jewish name, it is a name from the
Old Testament, and I have known non-Jewish Naomis (though I haven't
ever met any non-Jewish Nomis).

Best,
--Nomi

Thanks so much Nomi! I really appreciate your feedback. It never even
occurred to me that people would mispronounce Naomi.

Thanks for the background on the name also. I only ask since I can't
find info anywhere and would like to be able to explain the
background if we use it.

It is our #1 choice right now :)

Happy Holidays!!

Hi, Kathy,

It's rather an uncommon name, but I like that about it, actually.
I hope your daughter comes to like the name as much, should you come
to use it.

By the way, I periodically post AskNomi questions and answers to my
blog (gnomi.livejournal.com); would you mind if I posted your question
and my answer? I will happily preserve your anonymity if so.

Have a very happy new year!

Best,
--Nomi :-)

By all means post away! :)
If you don't mind just using Kathy that would be great....

Thanks again!

Comments

[byrne.livejournal.com]

:D :D

I'm not sure why, but this just made me smile a lot. Perhaps it's the baby. :P Likely, it's because you're a helpful and friendly person. *mwah*

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

You're so sweet! I love this kind of thing, really. Both the research that AskNomi frequently allows me to do and the sharing-stuff-I-already-know thing.

I'm glad to give you a smile!

*hugs*

[angwantibo.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's so cool. You're very tactful.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I figured she was asking in good faith, so I'd respond in good faith.

[oldblackbird.livejournal.com]

Nomi's a fairly common Hispanic name down here, by-the-by. Not as common as Naomi, but I went to school with a couple three and have worked with a few and have a sister who's Spanish name is Nomi. (We all have an Anglo name and a Spanish name.)

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

That's really good to know! Next time someone asks me about the name, I'll tell them.

(People ask me about my name often, though not usually because they're looking for something to name their baby.)

[bbennett.livejournal.com]

Nomi, I saw your post on dianora2's friends list, and followed through to your user info - what a fascinating career choice, as well as an interesting hobby! I added you to my friend list - just letting you know where I came from. :)

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

I've always been a word nerd. The combination of technical writing and freelance editing has been good for me to be able to indulge in my love of words and language. My ultimate career goal is to be a lexicographer and write dictionaries.

AskNomi started as a joke and turned into an avocation. Funny how that happens sometimes.

[eal.livejournal.com]

Heh.

So this is what you were talking about. Interesting.

M (who never has anyone want to use her name, go figure)

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this was it.

And you've got a much more mainstream name. People don't have to ask you what it means before they use it. :-)

the resurfacing of the A

[-mozo-.livejournal.com]

An interesting fact is that the A, set free when Nomi was 14, decided to come back home some time later, and ended up between the first and last name of Nomi's husband...

:-)

Re: the resurfacing of the A

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Y'know, that's almost plausible. :-)