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[Opinions] Which celebrity/historical figure would you name your child after?
A celebrity/historical figure. Basically, someone that we all know. (Writers, artists, musicians, etc.)
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Caroline Kennedy and Lucille Ball
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Dorothea Dix
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I named my first son after Alexander the Greatwith a smidge of influence from Alex Lifeson of Rush. :-)By contrast, my first daughter was NOT named after Scarlett O'Hara.Sophia was not named after any one particular Sophia, but Gideon was, more or less, named for the soldier/general/judge of Israel.
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I Am named after...Laura Ingalls Wilder

This message was edited 3/16/2009, 8:00 AM

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Primo Levi
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Freddie Mercury!The man was a God, what can I say :pI'm not too fond of Frederick due to a bad association with someone who has the name. I like Hermia a lot (Hermia => Hermes => Mercury) and Hermione, though the last one's more of a guilty pleasure than anything.I also love Oscar Wilde. For him, either Oscar, Salome (from his play sharing the name) or Dorian (character from his only novel.)I don't know if I would ever name a kid after either man, but it is fun to think about :)
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Jeff Buckley.
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John F. Kennedy
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Queen Elizabeth I ora religious person, but I don't know if that counts.
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Salvador Dalí.Salvador Raphael (although that's really more with the Brazilian city in mind...)
Jane Viola DalíHillel I first heard of on Hillel Slovak, deceased Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_Slovak I fell in love with the name upon hearing it; it had nothing to do with Slovak (although he was pretty awesome.) So I don't really count that.
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Oh man, that guy was NUTS.Behind nuts. Brilliant artist, brilliant person - but nuttier than a fruit cake.
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I had Salvador, specifically for Dalí, on the list of approved mn's from which I let David choose Gideon's mn (he chose Brody instead, which surprised me). David worships Dalí's artwork.
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I love Dalí :-)
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Felix Mendelssohn
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Helen Keller.
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Julius Henry (After Groucho Marx)
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Oscar Wilde.
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As with Nikki - Alexander the Great.Keeping on my ancient theme - also Livia (after Rome's first Empress), one of my heroes.
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Alexander The GreatMaybe Alexander Augustus Constantine? Might be a little too much, but I love the names :P
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Lucian Freud.
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Uhmazing artistLove his fleshy flesh!
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LOL
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Karl MarxDon't hate. :-P Communism isn't the greatest legacy but unperverted versions of Marxist theory are brilliant. As a sociology student and poor person I am fairly in love with Mr. Marx. A few others on my list that echo historical figures, etc.:Koloman (Kolo Moser)
Fatima (Fatima Zahra)
Anthony (Saint)
Francis (Saint)
Joseph (Roth, author, more or less my kindred spirit, although Joseph has a bad rap in my family so it'd be out)One of my favorite personalities in history is Timur-Lenk (Timur-i-Lang, Tamburlaine, Tamerlane, Amir Timur, etc) but Timur doesn't exactly make my list. :-P
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Saint TheclaI think that's it. Maybe Godiva or Napoleon, but I like their names to start with. It would definitely have to be someone ancient and/or legendary. I don't think I would honor someone modern (mid-century onwards), as they are more or less ordinary.I like larger-than-life characters, whose stories may or may not be true, and people commited to a cause. I like audacious characters as well. Just who did Napoleon think he was, crowning himself Emperor? How dare Thecla baptize herself? I hope my child has as much nerve (with a little humility to temper it).

This message was edited 3/15/2009, 4:18 PM

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Some of these are names I already like, but would seriously consider using because of the positive association-- mostly saints names! To me, having positive namesake or meaning is pretty important. St. Francis Xavier --> Xavier (mn only)
Father Damien, missionary to leper colony --> Damien or Damian (possible FN)
St. Thérèse de Lisieux, & Bl. Teresa of Calcutta--> Therese (MN only)
St. Ignatius --> Ignatius (mn only)
St. Martin de Porres --> Martin
St. Gemma Gaglioni --> Gemma When I was a teenager I read a biography of Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles (founders of the Wesleyan denomination), and really grew to love the name because of her.I can't think of too many more contemporary or historical people that aren't personal friends or relatives that have struck me as someone to name my child after... Good food for thought! (Vote on my names? http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9516801 )
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I like the Jewish tradition of only naming children after the dead, so as to wish them alive, so David after David Bowie is out. Maybe Ziggy? :) I've toyed with the possibility of using Wilde as a name, after Oscar Wilde, but I think that would be very bad in the long run. So I'd go with Antoine, after Antoine de Saint Exupery, author of my favorite book, The Little Prince. Maybe with Prince as a middle name?
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Oh my goshI can't believe this post. I absolutely love David Bowie, Oscar Wilde AND The Little Prince!!
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Carl Sagan, for sure...maybe Hypatia as well.
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Alfredo for Al Pacino. He's my favourite actor and I love that you can get the nicknames Al and Fredo from it, seeing as Fredo is my favourite character in "The Godfather".Also Gerrard or Steven for Steven Gerrard and Xabier or Alonso for Xabi Alonso.

This message was edited 3/15/2009, 4:10 PM

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Heath, for Heath Ledger. I know it's lame but I really like the name Heath and the actor was cool so makes for a fine namesake.
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Some people I like/admire:Michael J. Fox - Fox would be used.
Michael Jackson - Michael would be used.
Thora Birch - Thora would be used.
Fairuza Balk - Fairuza would be used.
Michelangelo - Michelangelo would be used.
Elijah the Prophet - Elijah would be used.
Elisha the Prophet - Elisha would be used.
ETA: I have others but this is all I can think of at the moment.

This message was edited 3/15/2009, 2:40 PM

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Emperor Augustus! (anyone really surprised? lol)The Roman Emperor Augustus was a super fascinating man, and one of my most favorite historical figures:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AugustusIt's a real interesting read, if you're up for the length!I know his real name was Octavian, but Augustus gives off such a grand and positive feeling, plus I love the nn Gus! So cute! I prefer the form Augustus, but am cool with August as well :-) And it's pretty much my most favorite boy name right now, but it's always at near the top, and I choose this name in the "which name would you fight for post." And I'd be cool with in the mn slot, but would prefer it as a fn.I know Delphi shares my love of the name as well lol
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