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[Opinions] Destiny, Clarity and Serenity
I used to really dislike Destiny because I thought of it as a trendy stripper name (no offense). However, I tried to see it more as a virtue names and it has been growing on me. I can now imagine it on a pilgrim girl and I think it's kind of cute. What do you think? Does anyone know whether this was used as early as names like Grace and Mercy? I think it's too common to use but I still kind of like it. Do you think it's perceived by many as trashy?Another one I like is Clarity, I recently met a girl named this. What do you think?Oh and I'm so surprised to see Serenity in the top 100, especially because it has four syllables but not really a nickname. What do you think?And which one is your favorite out of the three and why?
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Destiny seems to carry stripper, uneducated, or trailer trash connotations for many people, including myself. I'm not a big fan of the name either, but not just because of the trashy perception. I think the meaning of Destiny is strange, and I would place it among other virtue names. Names like Grace, Patience, and Faith suggest positive qualities a parent wishes to see in their child. What is Destiny supposed to suggest? A preordained fate? It's just weird.I'm not a fan of virtue names in general, though (unless you want to count Constance as a virtue name). I don't like Clarity but it's better than Chastity.Serenity ... I used to like Serenity back in 2005 when the movie came out (I'm a Firefly fan). Not so much anymore -- I hate it almost as much as Destiny (and I think the two names probably have a similar fanbase). Okay for a spaceship, but not for a person. I guess you can say I don't like names with an -ity suffix.
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I don't like Destiny. I find it kind of tacky, like "this child was my destiny" etc.Clarity and Serenity I find appealing to an extent, but I'm not totally sold on them yet.
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I kind of think they put expectations on your child that are unfair. If I had to choose I would go with Serenity and use the nn Serena I guess.
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I like Destiny the best. I do think it is perceived by many as trashy or stripperish. I used to work with a very nice, nontrashy Destiny so I don't have that association. Clarity makes me think it should be a brand of clarified butter.Serenity should sound sweet & soft but it doesn't to me. And I think of "Serenity now!!!" from Seinfeld.
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I really don't like the name Destiny. I don't think it sounds pretty at all. I don't particularly like the concept of destiny. And, yeah, I think it's trashy.Clarity, however, is fun. Not really my style, but I've never heard of it as a name before and it's interesting. Serenity I like. But I also like Serena and Seren so Serenity isn't a huge stretch for me. So, Serenity is my favorite of the three.
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All of these name are GP's to me. I think that Destiny is my favorite, but that might be because I went to elementary school with a girl named Destiny and she was nice.
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I like Destiny too but wouldn't use it because everyone does seem to think it is a trashy, stripper name.Clarity doesn't really appeal to me at all.Serenity is okay.
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Destiny isn't a virtue name; fate isn't a virtue! And I don't know about usage elsewhere, but the first use I could find for it in the UK was in 1919, and it was very very rare until the 1990s. So it is trendy. I don't totally hate it - I can see the appeal, but for a character, not for an actual child. I have heard parents shouting it out in supermarkets, and it sounds a bit silly.Clarity has hardly any usage here, and Serenity has only made the charts in the last 10 years, way down at the bottom in the #1000s. If I had to pick one I'd probably go with Serenity, but it seems weird as a name for a small child - they're not very serene!

This message was edited 6/28/2011, 8:51 AM

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I like Clarity the best. It has a nice sound.I don't think Destiny came into use until the 20th century; at least I haven't seen it in any lists of Puritan names. It has a nice sound, but I don't really believe in any sort of destiny, so it doesn't sit well with me.Serenity, as much as I want to like it, it just reminds me of adult undergarments. You could use the nn Seri or Sera, I guess.
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The article I posted earlier today listed Destiny the #2 most hated. According to the article:"People dislike names that confer a virtue onto a child, Wattenberg said — and many felt associated this name with exotic dancers."
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