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Help[Opinions] Mariposa
Wdyt? It means "Butterfly" in Spanish and butterflies have a special meaning to me. Plus, my grandmother's name is Mary, so I think it would be a great way to honor her! I would use Mariposa as a middle name.
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Our first grade has a poem called Mari Rosa Mariposa. There's also Barbie Mariposa, where she's a fairy that has to travel beyond their borders to get something to save the queen and country. (My niece likes it.) I would use Mari Rosa a lot sooner than mariposa.
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It is Spanish for "butterfly." However, it is also commonly used as a Spanish gay slur.
I wouldn't use it for that reason and also because it sounds fairly childish.
Have you considered Marisol? I really think it works as a nice alternative.
I wouldn't use it for that reason and also because it sounds fairly childish.
Have you considered Marisol? I really think it works as a nice alternative.
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I did not know that it was a gay slur in Spanish! Thanks for letting me know. :)
I have thought about Marisol as well as Marielle, Mariella (in honor of Mary my grandmother and Ella, Mary's mother), Mirabel and Maribel/ Maribelle.
I have thought about Marisol as well as Marielle, Mariella (in honor of Mary my grandmother and Ella, Mary's mother), Mirabel and Maribel/ Maribelle.
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Marpesia (ETA)
I came across this as a butterfly genus name...there are some really beautiful, colorful butterflies carrying this as a part of their name. Haven't found yet how it's meant to be pronounced, but there it is for you. :)
Just found this: http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Latin%20pronunciation.htm
I came across this as a butterfly genus name...there are some really beautiful, colorful butterflies carrying this as a part of their name. Haven't found yet how it's meant to be pronounced, but there it is for you. :)
Just found this: http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Latin%20pronunciation.htm
This message was edited 2/11/2013, 10:17 AM
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Honestly, I really dislike it. It's painfully saccharine and it reminds me of Mari + poser in English. I think it has some awkward connotations in Spanish and Portuguese too. It just doesn't really seem like a name to me - it's definitely better as a middle name, anyway.
I think the name Mary is beautiful on its own. I love almost every variation of Mary, and I'd totally jump at the chance to use one. I kind of like Marion Psyche but I guess that's too Psycho. It's a shame there are so few butterfly names, Psyche and Parvaneh are the only other ones I can really think of that work for me.
I think the name Mary is beautiful on its own. I love almost every variation of Mary, and I'd totally jump at the chance to use one. I kind of like Marion Psyche but I guess that's too Psycho. It's a shame there are so few butterfly names, Psyche and Parvaneh are the only other ones I can really think of that work for me.
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"It's a shame there are so few butterfly names..." (ETA)
I felt the same way, so I did a little looking up and came across...
Celastrina - of Celastrina argiolus, also known as the Holly Blue, a really beautiful butterfly; have not yet tracked down an exact pronunciation but it reminds me of Celeste (probably comes from the same root) and Trina is in there
Indra - of Papilio indra; Indra means "possessing drops of rain"; has beautiful blue spots on a black background
Phoebus - of Parnassius phoebus could give Phoebe; very interesting-looking
Marcellus - of Eurytides marcellus; leads to Marcelline; very striking "Zebra" butterfly
Eurydice - of Colias eurydice; "Dog Face" butterfly, though I don't see a dog; has been featured on U.S. stamps
Olympia - of Euchloe olympia; wings have a sort of marbled vein effect
Cynthia, Drusilla, Josephina, Alexandra and Vanessa are also included in names of butterflies, but those particular butterflies are more ordinary-looking, not that an "ordinary" butterfly isn't still beautiful.
Celastrina aside, these are all legit, and mostly familiar, names for people, but at least I have some new butterfly imagery to go along with them. :)
ETA: Just found this: http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Latin%20pronunciation.htm
I felt the same way, so I did a little looking up and came across...
Celastrina - of Celastrina argiolus, also known as the Holly Blue, a really beautiful butterfly; have not yet tracked down an exact pronunciation but it reminds me of Celeste (probably comes from the same root) and Trina is in there
Indra - of Papilio indra; Indra means "possessing drops of rain"; has beautiful blue spots on a black background
Phoebus - of Parnassius phoebus could give Phoebe; very interesting-looking
Marcellus - of Eurytides marcellus; leads to Marcelline; very striking "Zebra" butterfly
Eurydice - of Colias eurydice; "Dog Face" butterfly, though I don't see a dog; has been featured on U.S. stamps
Olympia - of Euchloe olympia; wings have a sort of marbled vein effect
Cynthia, Drusilla, Josephina, Alexandra and Vanessa are also included in names of butterflies, but those particular butterflies are more ordinary-looking, not that an "ordinary" butterfly isn't still beautiful.
Celastrina aside, these are all legit, and mostly familiar, names for people, but at least I have some new butterfly imagery to go along with them. :)
ETA: Just found this: http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Latin%20pronunciation.htm
This message was edited 2/11/2013, 10:18 AM
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Cool! Thanks, those are really interesting associations to have with some familiar names. A lot of butterflies have pretty species names, I like Indra, Eurydice and Olympia. Wonder how people choose these names.
You inspired me to see if we have any nice butterfly names here. :) Some genus names:
Hesperia, Thecla, Vanessa, Aglais, Hipparchia, Maniola, Lysandra, Aricia, Issoria
and species names: Lucina, Selene, Euphrosyne, Camilla, Iris, Atalanta, Io, Athalia, Aegeria, Semele, Tullia, Galathea, Aglaia
You inspired me to see if we have any nice butterfly names here. :) Some genus names:
Hesperia, Thecla, Vanessa, Aglais, Hipparchia, Maniola, Lysandra, Aricia, Issoria
and species names: Lucina, Selene, Euphrosyne, Camilla, Iris, Atalanta, Io, Athalia, Aegeria, Semele, Tullia, Galathea, Aglaia
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I love it! It has such a lovely sound and meaning. The idea that it honors makes it even better.
For me, it's my stock middle for the first name Clemency.
For me, it's my stock middle for the first name Clemency.
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I'm familiar with it as a street name but no one says it the Spanish way; they pronounce "Mar" as in Mary so, in that sense, I can "hear" the tribute to your grandmother. Regardless, it has a lovely meaning and, as long as your grandmother feels, or would feel, a connection between herself and this word, go for it.
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I love Mariposa, but it's a bit too wordy for me.
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There's a town in my state called Mariposa. I think of it every time I hear the name Mariposa, but it's a nice town, and Mariposa was a feminine name before it was a place name, so I don't find it odd as a person's name even though it's not a name I would be likely to use myself.
Some people use initials to honor, so it could work as a way to honor your grandmother in that case, but Mary and Mariposa aren't etymologically related and don't seem all that alike to me, so it's a bit of a stretch as an honoring name. With that said, if you really like it and butterflies are special to you, go for it. I think it would make for an interesting middle name.
Some people use initials to honor, so it could work as a way to honor your grandmother in that case, but Mary and Mariposa aren't etymologically related and don't seem all that alike to me, so it's a bit of a stretch as an honoring name. With that said, if you really like it and butterflies are special to you, go for it. I think it would make for an interesting middle name.
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try again - oops! supposed to be under main heading
i just think of the county in AZ. i like your thinking behind it, but i'd agree with the other posters. pick a different Mary variation or another Spanish name. What about Marisol? Maribel or Mariana would be nice, too.
i just think of the county in AZ. i like your thinking behind it, but i'd agree with the other posters. pick a different Mary variation or another Spanish name. What about Marisol? Maribel or Mariana would be nice, too.
This message was edited 2/10/2013, 6:36 PM
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I have Maribel on my list!
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