[Opinions] Re: How are Katherine and Elizabeth boring? nt.
in reply to a message by Catherine N.
Funny you should mention the test of time, because Katherine actually is sounding a little dated to me! There were so many people named Cathy and Kathy, Kathryn and Kate and Katie and Kitty among people about 25 and up, and I haven't seen any young Katherines in a long time. The reason, I figure, is that people see it as overused and boring.
Check out these curves
http://www.behindthename.com/top/name/katherine,elizabeth,julia,sophia
Katherine and Elizabeth follow the same trend as Julia, which is dated according to most people - only they have fallen relatively farther, as they were even more common for longer.
Of course it'll stand the test of time, because of famous bearers and because it's just a beautiful name. So will Sophia. And who's to say, maybe when I'm an old lady Katherine and Mary and Elizabeth and Anna will seem unusual and fresh again, and Sophia will seem like one of the most boring names. But right now, Katherine's boring. Taken in isolation from everything else, it's not boring, but my image of it is sort of like the Mona Lisa, or Ode to Joy ... something well-known and appreciated for good reason, but which is so ubiquitous that it has become like a generic symbol for the category (paintings, music, names for women). Those things will stand the test of time, sure, but that doesn't mean they stay interesting decade after decade.
- mirfak
Check out these curves
http://www.behindthename.com/top/name/katherine,elizabeth,julia,sophia
Katherine and Elizabeth follow the same trend as Julia, which is dated according to most people - only they have fallen relatively farther, as they were even more common for longer.
Of course it'll stand the test of time, because of famous bearers and because it's just a beautiful name. So will Sophia. And who's to say, maybe when I'm an old lady Katherine and Mary and Elizabeth and Anna will seem unusual and fresh again, and Sophia will seem like one of the most boring names. But right now, Katherine's boring. Taken in isolation from everything else, it's not boring, but my image of it is sort of like the Mona Lisa, or Ode to Joy ... something well-known and appreciated for good reason, but which is so ubiquitous that it has become like a generic symbol for the category (paintings, music, names for women). Those things will stand the test of time, sure, but that doesn't mean they stay interesting decade after decade.
- mirfak
This message was edited 5/23/2015, 5:27 PM