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Help[Opinions] Virginia
Do you think Virginia is still usable? I really like it but I wonder if the virgin-thing might make it unusable now. I feel like this name might not fit into our society and that people might find the name weird or that kids/teenagers will make fun of it. When it was last really popular I guess it fit in better.
I still really love it but do you think it would be a hard name to have these days? Do you think it will die out one day the way Fanny has and Dick probably will (not that I put Virginia in the exact same category at all, but as the virgin-part is pretty obvious I'm wondering if people will avoid it more and more).
I still really love it but do you think it would be a hard name to have these days? Do you think it will die out one day the way Fanny has and Dick probably will (not that I put Virginia in the exact same category at all, but as the virgin-part is pretty obvious I'm wondering if people will avoid it more and more).
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I think Virginia is still usable because it’s the name of a state. For me at least, I associate it with the state before I think of “virgin” but I know that’s something teenagers probably would laugh at.
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It's never made the top 100 here. It was most popular between the 1940s and the 1980s, so there must be some around, but I've never met one. I think our lack of Virginias is partly because we don't have the state association, partly because the main famous bearer here was a novelist whose books are often on syllabi, but not popular favourites, and possibly because the UK is mostly non-rhotic and 'vuh gin yuh' isn't a particularly attractive sound?
eta: have to say that the first thing I think of after Woolf is Golden Virginia tobacco (and people who smoke stinky roll-ups) But I like the look of it, and the image I get of green unspoilt forests.
eta: have to say that the first thing I think of after Woolf is Golden Virginia tobacco (and people who smoke stinky roll-ups) But I like the look of it, and the image I get of green unspoilt forests.
This message was edited 8/23/2018, 1:46 PM
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I like the name Virginia, and I'd be happy to be named that. I think it's really reaching, to feel that kids/teens might make fun of it.
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I hope it won't become unusable! How medieval that would seem.
I think it's worth noting that virgin is not an insult like dick, and Fanny is sort of silly and passe and it was just a nickname. Also, the name Virginia has never really been meant or used to refer literally to sexual inexperience or "virginity," and I think (hope) people can distinguish that - the same way they distinguish Patricia and Patrick from patriarch, and Regina from an actual royal title.
I would worry much more about it becoming obsolete, if the name and word were pronounced similarly (either "VIR-gin-ya," or "vir-GIN"). And I agree that the existence of the states, at least here in the US, pretty much guarantees that at least some people will always find it usable and it won't become totally obsolete.
I think it's worth noting that virgin is not an insult like dick, and Fanny is sort of silly and passe and it was just a nickname. Also, the name Virginia has never really been meant or used to refer literally to sexual inexperience or "virginity," and I think (hope) people can distinguish that - the same way they distinguish Patricia and Patrick from patriarch, and Regina from an actual royal title.
I would worry much more about it becoming obsolete, if the name and word were pronounced similarly (either "VIR-gin-ya," or "vir-GIN"). And I agree that the existence of the states, at least here in the US, pretty much guarantees that at least some people will always find it usable and it won't become totally obsolete.
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I sure wouldn't use it.
However, I think in the US kids would be too used to hearing it as the state to immediately jump on the Virgin thing as something to tease about, though it could very well still come up. So I guess it's usable enough. But that doesn't stop it from being ugly.
However, I think in the US kids would be too used to hearing it as the state to immediately jump on the Virgin thing as something to tease about, though it could very well still come up. So I guess it's usable enough. But that doesn't stop it from being ugly.
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Yes, I was thinking that because of it being known as a state name it would be more familiar in the US.
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As someone named Georgia and a US resident, unfortunately I don't think this is correct. It might be more familiar here than elsewhere, but that doesn't mean it actually is familiar here.
People who encounter my name, as a rule, do not know how to spell it or pronounce it.
People who encounter my name, as a rule, do not know how to spell it or pronounce it.
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It's obviously still usable since it's still on the chart and apparently rising in popularity. I think kids will tease about it, depending on what kind of person Virginia happens to be, if she's the type who gets teased. I think they're just as likely to call her Vagina as to reference virginity in their teasing. I know somebody who went to Catholic school and one of the less popular teachers there was a nun called Sister Virginia, and some of the girls (it was a girls' school) called her Sister Vagina behind her back. Sad to say, they would not have done that if they'd liked her.
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I agree that it would probably be okay in the US because people are so used to it as a state name but I could see it being a lot less usable in the UK, for example. Just wondering and therefore asking for opinions. Thanks for your answer :)
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Hi Perrine !!!
I would be embarassed if my name were Virginia. It is a beautiful, classic name but the 'virgin' theme is not a solid, expected virtue and value as It was in the past. I mean.. It is a good value but not enough to be good for a given name. Very few boys (or neither) are named Virgin / Virginio so call a daughter Virginia nowadays could be sexist and self-righteous. After that when you are a teenager if your name is Virginia you can be teased.
I would be embarassed if my name were Virginia. It is a beautiful, classic name but the 'virgin' theme is not a solid, expected virtue and value as It was in the past. I mean.. It is a good value but not enough to be good for a given name. Very few boys (or neither) are named Virgin / Virginio so call a daughter Virginia nowadays could be sexist and self-righteous. After that when you are a teenager if your name is Virginia you can be teased.
This message was edited 8/23/2018, 6:56 AM
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Hello Felie, thanks for answering :) I was surprised to see how popular it seems to be in Italy. So I guess most Italians are not bothered by it? Is it close to the Italian word as well?
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Hi Perrine !!!
Yes, Virginia is popular here.
In all these years (1999-) new babies named Virginia have been more than 500 every year. In 2015 they were 529 (#78) 2016 they increased to 631.
The Italian adjective is "vergine" for both males and females.
I think that Virginia is more used here because of Virgin Mary (Vergine Maria) that maybe makes Virginia more usable. After that here many Ancient Roman names are seen as refined, classic and elegant and Virginia is one of these names.
Obviously nowadays new generations sometimes have my opinion about Virginia but it is generally perceived as a classic, model, evergreen Italian name.
Yes, Virginia is popular here.
In all these years (1999-) new babies named Virginia have been more than 500 every year. In 2015 they were 529 (#78) 2016 they increased to 631.
The Italian adjective is "vergine" for both males and females.
I think that Virginia is more used here because of Virgin Mary (Vergine Maria) that maybe makes Virginia more usable. After that here many Ancient Roman names are seen as refined, classic and elegant and Virginia is one of these names.
Obviously nowadays new generations sometimes have my opinion about Virginia but it is generally perceived as a classic, model, evergreen Italian name.
This message was edited 8/23/2018, 4:22 PM
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