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Help[Opinions] Earl and Earline
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Though I personally don't care for the sound of Earl, it seems perfectly acceptable as a name to me.
I really don't think anyone in the USA thinks of the title when naming a child Earl. It has been established as a regular given name in the USA for so long that Americans think of it primarily as a first name and certainly don't perceive themselves as using the name because it was a title. Though people in the UK may think of the title when seeing or hearing something like "Earl Rochester", an American would automatically assume this is someone's name. You have to put the "of" in (Earl of Rochester) before Americans would think of it as a title.
Earl, Duke, Queen, and King are all also English surnames, and probably as much or more of the original motivation for using them as given names in the USA comes from that. I think many of those who name sons King in the USA these days are honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
I really don't think anyone in the USA thinks of the title when naming a child Earl. It has been established as a regular given name in the USA for so long that Americans think of it primarily as a first name and certainly don't perceive themselves as using the name because it was a title. Though people in the UK may think of the title when seeing or hearing something like "Earl Rochester", an American would automatically assume this is someone's name. You have to put the "of" in (Earl of Rochester) before Americans would think of it as a title.
Earl, Duke, Queen, and King are all also English surnames, and probably as much or more of the original motivation for using them as given names in the USA comes from that. I think many of those who name sons King in the USA these days are honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
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I'm generally not a fan of titles as a name. Since nobody who is due to inherit an earldom would name their kid Earl, it also comes across as a name chosen by someone who puts stock in class systems and titles but is far removed from being an aristocrat. Not exactly pretentious, rather wanna be, but also almost sad like someone who names their kid after an exclusive club that they want to be part of but will never qualify to join. Errol has a similar sound but feels more comfortable in its skin.
Earline - looks like ear + line. It makes me think of hairline. Ernestine feels of a similar age and looks a bit better.
Earline - looks like ear + line. It makes me think of hairline. Ernestine feels of a similar age and looks a bit better.
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I don’t like either one. Earl is better than Earline but I still think it’s unattractive.
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I find them all silly and unattractive. It's the "URL" sound. Churlish and hurling and surly.
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I find Earl handsome and Earline pert & cute. Underappreciated, I say!
I also like Erle.
I also like Erle.
This message was edited 11/15/2022, 6:46 AM
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I find titles used as names very strange and unattractive. Earline, looking like the lining of an ear and sounding somewhat early, is probably better than Countess, but that isn't saying much.
I've never noticed Earl, Duke etc used outside a US context. Certainly not in South Africa. Are there any sightings elsewhere?
I've never noticed Earl, Duke etc used outside a US context. Certainly not in South Africa. Are there any sightings elsewhere?
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Terrible
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For some reason I like Earl, but I would never use it.
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