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Help[Opinions] Would you give your child a name with a negative meaning?
Would you give your child a name with a negative meaning?
For example...Mallory is derived from the Old French word malheur, which means "unfortunate," "unlucky," or "ill-fated".
For example...Mallory is derived from the Old French word malheur, which means "unfortunate," "unlucky," or "ill-fated".
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Depends, I'd rather use Cecilia, Katherine or Melvin...
I wouldn't if I knew that it had a negative meaning - but it would really only matter if it has aa bad meaning in modern language, and if it's a language that's commonly spoken. Olde languages are not spoken anymore so it should not hold any bearing over a name. I care more about negative associations, related to real people with the name or specific imagery.
That is so funny. The first time I ever heard of Suki, it was the Japanese word which means to be fond of something. Daisuki literally means "big fondness" so to love or really like. The complete opposite of how we use female dog in English. Thanks for sharing. I can use that information my writing. :3
Honestly I wouldn’t but I would use them for pets or characters. Mallory is a prime example of this. I love it but I wouldn’t use it.
Only if I had my own meaning for it / reason for using it that would overshadow the meaning, but not if I just liked the sound.
It depends. If the meaning was truly terrible or obvious in English, I would avoid it. Otherwise, I think I would fine with a slightly negative meaning. Now, if a name has good meaning, that is always nice.
Probably not since there are enough names that I like that there isn't a need to use one with an unfortunate meaning, but I might use a name with an ambiguous or meh meaning if I otherwise had strong positive associations or there was special personal significance.
Edited to add: I like the name Mallory, but I would be more likely to use it for a character or a pet.
Edited to add: I like the name Mallory, but I would be more likely to use it for a character or a pet.
This message was edited 7/12/2024, 9:01 AM
im alright with the names that has no meanings but negative meanings are not my go to ofc it’s depends what parents think but i believe names can affect the baby so ummm idk
If I really liked the name. For example, I like the names Cameron (crooked nose) and Claudia (lame) despite their meanings.
Name meanings are pretty meaningless, actually. People eek and shriek because Claude means Lame and Cecil means Blind; so what? Back before writing was invented, a lame person was referred to as Lame and a blind one as Blind. And then? Then their friends and family members liked the names and their other versions (Claudine? Cecilia?) and used them. Fast-forward about two and a half millennia, and the names are entrenched and all anyone would think of today would be a politician, a pop star, a journalist ... whoever! I wouldn't use Cecil if my ln was Rhodes, any more than I'd use Michael if my ln was Jackson, but it's got nothing to do with the etymology.
If you're still worried, many cultures all over the world actually choose unflattering names for children because if they don't, then the gods or whoever might get jealous and make the child unlucky.
In my experience, most ordinary people (i.e. not on these boards!) don't know much about name meanings and care less. What they do notice is initials. If these spell something odd or amusing, it will be mentioned, regardless of meaning. So, if you ln is Perkins, maybe avoid naming a boy Paul Oliver.
If you're still worried, many cultures all over the world actually choose unflattering names for children because if they don't, then the gods or whoever might get jealous and make the child unlucky.
In my experience, most ordinary people (i.e. not on these boards!) don't know much about name meanings and care less. What they do notice is initials. If these spell something odd or amusing, it will be mentioned, regardless of meaning. So, if you ln is Perkins, maybe avoid naming a boy Paul Oliver.
Yes. I'm a big fan of good/positive meanings, but bad ones aren't enough to put me off a name I really love. Ptolemy's my third favourite boys' name and the meaning sucks.
Yes, I gave my daughter the middle name Claudia.
I would not use Mallory because it's a newer usage. I'm confident that when it was chosen for the "original" Mallory (the Family Ties character), that was because of the meaning, and was a joke made at the character's expense because she was full of herself and moody. I don't think it's bad to use it, though.
There are some other negative meaning names I would not use - because I think they are constructed in order to describe an unlikeable or ill-fated character, not spontaneously given to or taken by a real person. Like Delilah and Desdemona.
I can't remember my daughter ever asking me what Claudia meant but if she had I would have said:
Now we have to look up Claudius, to even know what meaning it originally had - to us, it's just a classic and respectable name that has been used throughout history. It belonged to your grandfather, and probably some of his ancestors too, and that's why I named you it.
It probably came from a nickname Claudius, that was given to a guy who had a limp, injury, or deformity. By calling him "cripple" affectionately, they showed they thought being crippled was NOT the important thing about him. At the least, his family made the name reputable and continued it.
People sometimes nickname each other based on unflattering superficial things, because by doing that we show that we do NOT think those things are important things. Romans had names meaning "rival" and "blind" and "curly" and "old" and "mad rage" and "blue with envy" and "empty, vain" ... I think it's because they didn't take themselves too seriously. Also, some of these things might have been a humorous reference to something the person had done, that was admired. And, some people might have had a superstition that a negative-seeming name was protective against bad fortune.
I would not use Mallory because it's a newer usage. I'm confident that when it was chosen for the "original" Mallory (the Family Ties character), that was because of the meaning, and was a joke made at the character's expense because she was full of herself and moody. I don't think it's bad to use it, though.
There are some other negative meaning names I would not use - because I think they are constructed in order to describe an unlikeable or ill-fated character, not spontaneously given to or taken by a real person. Like Delilah and Desdemona.
I can't remember my daughter ever asking me what Claudia meant but if she had I would have said:
Now we have to look up Claudius, to even know what meaning it originally had - to us, it's just a classic and respectable name that has been used throughout history. It belonged to your grandfather, and probably some of his ancestors too, and that's why I named you it.
It probably came from a nickname Claudius, that was given to a guy who had a limp, injury, or deformity. By calling him "cripple" affectionately, they showed they thought being crippled was NOT the important thing about him. At the least, his family made the name reputable and continued it.
People sometimes nickname each other based on unflattering superficial things, because by doing that we show that we do NOT think those things are important things. Romans had names meaning "rival" and "blind" and "curly" and "old" and "mad rage" and "blue with envy" and "empty, vain" ... I think it's because they didn't take themselves too seriously. Also, some of these things might have been a humorous reference to something the person had done, that was admired. And, some people might have had a superstition that a negative-seeming name was protective against bad fortune.
This message was edited 7/11/2024, 8:48 PM
I'm quite divided on this and have thought about it. Some of my favorite names ever are Claudia and Ichabod, but they mean "lame" and "no glory" respectively. I would just wonder if my future children would look up their names as I did at a young age and get palatable meanings like 'graceful' or 'moon' or 'radiant', and then poor Claudia and Ichabod find theirs. I wouldn't want them to think I set them up for failure.
I understand. I don't think I could choose a name with a negative meaning.
Meaning is one of the criteria I use when choosing a name. It's not the most important thing but a good meaning is an added bonus.
I like some names with negative meanings. Cecilia/Cecily/Celia mean "blind". Not very encouraging. If my child ask the meaning, I would be honest with a more positive slant. I would say something like "yes it means blind but I chose it with the wish that you would grow up with an appreciation of music. St Cecilia is the patron saint of music".
You can even turn a negative into a positive regarding Mallory "unlucky". You could state the meaning and then tell her that you named her this to ward off evil spirits. In some cultures, a child will be given a "bad" name in the hope that it will deceive the evil spirit into thinking that the child is unloved and therefore not worth harming and allow the child to live.
I like some names with negative meanings. Cecilia/Cecily/Celia mean "blind". Not very encouraging. If my child ask the meaning, I would be honest with a more positive slant. I would say something like "yes it means blind but I chose it with the wish that you would grow up with an appreciation of music. St Cecilia is the patron saint of music".
You can even turn a negative into a positive regarding Mallory "unlucky". You could state the meaning and then tell her that you named her this to ward off evil spirits. In some cultures, a child will be given a "bad" name in the hope that it will deceive the evil spirit into thinking that the child is unloved and therefore not worth harming and allow the child to live.
Probably not. I passed on one with a neutral meaning elf friend. I have strong name meanings for all my kids first names. The middle name I'm more flexible on. My sons middle name is Thomas. He is not a twin but there is a family connection. I think it would be easier on ones where there is a family connection. You get a name like Adolf which I don't even know the meaning of but I think it's pretty sweet name. I don't know many who would pick it unless they have family with that name in Germany. I was looking through my family tree recently and there was an Adolf way back. Then you have a name like Joeseph which is still very common but was Stalins name so I think there are many factors
Mallory's original meaning is up for debate, as I understand it.
I wouldn't give a name that had a negative meaning that was clear in English. An original, ancient, no-longer-relevant-except-for-curiosity meaning, especially one that had no well-known negative bearers/associations, wouldn't be a problem.
I wouldn't give a name that had a negative meaning that was clear in English. An original, ancient, no-longer-relevant-except-for-curiosity meaning, especially one that had no well-known negative bearers/associations, wouldn't be a problem.
It depends on the name, most likely yes
What would you say when the child asked the meaning of their name and why you chose it?
The only meanings that are really negative in this day and age are ones associated with negative people: Adolf, for instance, or your local serial killer. And if the local serial killer had the same fn as your beloved grandparent, then that's the reason you would give the name anyway.
My son thinks he was named after a deceased actor, whose birthday was the same as his. In fact, I had chosen that name anyway, for personal reasons. One day I'll explain! My first daughter's name came out of a names book: I looked through the entries until I found one that suited her; the meaning wasn't an issue. Nothing to conceal there! And her mns were after her grandmothers: once again, no problem. My second daughter also got family names, with perfectly respectable meanings but that wasn't the point.
My son thinks he was named after a deceased actor, whose birthday was the same as his. In fact, I had chosen that name anyway, for personal reasons. One day I'll explain! My first daughter's name came out of a names book: I looked through the entries until I found one that suited her; the meaning wasn't an issue. Nothing to conceal there! And her mns were after her grandmothers: once again, no problem. My second daughter also got family names, with perfectly respectable meanings but that wasn't the point.
Yes
What would you say when the child asked the meaning of their name and why you chose it?
It would depend on the name, but one of the main themes in my life in general is irreverence, and challenging easy cultural ideas about "goodness" and "beauty", and if I ever reproduced then I'd hope that philosophy would have worked its way into my parenting anyway. Any weirdo kid of mine would hopefully not be traumatized by their name meaning "unlucky" or whatever. They'd be like "that's rad, mom. That's punk rock. Kids say rad again. It's 2034, get with the times".
I think it would depend on the name. If one of my favorite names ever had a negative meaning, I might still use it, especially if only name nerds would know the meaning.
What would you say when the child asked the meaning of their name and why you chose it?
I did, in fact, bump names from my list because of meaning. It's all part and parcel.