Message: "Naomi" - Behind the Name

Naomi

by Mikah

10/25/2008, 4:35 AM

I love the above mentioned name. I associate this name with someone being black? I think it's because of Naomi Campbell. More recently on the tv. show "The Practice" there is another character on the show by this. Also a friend of my wanted to name her child this but then went with another name instead. I do think that people can name there child whatever they want to it doesn't matter and shouldn't. However there are some names to me that I wouldn't use because of my strong associations (maybe it's just me and I am wierd). I think the name Akiko is pretty but again I really associate it with someone who is Japanese.

What is your association with Naomi? Do you think it would look odd on a white child?

#Naomi

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- Flute (meganmichele)

10/25/2008, 3:28 PM

The only Naomi I know is white, and I've never met a black Naomi, so I would have no problem seeing it used on a white person. It doesn't seem stereotypically "black" to me or anything.

- LizzyQ

10/25/2008, 1:24 PM

There are other famous people named Naomi who are not of African decent:

naomi judd &
naomi watts

are a couple that come to mind

- queenv

10/25/2008, 8:56 AM

The only person whom I have known who had this name was the cleaning woman my parents employed, back when I was a teenager, and who was black. That fact coupled with Naomi Campbell makes me realize that the name does bring to mind a black woman to me, although I wasn't really aware of that until now. But no, I don't think it would seem odd on a white child. I don't happen to care for Naomi, but I think it's fine for any race.

- Leodo

10/25/2008, 7:06 AM

I don't think of the bearer of the name Naomi to be any specific race. To me I associate Naomi with the Bible and/or the show Mama's Family. It would work well for anyone.

- Jaimeson Jade (jaimej)

10/25/2008, 6:59 AM

Naomi is a pretty name. I wouldn't use it personally but only b/c there a bunch of names I like better. I think it would look fine on a child of any colour.

- abbasdaughter

10/25/2008, 6:45 AM

All the Naomis I've known have either been white or Japanese (though the Jpns. pronounce it a little differently) or of one white parent and one Jpns. parent that wanted a name that fits both languages. A friend of mine did that with Erika too since she'd spent time in Japan.
Of course, I'm a little less concerned with ethnicity of people and names lining up than you are anyway.

- AngieAngelique (afmastro)

10/25/2008, 5:56 AM

To me Naomi is one of those names that would work on any race, but I can see how you would picture it on a black person due to Naomi Campbell. I think Naomi actually has Jewish roots, but I feel it can be a cross-culteral name.

- Lily8 (guest) +2

10/25/2008, 5:24 AM

uhm no. I think it is a name that everybody can have. Akiko sounds very Japanese but Naomi doesn't make me think of Naomi Campbell. The one I know is blonde. Plus there's also Naomi Watts.

- LizzyQ

10/25/2008, 1:22 PM

wrong place, ignore

This message was edited 10/25/2008, 1:24 PM

- Mikah

10/25/2008, 5:32 AM

hummm then it's just my experience with the name. Naomi Watts didn't even come to mind for me. Good to know other people see it as usuable for everybody and have different impressions.

- raindancing (guest) +1

10/25/2008, 5:17 AM

My associations with Naomi are first of all one of my daughters best freinds a white blond haired child of nine years old, secondly a white red haired woman in her early twenties, then Naomi Campbell.
Its a name which sounds fine for any girl or woman whatever their ethnic background

- Mikah

10/25/2008, 5:30 AM

Thanks.

- Bronislava (ToveTer) +2

10/25/2008, 5:02 AM

There's a difference between being black and being Japanese. Being Japanese means having Japanese traditions, speaking Japanese as mother language etc. - belonging to the Japanese culture and often having Japanese parents. (I know this in not a good definition at all, but I hope you got me)

Black means just having black skin. This information doesn't tell you anything about someone's home country, native language and so on.

I know two German/German-Finnish Naomis (or ok - one is Neomi and another one Noomi). I really like Naomi phonetically, but prefer Noemi or Noémie. It is a little cutesy name that looks special, I'm not sure, in a good or in a bad way :). Completely useable.

- Mikah +1

10/25/2008, 5:29 AM

Yes I understand the definition of Black and Japanese. All I am refering to is that fact that you have certain preconceived ideas of what someone will look like when you hear a name. For me Naomi I associate with it being for a black child. If a childs name "Naomi" was called in a playground what would you invision the child to be. If the name "Akiko" was called out I would invision a Japanese child running. Perhaps the wording of my message did not give your that impression I am sorry.

All I was trying to say was when the name Naomi is heard what is your association with it? Is the first thing that comes to mind is that she is black. When you see the child would you be surprised she is white. You obviously have had different experiences with the name and don't have the same association.

Thanks for your opinion. I think it's usable as well and I love the name because to me it stands on its own.

- Bronislava (ToveTer)

10/25/2008, 5:45 AM

Oh yes, I got what you mean, thanks. :)
One thing I like and dislike in associations that they go so easily away. I've always associated Väinö with Väinämöinen and other different old people. Now I know so many little Väinös that I've forgotten almost completely the old connections.
I don't have any special associations with Naomi except those two girls I mentioned. Of course, there's the biblical Naomi who changed her name to Mara.

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