Patrick or Peter?
It's for a friend, who is expecting very soon! Thanks.
Replies
Patrick
Peter
Patrick, definitely!
I considered responding "Joe or Andy?" but then I figured you're probably not a Fall Out Boy fan and wouldn't get it.
I choose Patrick based on the fact that it's not linked to a Bible character or a number of children's stories/rhymes (Peter Peter pumpkin eater, Peter Pan, Peter Rabbit, Peter Cottontail, etc.). As for Patrick, the only association that sticks out strongly for me is St. Patrick.
Maybe it's the "pee" sound that turns me off of Peter. idk.
I choose Patrick based on the fact that it's not linked to a Bible character or a number of children's stories/rhymes (Peter Peter pumpkin eater, Peter Pan, Peter Rabbit, Peter Cottontail, etc.). As for Patrick, the only association that sticks out strongly for me is St. Patrick.
Maybe it's the "pee" sound that turns me off of Peter. idk.
This message was edited 11/23/2010, 11:18 PM
It's definitely the "pee" sound that turns me off Peter, also.
And I've noticed that when this name comes up, I'm the only one who thinks of the fact that "peter" is a slang term for penis. Maybe it's an old-fashioned term that isn't used much any longer, but I always think of it. Motivated by curiosity, I just Googled "Peter as a slang term" and pulled up a website called Slang City which lists names that have another meaning as a slang term and then judges how bad the name is. It says that Peter is not bad because the slang term is secondary to the name. Then again, it also says that Colin is "bad" because it can be pronounced with a long O, the way that Colin Powell does, and this means "the large intestine." I think that's a dumb thing to say because most Colins don't pronounce it that way and I can't see that making Colin a bad name. My nephew's name is Colin, not pronounced with a long O, and he doesn't have any problem with it. So I'm going to discount what this site says about Peter.
Well, even so, it does seem that I'm the only one who makes the association of Peter and penis.
And I've noticed that when this name comes up, I'm the only one who thinks of the fact that "peter" is a slang term for penis. Maybe it's an old-fashioned term that isn't used much any longer, but I always think of it. Motivated by curiosity, I just Googled "Peter as a slang term" and pulled up a website called Slang City which lists names that have another meaning as a slang term and then judges how bad the name is. It says that Peter is not bad because the slang term is secondary to the name. Then again, it also says that Colin is "bad" because it can be pronounced with a long O, the way that Colin Powell does, and this means "the large intestine." I think that's a dumb thing to say because most Colins don't pronounce it that way and I can't see that making Colin a bad name. My nephew's name is Colin, not pronounced with a long O, and he doesn't have any problem with it. So I'm going to discount what this site says about Peter.
Well, even so, it does seem that I'm the only one who makes the association of Peter and penis.
I have the same association
(maybe because we're not far apart in age), but I prefer to ignore it. I focus on the apostle Simon Peter, and all the many other positive Peter references (leaving aside sillier stuff like the pumpkin eater. :-/ )
Similarly I have a preference for Denis over Dennis, and resist all those who point out the potential for Denis to be misread, or teased, as Penis.
I also chose to ignore all the people (well, two of them) who insisted that Scarlett would become Harlot and was therefore unusable.
Anyway. I do have the same Peter/penis association; I just ignore it.
(maybe because we're not far apart in age), but I prefer to ignore it. I focus on the apostle Simon Peter, and all the many other positive Peter references (leaving aside sillier stuff like the pumpkin eater. :-/ )
Similarly I have a preference for Denis over Dennis, and resist all those who point out the potential for Denis to be misread, or teased, as Penis.
I also chose to ignore all the people (well, two of them) who insisted that Scarlett would become Harlot and was therefore unusable.
Anyway. I do have the same Peter/penis association; I just ignore it.
I wish it was that easy to disassociate my love for Chloris from a certain part of the female anatomy.
That's probably why people started using "Collin"... I much prefer Colin, prn with the short O sound.
I've only ever heard (seen, actually) the Peter = penis equation in an American context. Never in a British text, and certainly never here in South Africa, so I used it for my son without compunction. I also like Patrick, but I obviously prefer Peter.
In the 18th century, Patrick had a very negative Irish connotation in England and Patricks who wanted to make it in London society used to call themselves Peter, the better to blend in.
In the 18th century, Patrick had a very negative Irish connotation in England and Patricks who wanted to make it in London society used to call themselves Peter, the better to blend in.
I believe that Patrick had a negative Irish connotation in the US, also, but at a later time, the mid-nineteenth century, at the time that the US was being flooded with Irish immigrants.
Patrick, my love!
:)
:)
This is tough, because I love both. They're both such good, solid, handsome names. I guess I would go with Peter. It's a little more sophisticated sounding and makes me think of someone who is intelligent, good looking, funny and kind. OK, I'll confess -- I'm describing a Peter I once knew. Yeah, Peter it is.
Peter x50. Patrick is so 90's everyboy. Peter is international, undateable, and distinct. And beautiful.
eta: plus in my opinion "nobleman" is a really awful meaning for a name, especially in the case of Patricius where it does actually refer to a class system.
eta: plus in my opinion "nobleman" is a really awful meaning for a name, especially in the case of Patricius where it does actually refer to a class system.
This message was edited 11/23/2010, 7:37 PM
I love them both! However, today I'll choose Peter.
I like them both a lot. Today, I'll say Peter, however, this is a win/win situation. I guess it would depend on which sounds better with the surname.
Peter by a long shot!!
Patrick. I don't like Peter. I don't like long E sounds in names. In general. I'm sure if I thought hard enough, I could think of an exception or two. Anyway, Patrick is way better than Peter.