Grace
For people that stalk the polls like I have been lately, I'm sure you probably noticed a poll of mine "A princess named Grace." Personally, I adore the name grace. I think it's classy and beautiful in it's simplicity and if I have a daughter, I want her middle name to be Grace (I have other bigger favorites for first names, but that doesn't mean I find Grace to be any less beautiful).
Now, this poll is another of my curiosity/personal study things (like my 'what would you name a princess' post). When I was trying to pick names for the younger princess in my story, I kept coming back to Grace, and I almost named her that. Almost. I was about to put the name into her profile when I remembered one particular saying: "Your grace."
To backtrack for a moment, the second half of the poll (the first part was asking personal preferences on the name) had a series of comments on how appropriate the responders thought the name was for a princess, and I was actually surprised about something. I honestly put the poll up thinking that more people would say that it would be an alright middle name, but only one person said that. Five people marked that it was alright. One said it was strange, but still alright. But a majority said it wasn't suitable. (Granted there were only 21 responders, and I would have preferred to have twice that, even more three times that, but I understand.)
I want to know why people thing it's inappropriate as a princess name, even a middle name. I'm not criticizing, I just want to know. So, anyone who feels strongly that the name Grace should be kept out of royalty, please speak up! Or if you're on the flip side and you think Grace is beyond reasonable for the blue bloods, I like to hear more about your opinion too. (I'd like to re-emphasize that this is all purely curiosity. I just wanna know.)
(Ok, I know that was long and I thank anyone who finished it. Have a cookie!! :D)
Now, this poll is another of my curiosity/personal study things (like my 'what would you name a princess' post). When I was trying to pick names for the younger princess in my story, I kept coming back to Grace, and I almost named her that. Almost. I was about to put the name into her profile when I remembered one particular saying: "Your grace."
To backtrack for a moment, the second half of the poll (the first part was asking personal preferences on the name) had a series of comments on how appropriate the responders thought the name was for a princess, and I was actually surprised about something. I honestly put the poll up thinking that more people would say that it would be an alright middle name, but only one person said that. Five people marked that it was alright. One said it was strange, but still alright. But a majority said it wasn't suitable. (Granted there were only 21 responders, and I would have preferred to have twice that, even more three times that, but I understand.)
I want to know why people thing it's inappropriate as a princess name, even a middle name. I'm not criticizing, I just want to know. So, anyone who feels strongly that the name Grace should be kept out of royalty, please speak up! Or if you're on the flip side and you think Grace is beyond reasonable for the blue bloods, I like to hear more about your opinion too. (I'd like to re-emphasize that this is all purely curiosity. I just wanna know.)
(Ok, I know that was long and I thank anyone who finished it. Have a cookie!! :D)
Replies
I missed your earlier poll, sorry. But Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco would have been very surprised to find out her name is not princess-y enough. lol
I imagine Disney is behind this. They've brainwashed a whole generation into thinking long, frilly names like Aurora are the only names fit for a princess. I wonder if you had asked about Princess Graciela / Graziana if you would have gotten a better response.
I've always thought the way they put her name on HSH's gravestone was beautiful: Gratia Patricia.
I imagine Disney is behind this. They've brainwashed a whole generation into thinking long, frilly names like Aurora are the only names fit for a princess. I wonder if you had asked about Princess Graciela / Graziana if you would have gotten a better response.
I've always thought the way they put her name on HSH's gravestone was beautiful: Gratia Patricia.
This message was edited 6/13/2011, 10:58 AM
I think Grace has perfect princess potential... Grace Kelly, anyone? I think it feels quite elegant, but has a sweetness to it. I would definitely avoid it as a mn since it's so fillery these days.
Grace is definitely fine as a Princess name. I do think it would be better as a middle name, but it's a classic and nice name so I think it would be fine.
Well I really dislike the name Grace, but on the other side I think it would fit a princess.
I think it works pretty well, but these are the reasons I'd suspect people don't think it's "princessy":
It's one syllable and very common, unlike frilly and rare princessy names like Alessandra, Melisande, Larissa, Iliana, Anastasia, etc.
As a middle name, it's a very common filler. If I met a princess named Grace, I'd assume it was short for Graciela or something longer, and I'd also assume that a princess would have a long and frilly middle name, possibly more than one.
Overall I think Grace is simple and pretty, but it's so short and commonplace that most people wouldn't expect it to be found on a princess.
As a first name, it would run into the "Your grace" problem (but isn't "your grace" for a duke, and "your highness" for a princess?) and as a middle name it would run into the "common filler" problem. If I were you I'd find a long frilly name that can have "Grace" as a nickname, and then call her Grace in the story but make occasional references to the fact that her full name is a longer, more frilly name (even if it's hardly ever used).
It's one syllable and very common, unlike frilly and rare princessy names like Alessandra, Melisande, Larissa, Iliana, Anastasia, etc.
As a middle name, it's a very common filler. If I met a princess named Grace, I'd assume it was short for Graciela or something longer, and I'd also assume that a princess would have a long and frilly middle name, possibly more than one.
Overall I think Grace is simple and pretty, but it's so short and commonplace that most people wouldn't expect it to be found on a princess.
As a first name, it would run into the "Your grace" problem (but isn't "your grace" for a duke, and "your highness" for a princess?) and as a middle name it would run into the "common filler" problem. If I were you I'd find a long frilly name that can have "Grace" as a nickname, and then call her Grace in the story but make occasional references to the fact that her full name is a longer, more frilly name (even if it's hardly ever used).