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Does Griffin immediately evoke images of the mythical beast? It's one of the few baby boy names my husband and I agree on, but I don't want to saddle a child with some frightening association for the rest of his life. When we mentioned it to my in-laws, they thought it was heinous and said "Don't name the poor child after a monster! He'll hate you!"
That's really the only thing stopping me from loving it. It's uncommon enough for our liking but still not totally obscure. It gives all of our children a unique initial. Annndddd, my husband likes it (which seems like it's an extreme rarity these days..)
Thoughts?
That's really the only thing stopping me from loving it. It's uncommon enough for our liking but still not totally obscure. It gives all of our children a unique initial. Annndddd, my husband likes it (which seems like it's an extreme rarity these days..)
Thoughts?
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Replies
It does, but griffins aren't that monstrous or frightening. It's not like you're calling him Banshee Childkiller, it's just a kind of fantasy name. It's really not my style but it's perfectly usable and probably the kind of name a kid would enjoy having! If you like it go for it. Maybe give your in-laws a bit of time to get used to it and think it over? Good luck.
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Forget the inlaws and go for it! If you both agree, why the heck not? Plus, while Griffin does have a bit of a rougher sound, Fin is very soft and a nice nickname. I think the name is common enough that it's not "just" associated with the beast.
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I really love Griffin, here in NZ I first think of the biscuit brand!
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I think people are more likely to make a 'Family Guy' connection than a mythical beast one, at least at this day and age. It wouldn't be a big problem, though. He'll do just fine, and no, he won't hate you. That's ridiculous.
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Griffins are also dogs, aren't they? Little pooches with long legs and squashed faces? I'm sure my mother had friends who bred them.
As for a child hating being named after a monster - I've never met one who wouldn't be delighted! And I've met plenty. Anyway, griffins were good-guy monsters who guarded hoards of gold! And then there's the whole Harry Potter Griffindor connection, when he's old enough. I rather like it! But if your in-laws prove intractable, might they and your husband perhaps consider Griffith?
As for a child hating being named after a monster - I've never met one who wouldn't be delighted! And I've met plenty. Anyway, griffins were good-guy monsters who guarded hoards of gold! And then there's the whole Harry Potter Griffindor connection, when he's old enough. I rather like it! But if your in-laws prove intractable, might they and your husband perhaps consider Griffith?
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I think they're called Griffons, actually. They're really cute! :)
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I adore Griffin. I know a 7 year old named Griffin William, and it suits him perfectly. The only downside is the potential (perhaps inevitable) nn Griff. Ew.
I've met a few people with animal/ mythical creature names- Phoenix (15 yrs old), Wolf (5, short for Wolfgang) and Hawk (early 20s). In theory these types of names seem pretty out there, but when you encounter them in real life you typically think, "Wow, what an awesome name!"
I've met a few people with animal/ mythical creature names- Phoenix (15 yrs old), Wolf (5, short for Wolfgang) and Hawk (early 20s). In theory these types of names seem pretty out there, but when you encounter them in real life you typically think, "Wow, what an awesome name!"
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I so agree with your last paragraph. Griff isn't a bad nn in my opinion but they could just as easily use the nn Fin / Finn. Personally I like both of those nn's.
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It doesn't make me think of mythical beasts, since I first heard it as a surname. I've run across kids named Griffin and I think it's a fine name. And I agree with Rachel Shaina. It's ok to just own the idea of the mythical beast. It's not a negative, not a "monster." Whoever says that is hysterical. If you make them call your son Griffin they'll sure enough learn to like it.
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Yes, it immediately evokes that image. Honestly, I would feel quite sorry for a child with the name Griffin. It's too over-the-top for me.
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I really do not like the sound of Griffith, but thank you for the suggestion.
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I'm sorry, did they say he'll hate you? You mean thank you for naming him something awesome? Powerful, majestic, guards treasures, symbolic of divine power? Courage, boldness, strength, leadership, intelligence? I mean really the problem is that it's symbolic of too much awesome stuff.
~put this over his crib~
But if that did not convince you, remember you like it and your husband likes it and your in-laws already named their babies and you shouldn't worry what they like. I'm sure they won't be crying themselves to sleep at night "oh no she named him griffin". They will GET OVER IT.
~put this over his crib~
But if that did not convince you, remember you like it and your husband likes it and your in-laws already named their babies and you shouldn't worry what they like. I'm sure they won't be crying themselves to sleep at night "oh no she named him griffin". They will GET OVER IT.
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*super like*
Yes, just yes.
Griffin's are awesome just like dragons, only Griffin works much better as a name than Dragon. I think Draco and Drake is cool though and they make good names. Since Drake is a family name for me I've always considered using it as a mn some day.
But yeah griffins are awesome and any child named Griffin would automatically be awesome-sauce.
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Yes, just yes.
Griffin's are awesome just like dragons, only Griffin works much better as a name than Dragon. I think Draco and Drake is cool though and they make good names. Since Drake is a family name for me I've always considered using it as a mn some day.
But yeah griffins are awesome and any child named Griffin would automatically be awesome-sauce.
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*like*
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I had to real this out loud to my husband! Haha! It was great! Thank you!!
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Strange! I really like Griffin, but only because of the mythical beast. If I didn't have that association, I wouldn't like the name at all.
I'm wondering about the "don't name your child after a monster" thing. Maybe it's because when I was a kid, all the books I read that included griffins usually had them as good guys or at least creatures who were on the protagonist's side, so I never really thought of them as monsters.
If you don't want that definition though, my advice would be to go for Griffith.
I'm wondering about the "don't name your child after a monster" thing. Maybe it's because when I was a kid, all the books I read that included griffins usually had them as good guys or at least creatures who were on the protagonist's side, so I never really thought of them as monsters.
If you don't want that definition though, my advice would be to go for Griffith.
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I love Griffin! I'm pretty sure the creature is gryphon, anyway.
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I think gryphon is the old spelling, but it's still used. I know the creature is also spelled griffin nowadays though. I also think I've seen gryffin...
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I've had this name on my mind lately. I would really love this name except I associate it too much with Family Guy, so I only like it, not love it.
I always think of the mythical creatures and the surname Griffin. I love the mystical creature association, plus griffins aren't monsters they are mystical beasts, they are not good or evil, like dragons I think of them as being very neutral like real animals. For example I don't hate lions, they are not evil or good, they are lions. Same holds true for griffins.
I love the mystical beast association, plus I love that Finn can be used as a nn.
I say go for it if you both love it, your relatives can just call him by his nn if they hate it so much. I will never choose to not use a name just because my relatives don't like it, I only care what I like and my partner likes, as it should be because it is not their child.
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I always think of the mythical creatures and the surname Griffin. I love the mystical creature association, plus griffins aren't monsters they are mystical beasts, they are not good or evil, like dragons I think of them as being very neutral like real animals. For example I don't hate lions, they are not evil or good, they are lions. Same holds true for griffins.
I love the mystical beast association, plus I love that Finn can be used as a nn.
I say go for it if you both love it, your relatives can just call him by his nn if they hate it so much. I will never choose to not use a name just because my relatives don't like it, I only care what I like and my partner likes, as it should be because it is not their child.
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This message was edited 3/11/2013, 4:32 PM
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