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I'm from the Netherlands as well. :)

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Hmmm, the name is not my taste, as I personally don't like the same vowel twice in a name (meaning, no: -aa-, -ee- -ii-, -oo-, -uu-, -yy-). Apart from that, for some reason, the -loor part (as well as its pronunciation) has always reminded me of the Dutch word 'chloor' (= 'chlorine' in English), so I personally wouldn't consider using this name myself.

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However, there are far worse names out there, so a little Floor could definitely be proud of her name. It's short and no-nonsense at least, so that's something. She'd easily blend in, hardly (if ever) get teased with her name and shouldn't have difficulties when applying for a job once she is an adult.

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It's also worth thinking about where a Floor would grow up, though. I mean, if your plan is to spend a few years of your life abroad someday (*with* a kid, I mean), then Floor possibly isn't the best name for that kind of scenario. At least, not as a first name - only as a middle name. As you have already seen here, on this English-speaking board where the majority of users come from English-speaking countries, the association with the 'floor' (where one walks on) is unshakeable. So if you're ever going to live in an English-speaking country, even if it's just for a few years, Floor would not be a good idea. Instead, a more international name would be a better option.

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Usually I don't think of such things, but after I recently read an interesting article from expat parents about how their child's name gets mangled or is misinterpreted abroad, I've begun looking at typical Dutch names in a bit of a different light. I am now of the mind that expectant parents - in this increasingly international world, thanks to e.g. the Internet - should pay more attention to what ramifications a name might have when abroad. If you see what I mean. :) For example, the names Joke and Freek would be perfectly normal here in the Netherlands, but abroad, a child with those names would unfortunately be subject to ridicule. :(

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I found the article via www.voornamelijk.nl (an interesting Dutch website about names and name statistics), by the way. Here is the blog post in question (from voornamelijk.nl):

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http://www.voornamelijk.nl/welke-internationale-naam-zou-jouw-kind-krijgen/

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A link to the article (written in English by a Scotswoman who emigrated to the Netherlands) is mentioned in the blog post. But for the English speakers here (who wouldn't be able to read the blog post, which is in Dutch), here is the direct link to the article in question:

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http://www.amsterdam-mamas.nl/stories/this-month/whats-in-a-name

This message was edited 6/23/2013, 1:05 AM