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HelpBear, Banjo, & Wilkie
These are three celebrity baby names I've been thinking about lately. Both Alicia Silverstone and Kate Winslet have sons named Bear, Rachel Griffiths has a son named Banjo after Banjo Paterson, and Sarah Jessica Parker has a son named James Wilkie after Wilkie Collins. My question is, what would your reaction be if you met people with these names IRL? In the case of Banjo and Wilkie, would you think they were named for the writers or instantly think their mothers were inspired by the gossip mags? And finally, if you HAD to use these names for some reason, what would you pair them with?
"What matters most is how well you walk through the fire." -Charles Bukowski
"What matters most is how well you walk through the fire." -Charles Bukowski
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I'd think "poor kid" while trying very hard not to show it.
For Banjo at least, I'd think the poor child had been named after the musical instrument.
Do I HAVE to use one of these? Can't I get my tubes tied instead?
For Banjo at least, I'd think the poor child had been named after the musical instrument.
Do I HAVE to use one of these? Can't I get my tubes tied instead?
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If someone introduced himself, or was introduced as the above; I would assume it to be a nickname. Especially since a friend of my father goes by Bear (as in built like one) pretty much exclusively.
If I was told it was their real name, I would default to: "Oh, that's unusual. How did that happen?"
If I was told it was their real name, I would default to: "Oh, that's unusual. How did that happen?"
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One of my favourite little boys in the whole entire world, who I have spent a lot of time over the past couple of years caring for is named Wilkie. His full name is William though...he is never called William, only Wilkie so far.
I adore it. It suits him so well, and it is my favourite nickname for William. If I had a William of my own (which is not out of the realm of possibility), he'd be nicknamed Wilkie most probably. I think it is a little juvenile as a full name.
Bear is silly as anything other than a nickname to me.
Banjo is a weird one. I'm Australian and so it actually gives me a kind of warm feeling when I hear it as Banjo Paterson is such a national legend and hero of sorts. I wouldn't use it but I don't think it is awful as a name. Better for a dog maybe but the Aussie in me sees it as a human name too because I think of Paterson.
I adore it. It suits him so well, and it is my favourite nickname for William. If I had a William of my own (which is not out of the realm of possibility), he'd be nicknamed Wilkie most probably. I think it is a little juvenile as a full name.
Bear is silly as anything other than a nickname to me.
Banjo is a weird one. I'm Australian and so it actually gives me a kind of warm feeling when I hear it as Banjo Paterson is such a national legend and hero of sorts. I wouldn't use it but I don't think it is awful as a name. Better for a dog maybe but the Aussie in me sees it as a human name too because I think of Paterson.
This message was edited 1/11/2014, 8:48 PM
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If I met somebody who said his name was Bear, I'd assume it was a nickname for his big size. I would think, if it was his actual given name, that his parents were dumb, and wonder if he had a sister called Parakeet or a brother called Toad. It's that lame.
I'd also think that Banjo was a nickname, like somebody on Hee Haw. I never heard of Banjo Patterson so I wouldn't think that was after him. Likewise, lame. Bear and Banjo both have a stupid-celebrity vibe to them.
Wilkie Collins I have heard of but don't really know anything about. I'd think that Wilkie was an old family name, or they wished that it was. Very East Coast upper-crust old-money.
I'd also think that Banjo was a nickname, like somebody on Hee Haw. I never heard of Banjo Patterson so I wouldn't think that was after him. Likewise, lame. Bear and Banjo both have a stupid-celebrity vibe to them.
Wilkie Collins I have heard of but don't really know anything about. I'd think that Wilkie was an old family name, or they wished that it was. Very East Coast upper-crust old-money.
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Bear is normal to me because I've known a guy named it.
Banjo and especially Wilkie sound like names for puppies.
They make me think, not so much that their mothers were *inspired by gossip mags,* but just that their parents really wanted their kid to have a catchy special spunky name. Celeb-styled even if the names hadn't been used by celebs.
I'm not up for making combos today.
Banjo and especially Wilkie sound like names for puppies.
They make me think, not so much that their mothers were *inspired by gossip mags,* but just that their parents really wanted their kid to have a catchy special spunky name. Celeb-styled even if the names hadn't been used by celebs.
I'm not up for making combos today.
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I had a dog named Bear so it's very inhuman to me. If I met someone named Bear, I'd probably ask if it's a nn. If it wasn't, I would probably just say, "Oh. Interesting." but inside I would be a whirligig of questions for his parents. Hopefully "his"... a girl named Bear would be even worse! Truth be told, I'd probably get used to it after a few weeks. Unless he was, like, a scrawny little pale boy with no spine and thick glasses. Y'know, something that is the total opposite of what I associate with the word "bear." I don't think I'd ever get used to that.
I've never read anything by Banjo Paterson so I would think immediately of the musical instrument. I would question why the person was named Banjo and then ask if they have any nn's because Banjo is too stupid for me to actually use. I wouldn't think of the writer or the gossip mags because, as stated, I haven't read Paterson, and I don't folly celebrity anything so I wouldn't have known about the connection. I would just think the parents are stupid.
Now, I am much more familiar with Wilkie Collins than I am Banjo Paterson, but I still wouldn't think of the author if I met a Wilkie. The sound is just so... horrible. There is literally nothing redeeming about it. I guess you could have the nn Wil but that isn't exactly a saving grace. At least SJP gave it to her son as a middle name, that way he doesn't have to use it. I'd just stare at someone who introduced himself as Wilkie. I'd hope he has a sense of humor.
Bear Michael
Bear David
Bear Thomas
Bear William
Y'know, boring and established to tether down Bear.
Banjo Violin
Banjo Piano
Banjo Cello
Banjo Trumpet
Banjo Corgi
Banjo Nickel
Banjo Pineapple
Banjo Blue Shit
'Cause why not? I'm a celebrity, I can name my kid wtf ever I want, haters.
Wilkie Silky
I've never read anything by Banjo Paterson so I would think immediately of the musical instrument. I would question why the person was named Banjo and then ask if they have any nn's because Banjo is too stupid for me to actually use. I wouldn't think of the writer or the gossip mags because, as stated, I haven't read Paterson, and I don't folly celebrity anything so I wouldn't have known about the connection. I would just think the parents are stupid.
Now, I am much more familiar with Wilkie Collins than I am Banjo Paterson, but I still wouldn't think of the author if I met a Wilkie. The sound is just so... horrible. There is literally nothing redeeming about it. I guess you could have the nn Wil but that isn't exactly a saving grace. At least SJP gave it to her son as a middle name, that way he doesn't have to use it. I'd just stare at someone who introduced himself as Wilkie. I'd hope he has a sense of humor.
Bear Michael
Bear David
Bear Thomas
Bear William
Y'know, boring and established to tether down Bear.
Banjo Violin
Banjo Piano
Banjo Cello
Banjo Trumpet
Banjo Corgi
Banjo Nickel
Banjo Pineapple
Banjo Blue Shit
'Cause why not? I'm a celebrity, I can name my kid wtf ever I want, haters.
Wilkie Silky
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LOL...Banjo Blue Shit has a nice ring to it. :)
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That one quickly became my favorite. lol
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If I met people with these names in real life, I'd laugh. If someone said to me, "My name is Bear" or "Banjo" or "Wilkie", I'd smirk and try to cover my laughter. If I heard the name when not in their presence, I'd outright laugh.
I've never heard of Banjo Paterson, so upon hearing Banjo, no it wouldn't occur to me at all that it was after a writer. I've heard of Wilkie Collins, but he wouldn't spring to mind upon hearing the name Wilkie.
Nor would I think that their mothers were inspired by the gossip mags because I don't keep up with those things.
I'd pair these names with something really boring such as John, James, William, or Thomas, so if the child hates having such an outlandish name, he has the choice to go with something on the opposite end of the spectrum.
I've never heard of Banjo Paterson, so upon hearing Banjo, no it wouldn't occur to me at all that it was after a writer. I've heard of Wilkie Collins, but he wouldn't spring to mind upon hearing the name Wilkie.
Nor would I think that their mothers were inspired by the gossip mags because I don't keep up with those things.
I'd pair these names with something really boring such as John, James, William, or Thomas, so if the child hates having such an outlandish name, he has the choice to go with something on the opposite end of the spectrum.
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Wilkie is a mn, not a fn, so I wouldn't say too much. I had a classmate with the nn Bear, but I don't know how he got it. Knowing I sometimes let my feelings show by my expression, I'd probably have a confused look and end up asking why they chose the name, then go on my way. I'm not familiar with either author, so I'd go with gossip mags/ star following.
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I should have clarified...
...that I meant Wilkie as a first name. SJP used it as a middle name, but I'm wondering what the reaction would be if someone IRL used it as a first name.
...that I meant Wilkie as a first name. SJP used it as a middle name, but I'm wondering what the reaction would be if someone IRL used it as a first name.
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