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HelpHow influenced are your tastes by pop culture?
So I've been thinking about this a bit lately, and my last several name posts have been about names I heard in a game I enjoyed or an artist I like, etc and I went and looked at my PNL and realized a good portion of the names I like were heavily influenced by pop culture... so I was wondering how it affected all of you?
Were you swayed towards a name by a character or celebrity?
Looking at your PNL, how many names are there because you liked it on a character or celeb?
Has a character or celeb completely changed your opinion towards any names? (You now love it or you now hate it, etc)
My PNL = http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/37275
Top: Henry & Lara (main) and Caspian & Briar (GP)
Bottom: Trajan & Jacoba (main) and Dinadan & Melpomene (GP)
Were you swayed towards a name by a character or celebrity?
Looking at your PNL, how many names are there because you liked it on a character or celeb?
Has a character or celeb completely changed your opinion towards any names? (You now love it or you now hate it, etc)
Top: Henry & Lara (main) and Caspian & Briar (GP)
Bottom: Trajan & Jacoba (main) and Dinadan & Melpomene (GP)
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Replies
I'm definitely not swayed by a celebrity! I've also become less enamored of a name due to someone famous. I'm most likely not swayed by a character on TV or the movies and haven't ever been since my sister, Lisa, was named after a popular TV character. Our mother had no idea how popular the name had become and I've been turned off that sort of thing ever since. Having said that, I can be swayed by a literary character, especially if it's a classic book where the name isn't likely to take off in popularity. Ditto with famous historical figures (i.e., Mother Teresa).
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I'm not a follower of pop culture, don't watch TV, only listen to talk or news radio, and I don't read celeb mags or websites.
Pop culture will only negatively impact names for me by making an unpleasant association or overpopularity. If I find that a name on my list is used by a celeb or has a strong movie association, I remove it from the list.
My son's name is C y r u s , named for the Biblical king. Before naming him, I'd heard of Miley, but I didn't think she was that famous. Then last year, Miley had all kinds of awful antics and bad press, and I was really cringing, but it seems like she'll fade out pretty quickly, and no one has made that name association, which is good.
Pop culture will only negatively impact names for me by making an unpleasant association or overpopularity. If I find that a name on my list is used by a celeb or has a strong movie association, I remove it from the list.
My son's name is C y r u s , named for the Biblical king. Before naming him, I'd heard of Miley, but I didn't think she was that famous. Then last year, Miley had all kinds of awful antics and bad press, and I was really cringing, but it seems like she'll fade out pretty quickly, and no one has made that name association, which is good.
This message was edited 3/29/2014, 10:24 AM
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Oh yeah that's an unfortunate association. I don't think Miley will fade away though-- she's been around for quite a while now. I think she's just pulling a Christina though, going through a wild phase. She's actually got a decent voice. Have you heard her song The Climb? It's pretty: http://youtu.be/qolUC13bwMc
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Not really, or at least not in a conscious way.
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I usually don't like names just because they are a favorite character's name. For example, I'm a Harry Potter nerd and I adore Albus Dumbledore. I do like the name Albus, but it's not on my PNL. And I really dislike the Draco character, but I have Draco on my PNL.
Pop culture can open my eyes to new names, but that's about it.
Edit: I lied. I realize that there are exceptions. I love Arthur because of King Arthur, and one of the reasons I love Alexander is because of Alexander the Great.
Pop culture can open my eyes to new names, but that's about it.
Edit: I lied. I realize that there are exceptions. I love Arthur because of King Arthur, and one of the reasons I love Alexander is because of Alexander the Great.
This message was edited 3/29/2014, 12:02 AM
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lol isn't it funny how you don't even realize at first sometimes? I was going through my PNL and thinking about it and even surprised myself, which is why I made this thread :P Wanted to know if that'd happened to anyone else! There's that fondness or romance that lingers as almost afterthought that you don't even realize till you think on it :)
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I'm influenced a lot. Almost like I don't even think for myself.
Lux is my favorite name from my favorite movie and one of my favorite books. The Virgin Suicides almost perfectly captured the mood of my teenaged years. Do you remember that vacillation between exuberance and overwhelming ennui?
Lana from Smallville and season two of American Horror Story.
Taissa because of the actress who most recently played Zoe on American Horror Story.
Cordelia from season three of American Horror Story.
Belle, Killian, Thomas, David, Archie, Mila, Philip, and Ruby are all growing on me because of Once Upon a Time (I never know if I should be embarrassed to admit how much I love that show).
Haidee and Valentine because of the count of Monte Cristo.
Names of supermodels like Alessandra, Gemma, Karlie, Joan, Kasia, Helena, Daria, Miranda, Liya, Adriana, Marisa, Petra, Candice.
Georgiana, Lydia, and Fitzwilliam from Pride and Prejudice.
Aurelia, Miranda, Posey, Lolita, Jem, Sidda, Mischa, all from various books.
Ilona and Mina from Dracula (the TV show).
Louise from Bob's Burgers.
There's probably a lot more that I've never even thought about. I guess I just like having a pretty face or an interesting personality to put with a name.
Lux is my favorite name from my favorite movie and one of my favorite books. The Virgin Suicides almost perfectly captured the mood of my teenaged years. Do you remember that vacillation between exuberance and overwhelming ennui?
Lana from Smallville and season two of American Horror Story.
Taissa because of the actress who most recently played Zoe on American Horror Story.
Cordelia from season three of American Horror Story.
Belle, Killian, Thomas, David, Archie, Mila, Philip, and Ruby are all growing on me because of Once Upon a Time (I never know if I should be embarrassed to admit how much I love that show).
Haidee and Valentine because of the count of Monte Cristo.
Names of supermodels like Alessandra, Gemma, Karlie, Joan, Kasia, Helena, Daria, Miranda, Liya, Adriana, Marisa, Petra, Candice.
Georgiana, Lydia, and Fitzwilliam from Pride and Prejudice.
Aurelia, Miranda, Posey, Lolita, Jem, Sidda, Mischa, all from various books.
Ilona and Mina from Dracula (the TV show).
Louise from Bob's Burgers.
There's probably a lot more that I've never even thought about. I guess I just like having a pretty face or an interesting personality to put with a name.
This message was edited 3/29/2014, 7:54 AM
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Also Tate and Teague from American Horror Story and Smallville, respectively.
And Odalis (Odalisque is the actual song but is not a real name and doesn't have a nice meaning at all), Valencia, and Clementine from Decemberist songs.
And Odalis (Odalisque is the actual song but is not a real name and doesn't have a nice meaning at all), Valencia, and Clementine from Decemberist songs.
This message was edited 3/29/2014, 7:57 AM
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Nice Question!
Nice question! I sometimes wonder if certain names will be the next naming trend because they're on popular t.v. shows.
There are some names I've liked just from hearing them over and over from shows, like Alicia from "The Good Wife", Christine from "The New Adventures of Old Christine", and Will from BBC's "Robin Hood".
Nice question! I sometimes wonder if certain names will be the next naming trend because they're on popular t.v. shows.
There are some names I've liked just from hearing them over and over from shows, like Alicia from "The Good Wife", Christine from "The New Adventures of Old Christine", and Will from BBC's "Robin Hood".
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Well, I'm not sure how many names on my pnl are from pop culture, but I do like the names Jasper, Esme, Alice, Rosalie, and Lucius, Sirius, Severus, Cedric, Rubeus, and Percy because of Harry Potter and Twilight. I don't think I'd ever use them though.
I started liking the name Pasha because of a dancer on So You Think You Can Dance.
Misha Collins really got me liking the name Misha.
I used to love the name Rhys because of Jonathan Rhys Meyers
And the group Westlife kick started my obsession with Irish names when I first began liking names. Kian was one of my absolute favorite names.
I started liking the name Pasha because of a dancer on So You Think You Can Dance.
Misha Collins really got me liking the name Misha.
I used to love the name Rhys because of Jonathan Rhys Meyers
And the group Westlife kick started my obsession with Irish names when I first began liking names. Kian was one of my absolute favorite names.
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Well, there ARE some...really...
Anatoli is a character in the musical Chess (by Björn and Benny from ABBA).
I got Arlo from Arlo Guthrie, but I've actually never even heard him, I just liked the name.
Artemisia is from painter Artemisia Gentileschi, so it isn't really pop culture...
Barnaby is actually from Midsomer Murders which is a rather silly series, but I think the name sounds like a frumpy old English gentleman smoking a pipe, and I like that pic!
Bram is after Bram Stoker, although I'm not really a huge fan of him. I like some frumpy names, simple as that! ;)
Branwell is after Branwell Brontë.
Carlotta, Christine and Meg ...well, you know, don't you? ;) Same with Lotte.
Carmilla is from Sheridan LeFanu's vampire novel.
Coppélia is simply a name I like, I haven't seen the ballet.
Coraline is from Neil Gaiman's novel and Yvaine is also from Gaiman (from Stardust).
Dorian is from Oscar Wilde.
Emmeline was a name I started to like after seeing it in a manga, actually. Same with Garnet, Giselle and Victorique.
Eponine and Fantine ...Les Misérables, of course.
Erzsebet is actually after Erzsebet Bathory. She was a totally mad and chilling murderer, but the story still fascinates me. How did she become SO MAD?
Anatoli is a character in the musical Chess (by Björn and Benny from ABBA).
I got Arlo from Arlo Guthrie, but I've actually never even heard him, I just liked the name.
Artemisia is from painter Artemisia Gentileschi, so it isn't really pop culture...
Barnaby is actually from Midsomer Murders which is a rather silly series, but I think the name sounds like a frumpy old English gentleman smoking a pipe, and I like that pic!
Bram is after Bram Stoker, although I'm not really a huge fan of him. I like some frumpy names, simple as that! ;)
Branwell is after Branwell Brontë.
Carlotta, Christine and Meg ...well, you know, don't you? ;) Same with Lotte.
Carmilla is from Sheridan LeFanu's vampire novel.
Coppélia is simply a name I like, I haven't seen the ballet.
Coraline is from Neil Gaiman's novel and Yvaine is also from Gaiman (from Stardust).
Dorian is from Oscar Wilde.
Emmeline was a name I started to like after seeing it in a manga, actually. Same with Garnet, Giselle and Victorique.
Eponine and Fantine ...Les Misérables, of course.
Erzsebet is actually after Erzsebet Bathory. She was a totally mad and chilling murderer, but the story still fascinates me. How did she become SO MAD?
This message was edited 3/28/2014, 1:57 PM
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The older I get the less opp culture influences me in general. And I'm ooooooollllllddddd.
But that's too easy an answer. I'm sure I'm influenced to a degree that I'm not even aware of. I do make conscious efforts to not allow a name to be ruined for me by a single person / reference. For example, when Imelda Marcos and her appalling shoe closet burst onto the scene in the 80s I made a mental note not to let her rob me of my beloved Imelda. Happily, actress Imelda Staunton came along later and made it easier to love the name, or at least to justify my love of it to my friends.
The names that were ruined for me as a young child are probably beyond repair, as I'm sure is the case for others. This makes me so sad for my adorable Ursula (fie! on Disney). But there's not much I can do about those early imprints.
But that's too easy an answer. I'm sure I'm influenced to a degree that I'm not even aware of. I do make conscious efforts to not allow a name to be ruined for me by a single person / reference. For example, when Imelda Marcos and her appalling shoe closet burst onto the scene in the 80s I made a mental note not to let her rob me of my beloved Imelda. Happily, actress Imelda Staunton came along later and made it easier to love the name, or at least to justify my love of it to my friends.
The names that were ruined for me as a young child are probably beyond repair, as I'm sure is the case for others. This makes me so sad for my adorable Ursula (fie! on Disney). But there's not much I can do about those early imprints.
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mine
Obviously, like I said there's quite a few lol.
In my top 25 lists:
Bedivere - Arthurian knight, and grew up on Arthurian stories and love them
Bram - Bram Stoke, an author I really enjoy
Corvo - name of main character in Dishonored, a game I love
Eben - name of main character in 30 Days of Night, a comic series I love
Leon - a family name I wasn't overly fond of until I played Resident Evil and met the character of Leon Kennedy
Logan - Definitely swayed by Wolverine, was more 'meh' towards it before
Owain - another Arthurian character
Remy - another family name I was ambivalent towards until Remy LeBeau of X-Men
Ronan (Ronon) - definitely swayed by the character Ronon on Stargate: Atlantis
Eseld - form of Isolde, another Arthurian name
Itonia - chose it as a name for my avatar in The Secret World and have grown to love it
Lenora - another fam name, grown to love after watching Being Human starring actress Lenora Chrichlow
Lyra - from, of course, His Dark Materials
Other:
Aramis and Athos - the Musketeers
Calhoun - gave it to a character in a story of my own and grew to love it
Clint - grown on my because of Clint Barton "Hawkeye" of the Avengers
Cordelia - of 'Buffy'
Delsin - main character in game series I love, Infamous: Second Son
Idris - Idris Elba
Indiana - Indiana Jones of course
Obviously, like I said there's quite a few lol.
In my top 25 lists:
Bedivere - Arthurian knight, and grew up on Arthurian stories and love them
Bram - Bram Stoke, an author I really enjoy
Corvo - name of main character in Dishonored, a game I love
Eben - name of main character in 30 Days of Night, a comic series I love
Leon - a family name I wasn't overly fond of until I played Resident Evil and met the character of Leon Kennedy
Logan - Definitely swayed by Wolverine, was more 'meh' towards it before
Owain - another Arthurian character
Remy - another family name I was ambivalent towards until Remy LeBeau of X-Men
Ronan (Ronon) - definitely swayed by the character Ronon on Stargate: Atlantis
Eseld - form of Isolde, another Arthurian name
Itonia - chose it as a name for my avatar in The Secret World and have grown to love it
Lenora - another fam name, grown to love after watching Being Human starring actress Lenora Chrichlow
Lyra - from, of course, His Dark Materials
Other:
Aramis and Athos - the Musketeers
Calhoun - gave it to a character in a story of my own and grew to love it
Clint - grown on my because of Clint Barton "Hawkeye" of the Avengers
Cordelia - of 'Buffy'
Delsin - main character in game series I love, Infamous: Second Son
Idris - Idris Elba
Indiana - Indiana Jones of course
This message was edited 3/28/2014, 1:15 PM
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Idris Elba?
So disappointed there's a famous bearer of Idris. Obviously, I do not follow pop culture.
So disappointed there's a famous bearer of Idris. Obviously, I do not follow pop culture.
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Oh man, how do you not know about him?? He is everywhere and become a fast favorite of just about everyone. He's only getting bigger!
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I don't watch TV. My living room TV isn't even connected to cable or antenna. We just use it for movies, usually kids movies, once in awhile. I'm trying to figure out why I bought such a big new TV, when we don't watch it, and I"m actually thinking of getting rid of it or getting a small one to hang on a wall elsewhere so it's not front and center.
And I don't listen to pop radio, just talk or news. And I don't read celeb type magazines. The nice part is I've never actually heard any Kardashians talk... or justin bieber or most of the other new pop people... seen scuzzy pics online, but I really like that I've never seen their shows.
We do have a TV that has cable in our MIL apt, but the last thing I watched on it was Downton Abbey. Generally, if I do watch something on cable it's on TCM (no new pop culture there) or HGTV.
I'm convinced that I'm not missing anything. Except, I am concerned that I'd accidentally use a name of a sleazy celebrity, which I wouldn't want to do. Idris is on my list, and I just suggested it to my pregnant best friend. I can't believe a celeb has the name.
So, how is Idris Elba pronounced? IHD-rihs?
And I don't listen to pop radio, just talk or news. And I don't read celeb type magazines. The nice part is I've never actually heard any Kardashians talk... or justin bieber or most of the other new pop people... seen scuzzy pics online, but I really like that I've never seen their shows.
We do have a TV that has cable in our MIL apt, but the last thing I watched on it was Downton Abbey. Generally, if I do watch something on cable it's on TCM (no new pop culture there) or HGTV.
I'm convinced that I'm not missing anything. Except, I am concerned that I'd accidentally use a name of a sleazy celebrity, which I wouldn't want to do. Idris is on my list, and I just suggested it to my pregnant best friend. I can't believe a celeb has the name.
So, how is Idris Elba pronounced? IHD-rihs?
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Yep, it is pronounced that way: http://youtu.be/foI1ATpLZUU
That's a vid of him introducing himself. He's English so it sounds much nicer when he says it imo lol
That's a vid of him introducing himself. He's English so it sounds much nicer when he says it imo lol
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Wait
How are we defining pop culture? Tales of Robin Hood, Arthurian romance and Shakespeare (Cordelia) count? I would have put them more into the category of literature. But it's all subjective, I suppose. Imelda Marcos is more "news/history" than "pop culture" but I used it in my response. Ah, well.
How are we defining pop culture? Tales of Robin Hood, Arthurian romance and Shakespeare (Cordelia) count? I would have put them more into the category of literature. But it's all subjective, I suppose. Imelda Marcos is more "news/history" than "pop culture" but I used it in my response. Ah, well.
This message was edited 3/28/2014, 1:44 PM
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Yeah, I was saying pop culture because I couldn't think of a word to cover, well, everything lol
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:0)
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There are a few names I like that I was inspired to like because of pop culture. Let's see. I have Charlize, Anakin, Keanu, and Gwyneth on my long list... it's not because I like the famous bearers, at all. It's just the exposure that made me notice them.
There are a few names whose pop culture bearers give me a more positive opinion of names I already like. But they're not favorites I guess.
Mostly I find that there's a set of names I like, which happen to be in fashion and/or belong to famous bearers. It feels more like synchronicity than it does like I've been influenced. For instance, I liked Violet before I started seeing it on characters and celebkids, and I liked Charlotte without having seen any TV shows with characters named that.
There are a few names whose pop culture bearers give me a more positive opinion of names I already like. But they're not favorites I guess.
Mostly I find that there's a set of names I like, which happen to be in fashion and/or belong to famous bearers. It feels more like synchronicity than it does like I've been influenced. For instance, I liked Violet before I started seeing it on characters and celebkids, and I liked Charlotte without having seen any TV shows with characters named that.
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Yeah, exposure, exactly. Hear it enough, perhaps in a certain way, and it just grows on you.
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