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HelpRe: Woodrow
in reply to a message by Ismene
I like the name Woodrow. I like the soothing folksy sound of it. I don't care for Woody, but some guys could wear it well, and Woods is pretty cool too. I don't think I could use the name myself, just because it's sort of cold feeling to me.
This is my response to queenv's opinion. I'm posting it to you instead, because I don't want to argue with her opinion exactly - it's her opinion. I want to explain why my opinion differs, though.
There have only been, oh, maybe thirty or forty thousand other Woodrows since Wilson in the US... people are about as likely to have run across a Woodrow (Woody Harrelson? Woody Guthrie? off the top of my head) other than Wilson, as they are to have encountered an Orville, a Dewey, or a Dallas. So, not exactly a one-person name anymore, IMO. It's a surname name that became a first name - past tense. Already happened. Like Cleveland. Like Truman (Capote, plus Harry). Anyway IMO Wilson isn't generally remembered for being a racist, nor for being a Southerner for that matter. I'll buy that he and his name are nerdy, and that the name retains some air of his era and 'progressive' politics.
Woodrow Alister
Woodrow Tabor
Woodrow Vivian
Woodrow Ramsey
Woodrow Alden
??
- mirfak
This is my response to queenv's opinion. I'm posting it to you instead, because I don't want to argue with her opinion exactly - it's her opinion. I want to explain why my opinion differs, though.
There have only been, oh, maybe thirty or forty thousand other Woodrows since Wilson in the US... people are about as likely to have run across a Woodrow (Woody Harrelson? Woody Guthrie? off the top of my head) other than Wilson, as they are to have encountered an Orville, a Dewey, or a Dallas. So, not exactly a one-person name anymore, IMO. It's a surname name that became a first name - past tense. Already happened. Like Cleveland. Like Truman (Capote, plus Harry). Anyway IMO Wilson isn't generally remembered for being a racist, nor for being a Southerner for that matter. I'll buy that he and his name are nerdy, and that the name retains some air of his era and 'progressive' politics.
Woodrow Alister
Woodrow Tabor
Woodrow Vivian
Woodrow Ramsey
Woodrow Alden
??
- mirfak
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I too enjoy the folksy feel, and chalk its "coldness" up to that- its more introverted artist than actually cold-shouldered. I don't care for Woody either but agree the right guy could pull it off. I wouldn't be too torn up if he eventually decided to go by Woody because I think it would take a certain guy to choose that, and he would likely be the type to be able to pull it off.
Woodrow Alden is fantastic. It's giving me all kinds of ideas about names similar to Alden (which I already love)
Woodrow Alden is fantastic. It's giving me all kinds of ideas about names similar to Alden (which I already love)
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Well, you have to be a historical-personage-nerd person like me to know he was a Southerner and a racist, the same way you'd have to be to know it was actually his middle name. I acknowledge that's not what he's known for, and I don't think he was evil or anything like that. But he did spout this sort of nonsense (paraphrasing): "Every Southern boy can imagine that it's 12:00 PM on July 3, 1863 and Pickett hasn't made his charge yet and it's still possible for the Confederacy to win the war and we can still live in that glorious moment."
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Hm. I'm not seeing how that's as nonsensical as all that - I'd like to see it in context. I grew up on the West Coast, and I've never felt impassioned about the Civil War - I tend to see quotes like that, and responses like yours, with curiosity. (If you want to chat about it, I'll see you in PM or in the Lounge.)
I think the take-home message here might be that in some parts of the country, Woodrow might have subtle political associations that a namer might wish to avoid.
I think the take-home message here might be that in some parts of the country, Woodrow might have subtle political associations that a namer might wish to avoid.
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I'm in Southern Illinois, so it's a good association to know about I suppose, but I've never made such a connection. Without all the nuances queenv seems to know about I've haven't had any impression of Woodrow Wilson other than being an admirable president.
I don't mind the connection personally because, as said, I don't hold negative associations to it. Not to mention I don't fully connect Woodrow as a "one-person-name" to the president, and I don't plan on moving any further south than I already am.
I don't mind the connection personally because, as said, I don't hold negative associations to it. Not to mention I don't fully connect Woodrow as a "one-person-name" to the president, and I don't plan on moving any further south than I already am.
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