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HelpVanessa
Given my age, my Vanessa reference is Vanessa Lindores, not Vanessa Hudgens.
Is Vanessa dated?
Is it "legit" in name circles given it was created by Jonathon Swift?
Is Vanessa dated?
Is it "legit" in name circles given it was created by Jonathon Swift?
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I think it's perfectly fine to use. Maybe I'm showing my age, but the first Vanessa I think of is Vanessa Williams. Let's just say, it's way better than some of the names floating around lately.
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I know an 18 month old Vanessa. It suits her fine, but it throws me every time. I don't know it's actually dated, but I've just always thought of it as a mom name. But like a mom of young children name. Not sure why it doesn't ever shift older for me.
In my experience "legit" usually refers to significant usage and not made up in the last couple of decades. So I would say it is.
In my experience "legit" usually refers to significant usage and not made up in the last couple of decades. So I would say it is.
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I don't feel that it is too dated, but I think it will probably be heading in that direction. I think it is a legit name.
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It's a little dated, yes.
It's about as legit as Cordelia and any other name from a literary canon, that has been used for real people generations after its creation. That is to say, it's second-tier legit. It's only not third-tier because some quasi-authoritative etymology exists.
My references are a soap opera character from the 80s, and a woman I met in the 90s when we were both 25-30. My impression of the name is still that it puts on airs (Van- reminds me acutely of the word vanity, and -essa reminds me of contessa, and the whole construction also reminds me of vanilla and that makes it seem shallow) ... despite the real life Vanessa I met, not being unusually stuckup.
It's about as legit as Cordelia and any other name from a literary canon, that has been used for real people generations after its creation. That is to say, it's second-tier legit. It's only not third-tier because some quasi-authoritative etymology exists.
My references are a soap opera character from the 80s, and a woman I met in the 90s when we were both 25-30. My impression of the name is still that it puts on airs (Van- reminds me acutely of the word vanity, and -essa reminds me of contessa, and the whole construction also reminds me of vanilla and that makes it seem shallow) ... despite the real life Vanessa I met, not being unusually stuckup.
This message was edited 1/16/2016, 10:19 AM
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I think Vanessa is a bit dated. I would expect a Vanessa to be around 40.
However, I do teach a girl called Vanessa who is only 11. She's very sweet so the name is growing on me, but I don't think I would ever love it on a baby.
My main association with the name is Nessa from the TV show "Gavin and Stacey". Her full name was Vanessa Shanessa Jenkins and she was a quite unpleasant character!
However, I do teach a girl called Vanessa who is only 11. She's very sweet so the name is growing on me, but I don't think I would ever love it on a baby.
My main association with the name is Nessa from the TV show "Gavin and Stacey". Her full name was Vanessa Shanessa Jenkins and she was a quite unpleasant character!
This message was edited 1/16/2016, 8:53 AM
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Maybe slightly dated.
I think of Vanessa Redgrave or Vanessa Bell.
I'd say it's "legit" since it was invented by a famous writer and has been around for a while.
I think of Vanessa Redgrave or Vanessa Bell.
I'd say it's "legit" since it was invented by a famous writer and has been around for a while.
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Judging by the popularity charts, it's on its way to being dated. And the popularity charts are really the only way to judge datedness, everything else is subjective.
Hmmm well, as far as being "legit." Most other relatively recently invented names were based upon word elements, or existing names. Vanessa was not apparently. It was created by re-arranging the letters in the name of a person. So hmmmm. But I say that's not the same thing as throwing letters together randomly to create a nice sound. So I give thumbs up to legit.
Hmmm well, as far as being "legit." Most other relatively recently invented names were based upon word elements, or existing names. Vanessa was not apparently. It was created by re-arranging the letters in the name of a person. So hmmmm. But I say that's not the same thing as throwing letters together randomly to create a nice sound. So I give thumbs up to legit.
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