Message: "Niles" - Behind the Name

Niles

by Gracie (YMPvt)

1/22/2016, 3:31 PM

Thoughts on Niles?
What would you pair it with?

DH and I both really like it, but I'm concerned the Niles Crane associations might be too strong.

~Anna~

#Niles

Replies

- Gracie (YMPvt)

1/23/2016, 8:11 PM

Thanks all!

We've recently binge watched Frazier and like the name Niles in spite of the character, it's good to see that while its recognized most folks think it can be overcome.

It's interesting that American folks all say it's very British and all the Brits find that confusing. Gave me a bit of a laugh.

Niall is out. I always want to say nie-ALL and even though the jerk fiance from George of the Jungle was named Lyle, I still associate it very strongly with him... No logic. I had no clue about One Direction though.

- Lazward (Buneary)

1/23/2016, 2:49 PM

It sounds very stereotypically British.

- Llewella (penguiny7)

1/23/2016, 2:01 PM

I think it's kinda cool. I like it better than Miles. It's brighter and friendlier. There's a city near here called Niles, though, so I think of that first rather than it as a given name. But obvies you don't have that potential issue. I don't think the Niles Crane association would be much of an issue. Kids of his generation won't know that character at all, or at least the vast majority won't!

- antipedant

1/23/2016, 10:51 AM

I think Niles is a fine name. It's British and stuffy sounding, but I think the same of Miles and Giles, and I still have favorable opinions of all. The Niles Crane association may be strong, but it's not going to matter when you introduce your adorable kid. It's intellectual and mature, but it's a very sweet name for a child, too.

- Moirrey

1/22/2016, 6:25 PM

I don't like it, and I have no idea why since I like Niall, Nils and Giles.

Perhaps it's the association with Niles Crane, the name already sounds like a stereotype of stuffy, snooty and upper crust and the character was insufferable.

- LMS

1/22/2016, 5:04 PM

I immediately thought of Niles Crane and then thought about it being a somewhat pretentious sounding name due to that association.

If it didn't have the association, I think it would be okay.

- TheArtemisMoon (guest) +15

1/22/2016, 4:35 PM

First, I've never heard of Niles Crane. I had to Google it and I don't really think most people will think of him. It's been so long since Frasier was on.

When I think of Niles, I actually think of a prim and proper British guy. I also think of the Nile River.

What about Niall?

- Genevieve

1/23/2016, 6:24 AM

Ditto on the prim and proper British man. The British butler on "The Nanny" was named Niles. I think of him.

- vigdis (guest) +13

1/22/2016, 5:19 PM

I second Niall. Niles is so very British and proper to me. I think, though, that my view would quickly change once I met one. Actually the more I think about it the more I like it.

- Rose-Berry +3

1/23/2016, 2:16 PM

That's funny that three of you associate the name Niles with a British man! I've never heard it used here. My only association is with Niles Crane, and I guess it does sound a bit pretentious because of him.

I've heard people using Nile and then there's Niall which I quite like but I would assume a Niall was Irish or had Irish connections. And while One Direction are MASSIVE as LMS pointed out, I don't really associate the name Niall with them, but I'm not their target audience. I have trouble remembering all their names anyway.

- Pie +2

1/23/2016, 3:22 PM

I'm confused too!

I think of Niles as completely American, because I've also only ever heard of it in connection with Frasier. The only Miles I know has a fairly typically upper-class background though: maybe that's it?
I would also assume a Niall was Irish or had Irish relatives.

- basilisk (blaaarg)

1/23/2016, 6:52 PM

Haha, I see it as British. Don't know why. :P

- queenv

1/23/2016, 4:16 PM

Miles seems really American to me.

- LMS +8

1/22/2016, 5:26 PM

Niall is a bad idea, too, if the parents are worried about strong associations. Niall is HUGE right now because of associations with One Direction. That's even bigger in the psyche of the world right now than Frasier.

- vigdis (guest)

1/22/2016, 9:01 PM

I had no idea at all with One Direction. Then again I'm really not into pop culture BUT I'd personally worry more about a very popular fictional character rather than a member of a boy band

- TheArtemisMoon +6

1/22/2016, 7:28 PM

I have no clue what One Direction is.

- LMS +4

1/22/2016, 10:10 PM

A HUGE boy band in English speaking countries that is growing in the East as well. I somehow can't believe you have no idea who they are as they are all over TV/Radio and I swear I hear about them at least once a week, which seems like a lot since I have no interest in them.

- vigdis (guest) +3

1/22/2016, 10:38 PM

Some of us don't listen to the radio or watch TV. I only know of them fleetingly... Although the more I think about it the more I know about them. Still, I can understand someone not knowing. My knowledge comes secondhand and mostly from FB.

- LMS +2

1/23/2016, 1:32 AM

It's not that I don't trust her, I'm just amazed!

- Gracie (YMPvt) +1

1/23/2016, 3:58 AM

Don't be really. I only know they're a boy band and nothing else. I listen to oldies stations and Christian stations and we don't watch TV over the air or on cable. Just Netflix. I've seen the headlines about then online on occasion, but I skim by them.

- earthnut

1/24/2016, 8:02 AM

That's all i know about them too. I watch a fair amount of tv, but it's all recorded so i don't see many advertisements. I listen to radio, all public radio but that includes a high school radio. But i learned about the band from work, retail, where they had a ton of one direction merchandise that wouldn't sell. So i know vaguely what they look like and that they're a band, but i couldn't tell you anything else or what their music sounds like. I don't think they're played on the high school station, whose theme is hot dance music.

- vigdis (guest)

1/22/2016, 9:04 PM

Boy Band

Rather big. My friend's daughter cried for an hour after her sister ripped her poster of one of the band members.

- queenv

1/22/2016, 3:39 PM

I like it. It takes what's good about Nigel--its elegance and veddy veddy Britishness--and leaves out what's bad--its foppishness and weakness. I can see Niles on a rough-and-tumble American boy. Nigel, no. I wouldn't let Niles Crane deter me.

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