View Message

This is a reply within a larger thread: view the whole thread

Re: Deborah
in reply to a message by irene
If Deborah is such a disliked name, it's a prime example of a name that's disliked only because it's dated. People hear it, think "Mom/Grandma", don't think any further, and dislike it. The way I automatically disliked Hazel when I was in my teens and twenties.I love Deborah. I'm not good at coming up with words to describe why I like a name. I just love the way Deborah looks and sounds. But I wouldn't have used it because I wouldn't have wanted my daughter to have a dated name all of her life. I think Deborah is a dated name we can say with certainty will come back some day.I hate the spelling Debra, and that was just as popular as Deborah back in the name's heyday. Let's hope that doesn't come back.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

oh, definitely. i also noticed that dated women's names get so much more flack than dated men's names- "nerdy old man" or maybe "grumpy old man" vs "ugly woman woman with terrible clothing". i'd still be hesitant though to use a name that's so widely disliked, even if it's for a minor reason like sounding dated (i'm still hesitant about using Irene as a full time name for myself irl part for that reason). i think enough time has passed though that it might look a little hip nowadays- it'll definitely be coming back. if i do ever use it, hopefully it's right before that, so i'll be a trendsetter lol.

This message was edited 3/15/2018, 3:49 PM

vote up1
I totally agree.I've never heard anyone belittle Deborah. It's just that it was so common at one time that people grew tired of it (as happens with most dated names). Practically everyone knows someone with this name. I had an older cousin named Deborah Jean. I didn't know her very well since she was quite a bit older, but she was beautiful and my impression of Deborah has always been strongly influenced by my cousin.While I can't say that I love the name, it's certainly not awful. OTOH, I especially dislike Debbie and Deb which are unattractive to my way of thinking. Oh, and I'm with you on the Debra spelling. I understand how it came about, however, why anyone would think putting 'bra' into a woman's name was a good idea is beyond me. ;-) Whenever I see it, I automatically pronounce it in my head with the emphasis on 'bra.' It just looks so unfortunate.
vote up1
I dislike it because of the associations I have with it, which is why I dislike/like most names. Occasionally, I'll hate a name based purely on sounds (Lucas for example) but it's unusual. Deborah/Debra was the name of several moms I knew growing up. They all reminded me of Rosanne Connor, though they were less funny/endearing and a lot meaner. So this has pretty much ruined the name for me.
vote up1
LOL. Well, I knew a Debbie who in the end did not endear herself to me. Though granted, her full name was spelled Debra.
vote up1