Liberty
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I think it sounds like part of a registered name for a horse or some other show animal, but not a human.
It is not something I would personally use, but definitely cute, especially with the nn Libby.
I haven't heard this name in a long time, I think it's quite refreshing! I'd only use the nickname Libby occasional.
My youngest was due on July 2nd so my dh and I playfully discussed having a Fourth of July name for her just in case. We chose Liberty (nn Libby) but knew we wouldn't do something like that. Elizabeth (nn Libby) is more our style. I did read somewhere that a girl was named Liberty Belle. I actually think it's cute for a pet. I wouldn't do that to my child.
Liberty has a cute sound and Libby is darling as well. It's just NMS.
Liberty has a cute sound and Libby is darling as well. It's just NMS.
I've known two Liberty's and it was fine (both 20s)
Both went by Lib as opposed to Libby.
Both went by Lib as opposed to Libby.
It practically never happens where I live - I've never encountered a local one - so very unlike Grace or Hope: both of which are more religious than sociopolitical. And I also think, based on what I've actually seen and heard, that Americans are more inclined to look at their history as being characterised by the pursuit of liberty and to treat it almost as a virtue unique to their own society: this doesn't seem totally convincing from a distance, so laying claim to Liberty as a virtue so personal as to be a personal name does look pretentious, or self-deluded, because unrealistic.
I (American) have a bit of the same anti-American prejudice you have - I mean, I suspect (don't know) that there do exist Americans who like the idea of Liberty as a name mainly because of associating it with US history and politics. And that's unappealing to me, too. But that's not the only reason one might like it, and for me to interpret all usage as stupid and pretentious, based on that assumption, could be hasty and cocky.
To me Liberty is a value name like Verity. It's philosophical rather than religious, so, not a virtue name. It's not necessarily "sociopolitical" - the concept of Liberty is not "about" politics any more than Verity is. Liberty, Verity, and Unity are more "political" than Wisdom or Love, but they're in the same category, of philosophical values - they're not purely or necessarily political. I feel the word and concept of liberty has been contaminated, by association with both hypocritical American nationalism and with negative reactions to it. So for me, to use it as a name isn't to "lay claim to it as a personal virtue," but to reclaim its transcendent value from all that crap. Like an atheist using Sophia?
Of course if I did use it, I'd have to anticipate commonplace stereotypes like yours, and decide that I didn't care, or that I cared more about honoring the value - which you might think is an exceptionalist or pretentious attitude anyway. But it'd be an exercise of my liberty, heh... which is partly about faith in others.
To me Liberty is a value name like Verity. It's philosophical rather than religious, so, not a virtue name. It's not necessarily "sociopolitical" - the concept of Liberty is not "about" politics any more than Verity is. Liberty, Verity, and Unity are more "political" than Wisdom or Love, but they're in the same category, of philosophical values - they're not purely or necessarily political. I feel the word and concept of liberty has been contaminated, by association with both hypocritical American nationalism and with negative reactions to it. So for me, to use it as a name isn't to "lay claim to it as a personal virtue," but to reclaim its transcendent value from all that crap. Like an atheist using Sophia?
Of course if I did use it, I'd have to anticipate commonplace stereotypes like yours, and decide that I didn't care, or that I cared more about honoring the value - which you might think is an exceptionalist or pretentious attitude anyway. But it'd be an exercise of my liberty, heh... which is partly about faith in others.
This message was edited 1/20/2019, 12:35 PM
I like it, and I'd use Libby too.
I like it because it's distinctive and cute, but also for the cheesy reasons too - liberty being a high value. Which seems to be a pretty unfashionable sentiment these days. Go figure.
I like it because it's distinctive and cute, but also for the cheesy reasons too - liberty being a high value. Which seems to be a pretty unfashionable sentiment these days. Go figure.
It's got an interesting sound, and I like the meaning. But I always add 'Bell' after it in my head, when I see it written down...I think if I named a kid Liberty, I'd end up calling her Bell, and that is what makes it OTT cheesy to me. Just Liberty by itself is okay, though...
I bet there'd be Lady Liberty and 'Give me Liberty or give me death' jokes, but that doesn't seem too negative. I at least think it's better than Justice.
I don't like Libby.
I bet there'd be Lady Liberty and 'Give me Liberty or give me death' jokes, but that doesn't seem too negative. I at least think it's better than Justice.
I don't like Libby.
This message was edited 1/19/2019, 8:02 PM