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HelpChloris and Clovis
What do you think of Chloris and Clovis?
My reaction is that they're irredeemably ugly, but I'm wondering if anyone likes them and why.
My reaction is that they're irredeemably ugly, but I'm wondering if anyone likes them and why.
This message was edited 10/27/2019, 3:10 PM
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I don’t like them. I think of “chlorine” and “cloves” respectively.
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I really don’t like either one and Chloris makes me think chlorine.
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I think their sounds are just unfashionable, and since they're not associated with anything well-known/popular, they're bound to be considered ugly. I also associate Chloris with chlorine more than with Chloe, and Clovis with cleaving more than with clover, and both names sound to me like they came from the obituaries ... I like the Clo- sound and many -is names, it's just the other associations that ruin them. I think the reason for me and most people not liking them, might be because unfamiliarity subtly biases us against names. Some kind of xenophobia and/or fear of old age? If we had grown up in a world where there was, say, a designer perfume named Chloris, and a famous Hollywood leading man named Clovis, I bet they would not seem so irredeemably ugly.
This message was edited 10/27/2019, 10:54 PM
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it’s all based on associations
Agreed totally. It’s all socially constructed. It also seems to be based on some kind of fear of old age, which might have evolutionary roots (since we associate aging with decline and death).
No name is inherently ugly.
Agreed totally. It’s all socially constructed. It also seems to be based on some kind of fear of old age, which might have evolutionary roots (since we associate aging with decline and death).
No name is inherently ugly.
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There is a famous actress named Chloris Leachman; she's won an Oscar, I think, and has been active for decades; she's well-known enough that back in the nineties there was this cartoon called Captain Planet and the Planeteers and one of the polluting villains was named Chlorine Bleachman.
But even when Leachman was born, the name doesn't seem to have been used much. It doesn't scream "old age" as much as Doris, for instance.
But even when Leachman was born, the name doesn't seem to have been used much. It doesn't scream "old age" as much as Doris, for instance.
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Chlorine Bleachman, haha funny. I missed that.
Chloris Leachman was aging by the time I heard of her - 1970s - so to me, it does say old age. It's also slightly comical, probably because of her influence -- somehow I got the impression she's more of a comic actress, not so much a sex symbol. I don't remember any of her performances though, it's just an impression.
I think Doris seems younger! I had a friend whose mother was Doris. I guess Chloris might seem older just because Leachman is the sole example in my experience, but Dorises of many ages are out there.
I just looked up Leachman to try to learn about her name, and wikipedia says her mother's name was Cloris.
And her sisters were named Claiborne Cary (father Berkeley Claiborne L.) and ... Mary.
Chloris Leachman was aging by the time I heard of her - 1970s - so to me, it does say old age. It's also slightly comical, probably because of her influence -- somehow I got the impression she's more of a comic actress, not so much a sex symbol. I don't remember any of her performances though, it's just an impression.
I think Doris seems younger! I had a friend whose mother was Doris. I guess Chloris might seem older just because Leachman is the sole example in my experience, but Dorises of many ages are out there.
I just looked up Leachman to try to learn about her name, and wikipedia says her mother's name was Cloris.
And her sisters were named Claiborne Cary (father Berkeley Claiborne L.) and ... Mary.
This message was edited 10/28/2019, 9:59 AM
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She's better known as comedian do to Mary Tyler Moore and her spin-off. She's also knowing for Young Frankenstein. She may have been a sex symbol before the 70s, I'm not sure. She's also very political and an activist. I actually really admire her. I'm sorry if this repeated what other people have said. I like the name Cloris because of her
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According to her wiki article, was Miss Chicago in 1946 and had a few roles in dark films in the 50s. I don’t think she was ever a ‘sex symbol,’ but she was not always a comedic type of actress.
I also think she was strong for keeping her distinctive name, back in a time when anyone with an “unfamiliar” or “ethnic” name was pressured by Hollywood to change it.
Btw she’s still around today, at the age of 93.
I also think she was strong for keeping her distinctive name, back in a time when anyone with an “unfamiliar” or “ethnic” name was pressured by Hollywood to change it.
Btw she’s still around today, at the age of 93.
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I know she's still alive. She is a pretty cool woman. She was known to reach over and put out cigarettes and cigars on late night television shows.
It's unfortunate that she is so forgotten today. It always bothers me when really cool people end up forgotten.
It's unfortunate that she is so forgotten today. It always bothers me when really cool people end up forgotten.
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I don’t think I’ve met a Doris who was old. I’ve had two coworkers with the name, both ages 28-35. I know it’s considered an “old” name and my experience is atypical.
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She won her Oscar for playing Ruth Popper in "The Last Picture Show." Not a comic role and not really a sexy one, though in the movie Ruth has an affair with a teenage boy.
She did play Granny Clampett in the movie version of the Beverly Hillbillies, which I saw when it came out. She was very good as Granny, and that definitely was comic.
She has evidently posed nude for Longevity magazine, if that counts as a sex symbol.
I think her sister Mary got off lucky.
She did play Granny Clampett in the movie version of the Beverly Hillbillies, which I saw when it came out. She was very good as Granny, and that definitely was comic.
She has evidently posed nude for Longevity magazine, if that counts as a sex symbol.
I think her sister Mary got off lucky.
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I suppose that is true, part of my attraction to Clovis is due to there already being a (somewhat young) character from a popular show with that name, so I'm already accustomed to it. And most people here seem to dislike it more because of a vaguely negative vibe than any clear associations.
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Clovis is definitely not my favorite, but it's not nearly as bad as Chloris. Chloris is horrendous. Spelled as Cloris, it's slightly more tolerable, but still pretty bad. I would never use either of these names.
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A lot of people seem to think Chlo-/Clo- is an “ugly” sound, but Chloe is one of today’s most popular names. I think it’s all based on associations. Chloe brings to mind the perfume, young celebrities, and so on, so it’s “usable.” Clovis and Chloris bring no associations to mind (except a vague datedness), so the “weird sound” becomes more of an issue.
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I think it's ostentatiously antique in the style of Otis, Cleon, Grover, which is somewhat appealing, but what ruins it for me are my word associations with it - 'clove' and 'cloven (hoof)' - and altogether I react as if it's fusty, pungent, demonic. I actually used to really like Clover, but lately the Clov part of that has been off-putting as well.
It's weird how much I dislike them. I like Doris and Chloe; the only reason I can think of that I'd hate Chloris is the similarity to 'chlorine' or 'chlorophyll', which seems silly.
It's weird how much I dislike them. I like Doris and Chloe; the only reason I can think of that I'd hate Chloris is the similarity to 'chlorine' or 'chlorophyll', which seems silly.
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They're awful. They sound like disinfectants, or medicinal mouthwash.
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I agree with you. They are extremely and irredeemably ugly.
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I do generally like names associated with green and nature deities. I think it's nice that Chloris is the scientific name of greenfinches, too.
This message was edited 10/27/2019, 7:40 PM
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