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For some strange reason, I always liked the word arbor. However, I just can’t see it as a name. I can see Harbor though.

This message was edited 2/22/2020, 8:27 PM

You know, I don’t hate it. I wouldn’t use it, but it has a nice ring to it.

I like it a little, as a middle name, more for a boy, because that's my alma mater. Ann Arbor was named because the dude's wife was Ann and he loves trees. The arboretum in Ann Arbor is really magical, huge, and central to the life of the city. (I'm saying this for people who don't know it.) My hometown has a little arboretum too, but it's not the most important thing here. AA's arboretum is a major, um, dream-womb.

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I think it sounds better on a boy. I don't like names like Harper, Parker, etc on girls. I think they're frumpy/ugly.

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Ann Arbor is one of the most perfectly named cities I've ever met. There's a pattern of offbeat, creative towns with A names that sound kind of like Ann Arbor. Consider:

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Auburn, AL
Asheville, NC
Austin, TX

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That's all I can think of, but hey that's a lot. I'm sure there are girls named after Austin, Texas; I've met a girl named after Auburn, AL.

I think it's ugly. Like Harper with a stuffy nose, and I really hate the name Harper.
If I was that eager to commemorate the city I'd use Ann.

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Arbor reminds me of a character in the old Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle stories: Pergola Wingsproggle.

I don't think it's tacky. It would be an uncommon name, but one that follows current naming trends because 1) it's a word name and 2) sounds similar to Harper, Archer, Arden, Carter etc. which have all gained popularity in recent years.

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I personally prefer traditional names, So I would use Ann over Arbor to honor the city, but Arbor as a name sounds legit and fresh.

I don't think it's tacky. It would be an uncommon name, but one that follows current naming trends because 1) it's a word name and 2) sounds similar to Harper, Archer, Arden, Carter etc. which have all gained popularity in recent years.

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I personally prefer traditional names, So I would use Ann over Arbor to honor the city, but Arbor as a name sounds legit and fresh.

Tree?

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I much prefer Sylvia!

It's not tacky exactly, it's just kind of ugly because of the sound ... yet, not ugly in an unfashionable way, right now.
What bugs me the most about it, is that I feel like it's the wrong kind of word for a name. It feels passive-object-y, backgroundy. Like, it's furniture. Pergola, Trellis, Arbor, Gazebo ... not namey enough for me to like.

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Names it sorta reminds me of, in terms of being word-names, passive-feminine, and outdoorsy:
Haven
Meadow
Willow
Briar
Harbor

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I agree that Arden is a far more appealing name with a slightly similar feeling.

Siblings could easily be Canyon and Trellis. Of those 3, Arbor's the worst imo...the meaning's ambiguous and seems insignificant, plus ARB is ugly.

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Forest is so much better. Even Arboretum sounds better.

This message was edited 2/21/2020, 9:41 PM

I think of a tree.

I really dislike the sound and the spelling. How about Arden?