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HelpHow strong is Chandler's association to the sitcom character?
I found the name Chandler on this site and fell in like with it. But I looked into people's opinions about Chandler and they said there was a strong association to the sitcom character. If so, how relevant is it?
This message was edited 3/10/2024, 6:34 AM
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Well, this depends on whether one was a fan of the show, and there would be different %'s of persons who watched that show a lot depending on what generation oneself is from as well as other demographic factors.
I was born in 1951 and am too old to have paid much attention to "Friends" when it was on. As a name expert I certainly know that the character on "Freinds" was responsible for the rise in use of that name while the show was on. I would suspect that people who were born during or just after the show's original run would often associate the name with the guys their own age they know named Chandler instead of the character, even though those guys would have had their names inspired by him.
As my best friend is a big fan of the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" and discusses it with me frequently, I actually first think of the actor Chandler Massey, who plays the character Will Horton on that show, when I hear the name.
I was born in 1951 and am too old to have paid much attention to "Friends" when it was on. As a name expert I certainly know that the character on "Freinds" was responsible for the rise in use of that name while the show was on. I would suspect that people who were born during or just after the show's original run would often associate the name with the guys their own age they know named Chandler instead of the character, even though those guys would have had their names inspired by him.
As my best friend is a big fan of the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" and discusses it with me frequently, I actually first think of the actor Chandler Massey, who plays the character Will Horton on that show, when I hear the name.
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Chandler is all Chandler Bing from Friends to me and always will be. I loved the show 20 years ago (did I just age myself there?!) and still love and watch it now. I think the Chandler Bing factor will stay for some time, especially with the untimely and sad passing of Matthew Perry.
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About 9/10 strong for me. There were actually two characters named Chandler in Friends. One was a little girl (Phoebe's niece), named after the adult character. So associating it strongly with the sitcom doesn't mean Matthew Perry is the only Chandler I can picture.
I don't think kids care to bring up a 20 year old sitcom? And if they do, there's not much to say except, "...oh, like that character." So it's not that relevant? The sitcom's not why I dislike the name; I dislike the sound.
I don't think kids care to bring up a 20 year old sitcom? And if they do, there's not much to say except, "...oh, like that character." So it's not that relevant? The sitcom's not why I dislike the name; I dislike the sound.
This message was edited 11/15/2023, 8:34 PM
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For me, the association is extremely strong. I've always associated the name with my favorite character from the sitcom and always will, with or without the actor's unfortunate and sudden passing. The name to the character has always been pretty relevant (you figure how old the show is, it still receives new fans to this day. People still watch it to this day.) Even more so now (again, given the death of the actor. );
That, and the fact that there hasn't been any other associations as strongly connected to the name than with Chandler Bing.
That, and the fact that there hasn't been any other associations as strongly connected to the name than with Chandler Bing.
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As Matthew Perry just passed, I'd say the connection is pretty strong.
That said, the show has been off the air for nearly twenty years, so when the collective public consciousness moves beyond Perry's death, I think it would be less associated with the character. I don't think it will fully dissipate until Friends has faded more into the cultural past, but I think, as Friends remains very popular (the current outpouring of sorrow in the wake of Perry's death demonstrates this), that won't happen for some time.
That said, the show has been off the air for nearly twenty years, so when the collective public consciousness moves beyond Perry's death, I think it would be less associated with the character. I don't think it will fully dissipate until Friends has faded more into the cultural past, but I think, as Friends remains very popular (the current outpouring of sorrow in the wake of Perry's death demonstrates this), that won't happen for some time.
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This is interesting. I recently met a Chandler and did not think of Friends at all. The connection is not very strong.
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Since the actor has died very recently, I think right now the connection to the character is especially strong right now.
Also, as New_Chloë said there aren't any other famous people/characters named Chandler (all I can think of is an actress from a Disney movie who is not very known). However, I disagree with them about Chandler being perceived as retro by younger generations. Friends is a very famous show and it gains new fans even nowadays. I know many 15-16 year old kids whose favourite show (or one of they're favourites) is Friends.
So, I think the connection with the character will remain strong as long as the show continues to be succesfull. After that, as it was mentioned before, the name will probably be thought of as retro or nostalgic.
Also, as New_Chloë said there aren't any other famous people/characters named Chandler (all I can think of is an actress from a Disney movie who is not very known). However, I disagree with them about Chandler being perceived as retro by younger generations. Friends is a very famous show and it gains new fans even nowadays. I know many 15-16 year old kids whose favourite show (or one of they're favourites) is Friends.
So, I think the connection with the character will remain strong as long as the show continues to be succesfull. After that, as it was mentioned before, the name will probably be thought of as retro or nostalgic.
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See, 15 year olds liking the show Friends as though it's still current is what I mean about young people seeing the name Chandler fondly. I still think there is a retro element to it... I mean, Friends went off the air almost 20 years ago, before they were born. It's a dated show - to me, an old person. But I notice that in many ways younger generations don't see dated things the same way we oldies do. It's still alive for you guys because it's so accessible. You refer to Friends as a currently "successful" show, and the fact that it's been dead for almost two decades doesn't faze you. That's amazing and really different to the way I remember thinking when I was 15.
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thank you.
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In my country, either that sitcom wasn't shown or I never watched it: either is likely. So to me it's just another surname, and the surname of friends at that. I'd never think of using it, but not because of a sitcom character.
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thank you.
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Very strong
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thank you.
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Extra relevant right now, since the actor who played him recently died very unexpectedly.
As far as I know, there haven't been any other notable people named Chandler. It's kind of like Keanu, Oprah, or Elvis in that way - most people only think of Chandler from Friends. But with the way culture is now, the Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids will probably think Chandler is cool and retro-nostalgic. So I don't think the connection is as "bad" as many of the older comments probably say it is.
As far as I know, there haven't been any other notable people named Chandler. It's kind of like Keanu, Oprah, or Elvis in that way - most people only think of Chandler from Friends. But with the way culture is now, the Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids will probably think Chandler is cool and retro-nostalgic. So I don't think the connection is as "bad" as many of the older comments probably say it is.
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thank you.
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