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Why do so many people love the name Sebastian?
The sound of the name is really harsh and unappealing to me, so I'm struggling to understand.

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For me, I guess it's a bit more personal. I used to play on a soccer team as a kid; during 4th and 5th grade, I was beginning to (truly) understand my sexuality more (as weird as it sounds). I had feelings for a boy named Sebastian on the team; he was my first real crush (not that I fully understood love at that age). Ever since, I've always thought of the name as very handsome, strong, and nice. It didn't help that I found another Sebastian attractive (with all of those aspects) in high school. I guess they gave positive associations for me; I used to like the sound, but think of The Little Mermaid (I wasn't a huge fan of that movie). For reasons I cannot explain, I just really enjoy the sound, look, and images Sebastian brings to mind now.

This message was edited 3/2/2024, 12:48 PM

For my case, it may be because it holds my 2nd favorite boy's name of all time, Bastian, in it, but also just that I love the name. Just saying it out loud gives me a great feeling.Also, I don't have any bad associations with it. We had a male singer, who passed away some years ago, who wrote (and recorded) plenty of Children related songs for children's TV, children's movies, and, for children's plays, when I was a child in the 1980s Denmark. He has a really soft voice, both for speaking normally and when he sang. (My brain automatically started playing one of his songs - my brain does that, a favorite of mine, as I've written this. And now I want to go listen to it for real. lol)
It sounds strong and sexy. XD
I should like it, I prefer longer names generally, but I can’t get over the ‘bash’ sound. It sounds like a slam/punch noise ifykwim. It’s also very popular rn, I wonder if it will become dated very quickly…
I don't hear the bash sound, but basI like it, masculine and well established
That's interesting because I've seen Bash used as a nickname.
Interesting, I've heard Seb and Sebas and Baz
Sa bas te n
When I was pregnant and looking for a house, I dealt with a very nice Italian estate agent (who found us a lovely home after trying for ages). I said I could name a girl quite easily but a boy would be difficult. She immediately advised me to use Sebastian: such an important-sounding name, she said. And I explained to her that in South Africa for a long time it was used by people without much ambition who lived on a neglected piece of land, ate their own vegetables and hens' eggs, did odd jobs rather badly and were known by the nn Basjan (BUSyun, more or less). This sounds appallingly snobbish, but sadly it was true. Now, English-speaking parents who follow overseas trends would be likely to consider it for their sons, though I haven't encountered one so far. The point is, names appeal to different people in different ways and different places. I find the name rather self-satisfied and inflated, but I wouldn't have told my lovely estate agent that!
I think it's probably because among the name categories, old-fashioned names that have made a comeback tend to receive less criticism than other name categories. (And believe it or not, I don't like Sebastian either. In fact, I'm not interested in the old-fashioned name trend in the first place.)
Interesting! I think it's because they're more "established." Personally, I have mixed feelings about the old-fashioned name trend. Some of the names are amazing, while others are not my thing.I love: Anastasia, Charlotte, Cyrus, Genevieve, Emma, Flora, Isaiah, Jasper, Josephine, Iris, Isabella, Isabelle, Luna, Milo, Silas, Sophie, Violet, Vivian
I hate: Alice, Amelia, Daisy, Eileen, Eleanor, Hank, Hattie, Mabel, Nora, Ophelia, Otis, Sadie, Sebastian (obviously), Willa, Winnie
Thank you. The reason I think so is that although old-fashioned names that have made a comeback are not boring (timeless names are to be viewed that way depending on the person, and most current parents were born in the late 20th century, So names from the late 20th century are likely to be viewed as boring) As you said earlier, they are already "established" compared to other current trendy names. And are old-fashioned names are not made a comeback (ex. Gertrude) or names from the 1930s to 1950s (now recognized as grandparents' names) can be seen as "old" by people, but old-fashioned names that make a comeback tend to be names that rise in popularity, so there is less room for them to be seen as "old".

This message was edited 2/29/2024, 7:13 PM

It sounds like a Victorian gentleman's name. Some people like that sort of thing.
Makes sense!
Because it doesn't sound harsh or unappealing to them.
It's got cat energy.Also, it's old and Latin - established but not really common. Some people go for that.
So many people went for the uncommon name that they made it common, haha, nice.
That does tend to happen, but...I didn't know it'd gotten all the way to #13 in the US! I've actually never met an American Sebastian.
Yeah, I've seen the name in books, but never in person. Then again, the same goes for Luna.

This message was edited 2/29/2024, 6:15 PM

I've met a couple adults named it; they were just from elsewhere. I don't mind the full name, but I hate Seb as a NN.
One of the books I read used "Bash" as a nickname.
I don’t like it, if it’s any consolation.
Haha, it is! :)
The Little Mermaid nostalgia. The 90s are cool again.
Oh, I suppose it coincides with the rise of Ariel/Arielle.
I first heard the name Sebastian as a teen while watching the British television series "Brideshead Revisited" based on Evelyn Waugh's work. The main character's name was Sebastian and he was played by an actor I had a crush on at the time (Anthony Andrews). Sebastian carried around a teddy bear named Ignatius which is another name that has stayed with me after all these years.The name Sebastian seemed exotic to my ears back then and very, very posh and extremely British. Because of these strong and positive memories of youth, I've loved the name ever since. Of course, now that it's more popular and mainstream, Sebastian isn't as exotic but as an Anglophile, I still think of it as a quintessential British name. Oliver has the same vibe to me because of that film. It's strange how TV and films leave such lasting impressions on some people.

This message was edited 2/29/2024, 4:09 PM