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HelpRecent obsessions and changing tastes
This is a post of musings from a name nerd of more than 10 years that doesn't have any real-world consequences but feels profound to the muddles of my own head. If any of that makes sense.
In the past, I would've described my tastes as "romantic" or "historic," particularly my feminine tastes. I don't think I would've traced sonic / aural trends so much as thematic trends within my PNL. But lately, I've noticed something different. For instance, I've always been fond of masculine names beginning with the letter D, for some reason; however, I've noticed a recent uptick in feminine names beginning with H that I've come to adore, including the very modern Hailey. In addition, longtime favorite Miranda has left my Top 10 (actually my Top 20) entirely.
Also... Daria was a name I never used to think about. I remember the cartoon, but that's about it - otherwise, I would think of it as a very Slavic name (despite its Latin origins). However, within the last week I've come to adore Daria, and I have no earthly idea why. I don't know why my tastes are changing so much.
Has anyone else gone through this? How about after naming kids?
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Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
In the past, I would've described my tastes as "romantic" or "historic," particularly my feminine tastes. I don't think I would've traced sonic / aural trends so much as thematic trends within my PNL. But lately, I've noticed something different. For instance, I've always been fond of masculine names beginning with the letter D, for some reason; however, I've noticed a recent uptick in feminine names beginning with H that I've come to adore, including the very modern Hailey. In addition, longtime favorite Miranda has left my Top 10 (actually my Top 20) entirely.
Also... Daria was a name I never used to think about. I remember the cartoon, but that's about it - otherwise, I would think of it as a very Slavic name (despite its Latin origins). However, within the last week I've come to adore Daria, and I have no earthly idea why. I don't know why my tastes are changing so much.
Has anyone else gone through this? How about after naming kids?
***
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
Replies
I don't really know that my taste changes. I tend to evaluate names based on how I related to my own name and names of people I knew when I was a child - not those exact names, but trying to hear names how I would if I were a child now. The adult influence is that I also think about what it'd be like to have a coworker or client with various names.
The main name I've been appreciating lately is Harold. I have a coworker named Harold, so I've been using it more. A little before that I Iiked Arnold (and I've never met an Arnold), so it's not a departure stylewise, yet, I don't remember having a particular liking for Harold until recently. But then I was looking back at names I posted as my favorites here 17 years ago, and Harold was on the list.
One of the most noticeable changes in my taste has been embracing virtue names. That is a result of me really liking most of them I encountered IRL, so I couldn't keep disliking them in theory or else I'd feel like I was in denial. But then, Mercy was also on my list of favorites 17 years ago, so.
Generally, I start liking names more the more familiar they get (Sterling, Rex, Mahogany, Opal are examples), but sometimes I like them less once I hear or use them more (Luca, Liam, Vardan are examples). A lot of times if I like a name out of nowhere, it's because it's rising in the charts, so I count that as familiarity.
Sometimes I go through thematic phases or liking a particular sound more (which was easier to keep track of when I did top 10s), but I think that just reflects my mood not overall style. Solomon is an example of a longtime favorite that I'm just not in the mood to like.
I probably have gotten more relaxed about "silly" names, but I think that's not really a change in my taste; it's more allowing myself to like things I was always inclined to. EXCEPT for my fondness for some weirdly spelled word names; that seems newish.
The main name I've been appreciating lately is Harold. I have a coworker named Harold, so I've been using it more. A little before that I Iiked Arnold (and I've never met an Arnold), so it's not a departure stylewise, yet, I don't remember having a particular liking for Harold until recently. But then I was looking back at names I posted as my favorites here 17 years ago, and Harold was on the list.
One of the most noticeable changes in my taste has been embracing virtue names. That is a result of me really liking most of them I encountered IRL, so I couldn't keep disliking them in theory or else I'd feel like I was in denial. But then, Mercy was also on my list of favorites 17 years ago, so.
Generally, I start liking names more the more familiar they get (Sterling, Rex, Mahogany, Opal are examples), but sometimes I like them less once I hear or use them more (Luca, Liam, Vardan are examples). A lot of times if I like a name out of nowhere, it's because it's rising in the charts, so I count that as familiarity.
Sometimes I go through thematic phases or liking a particular sound more (which was easier to keep track of when I did top 10s), but I think that just reflects my mood not overall style. Solomon is an example of a longtime favorite that I'm just not in the mood to like.
I probably have gotten more relaxed about "silly" names, but I think that's not really a change in my taste; it's more allowing myself to like things I was always inclined to. EXCEPT for my fondness for some weirdly spelled word names; that seems newish.
This message was edited 3/16/2024, 4:23 PM
Daria is a gorgeous name! I like Hailey as well. :)
What H names are you liking? I've always been fond of Helena and Hester.
Miranda has always seemed creaky and witchy to me. It feels dark, which is odd because I tend to like names with that vibe, but there's something about Miranda…
My tastes have changed a lot lately as well. For instance, I find myself loving Jaiden, which has always been a name I liked well enough but lately I'm kind of ashamed with how much I love it lol
Ariel is a name I used to hate that I now adore. Maria was always blah to me and now I have an almost obsession. Quinn was the latest name that I've suddenly went from disliking to quite loving. And then there's Orion, which I've always felt was OTT and unrealistic and now, well…
I think it's fun though! I love falling in love with names. :)
What H names are you liking? I've always been fond of Helena and Hester.
Miranda has always seemed creaky and witchy to me. It feels dark, which is odd because I tend to like names with that vibe, but there's something about Miranda…
My tastes have changed a lot lately as well. For instance, I find myself loving Jaiden, which has always been a name I liked well enough but lately I'm kind of ashamed with how much I love it lol
Ariel is a name I used to hate that I now adore. Maria was always blah to me and now I have an almost obsession. Quinn was the latest name that I've suddenly went from disliking to quite loving. And then there's Orion, which I've always felt was OTT and unrealistic and now, well…
I think it's fun though! I love falling in love with names. :)
In terms of H names, Helena was definitely the star. I used to be put off by the "hell" beginning, but it has bothered me less and less with time.
Also among the Hs are Harriet, Hazel, Heather, Heidi, Hester, Holly... also Hera, which is admittedly a longtime GP.
Regarding Orion, I'm actually surprised that one never took off - given its similarity to Ryan.
Also among the Hs are Harriet, Hazel, Heather, Heidi, Hester, Holly... also Hera, which is admittedly a longtime GP.
Regarding Orion, I'm actually surprised that one never took off - given its similarity to Ryan.
I read this quote yesterday: “The person you were at 22 does not get to decide who you have to be for the rest of your life.” I know the quote is not name related but for me it was an eyeopener (I feel like Im in a pivot year). Reading your post reminds me of the quote. For as long as I can remember I wanted to name my daughter Faith and although I try to hold on to the name, it doesn’t feel right anymore and I think it’s more sentiment that anything else. As persons we, and our tastes, naturally change as we grow. I’m submerged in 1920s England at the moment (reading books written in that time period, looking up the fashion and way of life etc) and that reflects my taste in names too. Five years ago I would have shunted the name Herbert (Herb), and now I think fondly of it.
In the meantime, I became interested in new names, and I also lost interest in names I liked before. But I don't actively dislike the names I dislike anymore than I used to.
This message was edited 3/16/2024, 5:51 AM
Change is a natural process in life. Change means that you're developing into a mature person with an open mind. The longer you study names, the more your tastes will change.
I found that my tastes changed so that I like names I'd seen in real life more - and names I appreciate, but have never seen used, I care for somewhat less.
The change I observed with having kids was not really my taste so much as how I evaluate names. When I think about names and whether I like them, I try to picture a real person named them, addressing that person, and imagine how a young real person might perceive a name if it occurred among their peers. Rather than fantasizing an amazing character for names I had not ever seen in real life.
I used to fancy names like Ariadne and Coralie and even Poppy, but now I picture them as things to call people and not images of characters, and they don't impress me so much. I also used to abhor names like Hunter and Hailey based on their trendy-style, but picturing them on real people - they're not so bad. I can like them. Hailey is an appealing name IMO. Not quite my style, but nice.
It's fun to imagine characters still, but I find it not so absorbing as I used to. I used to be like "Aurelia is so golden and regal and gracious!" ... like, the name does sound like that, and that's nice and does matter, but that's not my whole or even main response to it. It's more interesting than that. Aurelia on a real person, sounds no more golden and regal than Olivia and Riley and Azalea and Aaliyah might. It's just a name. All names become as ordinary as their bearers. I think "underused gem!" ones lose glamor the fastest, too. I actually like them more that way, though!
Daria is great and I think (hope) it's always just been a matter of time passing since the TV show, before people see its appeal again.
The change I observed with having kids was not really my taste so much as how I evaluate names. When I think about names and whether I like them, I try to picture a real person named them, addressing that person, and imagine how a young real person might perceive a name if it occurred among their peers. Rather than fantasizing an amazing character for names I had not ever seen in real life.
I used to fancy names like Ariadne and Coralie and even Poppy, but now I picture them as things to call people and not images of characters, and they don't impress me so much. I also used to abhor names like Hunter and Hailey based on their trendy-style, but picturing them on real people - they're not so bad. I can like them. Hailey is an appealing name IMO. Not quite my style, but nice.
It's fun to imagine characters still, but I find it not so absorbing as I used to. I used to be like "Aurelia is so golden and regal and gracious!" ... like, the name does sound like that, and that's nice and does matter, but that's not my whole or even main response to it. It's more interesting than that. Aurelia on a real person, sounds no more golden and regal than Olivia and Riley and Azalea and Aaliyah might. It's just a name. All names become as ordinary as their bearers. I think "underused gem!" ones lose glamor the fastest, too. I actually like them more that way, though!
Daria is great and I think (hope) it's always just been a matter of time passing since the TV show, before people see its appeal again.
My late mother had a colleague known as Dora who turned out to be an actual Deborah with a novel nn. I thought she'd have been better off as a Deborah, but clearly she didn't!
Like anything, tastes change as we change. You are not the person that you were 10 years ago or even 3 months ago.