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HelpIs Dora a bad name?
I've recently become enamoured with Dora, as an honouring name. I went to check out the page for it on here, and the comments are just filled with people ranting about how horrible the name is. Mostly it seems to be because of Dora the Explorer, but is that really so awful?
I know I often tell people "don't worry about the comments", but would Dora genuinely be a terrible name to saddle a person with, and I'm just too old and out of touch to get it? I think it's cute and certainly no more dowdy or ugly than Nora or Cora....
I know I often tell people "don't worry about the comments", but would Dora genuinely be a terrible name to saddle a person with, and I'm just too old and out of touch to get it? I think it's cute and certainly no more dowdy or ugly than Nora or Cora....
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It's dated I suppose, but honouring names tend to be! My mother had a colleague whom she knew for years as Dora; she was amazed to learn that this lady's actual name was Deborah, and her family had decided on Dora as a nn. She was a nice person, and I didn't mind the name, but between Dora and Deborah, I'd choose Deborah. More possibilities.
D seems to be a really unpopular initial right now. An unpopular sound generally.
I think there's something to the idea that certain sound qualities are favored at different times ... as part of the spirit of the times. It would be interesting to understand how that works, if it is true. Anyway I don't think it's just because of people associating, say, D-names with wwii/midcentury trends and age (Deborah, Donna, Dorothy, Diana, Doris, Dolores).
I think the Explora stops people from using it, but I don't think that it would cause people to hate it if they met someone with the name.
I agree with you about it being cute, and certainly not less appealing than Nora and Cora. But I'm old and out of touch too, I guess. Or maybe we're just way ahead of our time!
I think there's something to the idea that certain sound qualities are favored at different times ... as part of the spirit of the times. It would be interesting to understand how that works, if it is true. Anyway I don't think it's just because of people associating, say, D-names with wwii/midcentury trends and age (Deborah, Donna, Dorothy, Diana, Doris, Dolores).
I think the Explora stops people from using it, but I don't think that it would cause people to hate it if they met someone with the name.
I agree with you about it being cute, and certainly not less appealing than Nora and Cora. But I'm old and out of touch too, I guess. Or maybe we're just way ahead of our time!
That's a good point, D does seem to be an unpopular initial right now. I noticed that about J names for girls the other day - I feel like in my generation every second girl had a J name, and now it's much more rare. I think you're onto something with the "spirit of the times" thing. That's so fascinating!
This message was edited 7/18/2024, 6:31 AM
Nothing wrong with Dora.
Dora is a great name. It's different but still easy to spell and pronounce. I like Theadora a little better.
I found Dora's on both my husbands and my side. Never watched Dora the explorer but definitely what I think of too. I named my daughter Eliza. The only one I knew of was from Wild Thornberries. Whatever. Didn't care still don't I like the name. I saw someone else comment on Cora for some reason I like that one too.
I was looking for girl names that didn't end in A to use as a middle name in my family. I stumbled upon one with Una Mona Flora Dora Cora probably another 1 or 2 names similar. The boys seemed to be very different like David and John
I was looking for girl names that didn't end in A to use as a middle name in my family. I stumbled upon one with Una Mona Flora Dora Cora probably another 1 or 2 names similar. The boys seemed to be very different like David and John
Considering how I grew up watching Dora the Explorer, it's the only thing I can think of when I hear the name Dora. I also think it's quite childish, and would struggle to suit an adult.
That's so interesting, I guess because I've only ever seen Dora the explorer once (like 17 years ago) I don't see how it's childish at all. Dora feels very matronly to me.
I don't love the name Dora because it seems clunky and dusty - even Nora I'm hot and cold on, although I love Cora for some reason. But I don't think Dora is necessarily a bad name. Dora the Explorer poses teasing potential, sure, but so many names have teasing potential that that doesn't seem like a huge deterrent. Plus, Dora the Explorer isn't a bad association. I think Dora would be a good nickname for names like Dorothy, Theodora, Isadora, etc.
The only Dora I've ever met went by Ruby instead of her legal name. If I was introduced to a positive Dora, I'm sure I would like the name a little more.
The only Dora I've ever met went by Ruby instead of her legal name. If I was introduced to a positive Dora, I'm sure I would like the name a little more.
I adore Dora and am surprised it isn't more popular (in the wake of Cora's and Nora's resurgence). I don't spend much time with kids and parents, though, so I don't know what the popular opinion is!
I don't like it at all
I’m the wrong person to ask (yet I asnwer) as I do think the name is dowdy, flimsy and unpleasant. Despite having a childhood friend name Dora (her English name as she was from Irak). I just don’t see the appeal.
I think it’s cute. We have a very sweet 4yo Dora at church and she wears it just fine.