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Help[Opinions] Calpurnia
A recent post of mine reminded me of To Kill A Mockingbird and I started thinking about the name Calpurnia. What do you think of it? Is it usable/would you use it? I honestly can't imagine calling a little girl Calpurnia (although the nicknames Cal, Callie, etc. sound young) but I'd love to meet an adult with the name. I feel like it has a very Victoria type feel to it. Ancient Roman, very feminine but not overly frilly and princessy.
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I quite like it. It reminds me of the Emperor Claudius' mistress - he had all these terrible wives who were mostly trying to get him killed and in the background, this really nice, kind woman who loved him.
I just looked it up and it's been used a few times in the UK, but spelt Calphurnia. I have no idea why the extra h!
I just looked it up and it's been used a few times in the UK, but spelt Calphurnia. I have no idea why the extra h!
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I couldn't hear the name without thinking of the TKAM character, so it would be a challenge to look past that. And okay, I'm just gonna say it: it would sound weird on white child, just because it is SO TIED to that character. But I guess you could get used to any name if you know a person long enough.
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Man, thank God I'm biracial so I don't have to worry if I'm naming my kids after a black or white person.
But in all seriousness, it's not like it's like Keisha which is historically African-American.
But in all seriousness, it's not like it's like Keisha which is historically African-American.
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Funny...I almost responded to Billina with a post about how, years ago, I knew a little white girl named Keisha. She was a classmate of my daughter's and was an annoying little snot. I always thought that her name sounded strange on a white girl. I thought better of posting it because I thought it might be a little racially sensitive, but now that you mention the name, I throw caution to the winds.
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I didn't mean to offend you. Sorry.
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TKAM
All I can think of is To Kill a Mockingbird
All I can think of is To Kill a Mockingbird
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I think it's pretty awesome. Probably the most interesting name suggestion via posting in the past couple of weeks.
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Haha, thanks? It's not in the database so it probably gets overlooked a lot.
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Calpurnia is just the sort of off-beat, retro, funky name I'd love to see revived. And it would be even better on a young girl. As you say, the nn Callie is easy enough to access. Big names on little kids just makes them all the more lovable (the name, that is.)
Calpurnia and Victoria are both ancient Roman names, of course. Both beautiful in their own ways. But I see Victoria as more mainstream, less odd-ball (in a good way) than Calpurnia. That "purn" sound in Calpurnia is going to be an acquired taste for many in the general public.
I would go with a conventional mn to ground it, like Calpurnia Jane / Joan. Then again, Calpurnia Juno is calling out to me . . . .
Calpurnia and Victoria are both ancient Roman names, of course. Both beautiful in their own ways. But I see Victoria as more mainstream, less odd-ball (in a good way) than Calpurnia. That "purn" sound in Calpurnia is going to be an acquired taste for many in the general public.
I would go with a conventional mn to ground it, like Calpurnia Jane / Joan. Then again, Calpurnia Juno is calling out to me . . . .
This message was edited 7/8/2012, 3:57 PM
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I'm the biggest Victoria fan around, and I can see what you say about the similarities between Victoria and Calpurnia. Yet I still find it impossible to really like Calpurnia. There are things I like about it, the first syllable and the ending, but the middle syllable, "purn", just kills it for me.
Callie is an adorable nickname, but I'd use Calanthia or even Caledonia to get to Callie before I'd use Calpurnia.
I think it's usable, though, with the nickname Callie.
Callie is an adorable nickname, but I'd use Calanthia or even Caledonia to get to Callie before I'd use Calpurnia.
I think it's usable, though, with the nickname Callie.
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Yeah, I understand the differences, Victoria has a prettier sound over all. I just thought they had very strong syllables, like I can't imagine a weak Victoria or Calpurnia. And although Calpurnia was never a queen or emperess in her own right but she was married to Julius Caesar. That's why I group them mostly. I think Callie and Tori would make cute siblings.
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