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Help[Opinions] Re: Would you give your child a name with a negative meaning?
in reply to a message by TMyers
Name meanings are pretty meaningless, actually. People eek and shriek because Claude means Lame and Cecil means Blind; so what? Back before writing was invented, a lame person was referred to as Lame and a blind one as Blind. And then? Then their friends and family members liked the names and their other versions (Claudine? Cecilia?) and used them. Fast-forward about two and a half millennia, and the names are entrenched and all anyone would think of today would be a politician, a pop star, a journalist ... whoever! I wouldn't use Cecil if my ln was Rhodes, any more than I'd use Michael if my ln was Jackson, but it's got nothing to do with the etymology.
If you're still worried, many cultures all over the world actually choose unflattering names for children because if they don't, then the gods or whoever might get jealous and make the child unlucky.
In my experience, most ordinary people (i.e. not on these boards!) don't know much about name meanings and care less. What they do notice is initials. If these spell something odd or amusing, it will be mentioned, regardless of meaning. So, if you ln is Perkins, maybe avoid naming a boy Paul Oliver.
If you're still worried, many cultures all over the world actually choose unflattering names for children because if they don't, then the gods or whoever might get jealous and make the child unlucky.
In my experience, most ordinary people (i.e. not on these boards!) don't know much about name meanings and care less. What they do notice is initials. If these spell something odd or amusing, it will be mentioned, regardless of meaning. So, if you ln is Perkins, maybe avoid naming a boy Paul Oliver.
