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HelpRe: Would you give your child a name with a negative meaning?
in reply to a message by TMyers
Yes, I gave my daughter the middle name Claudia.
I would not use Mallory because it's a newer usage. I'm confident that when it was chosen for the "original" Mallory (the Family Ties character), that was because of the meaning, and was a joke made at the character's expense because she was full of herself and moody. I don't think it's bad to use it, though.
There are some other negative meaning names I would not use - because I think they are constructed in order to describe an unlikeable or ill-fated character, not spontaneously given to or taken by a real person. Like Delilah and Desdemona.
I can't remember my daughter ever asking me what Claudia meant but if she had I would have said:
Now we have to look up Claudius, to even know what meaning it originally had - to us, it's just a classic and respectable name that has been used throughout history. It belonged to your grandfather, and probably some of his ancestors too, and that's why I named you it.
It probably came from a nickname Claudius, that was given to a guy who had a limp, injury, or deformity. By calling him "cripple" affectionately, they showed they thought being crippled was NOT the important thing about him. At the least, his family made the name reputable and continued it.
People sometimes nickname each other based on unflattering superficial things, because by doing that we show that we do NOT think those things are important things. Romans had names meaning "rival" and "blind" and "curly" and "old" and "mad rage" and "blue with envy" and "empty, vain" ... I think it's because they didn't take themselves too seriously. Also, some of these things might have been a humorous reference to something the person had done, that was admired. And, some people might have had a superstition that a negative-seeming name was protective against bad fortune.
A pretty name doesn't make you pretty, and a pleasant name doesn't make you pleasant. A "negative" meaning name is showing understanding that it's not important to be recognized for being pretty and pleasant, for someone to earn and deserve respect and affection and praise. You can be obviously imperfect and occasionally ridiculous, and also be admirable and beloved.
- mirfak
I would not use Mallory because it's a newer usage. I'm confident that when it was chosen for the "original" Mallory (the Family Ties character), that was because of the meaning, and was a joke made at the character's expense because she was full of herself and moody. I don't think it's bad to use it, though.
There are some other negative meaning names I would not use - because I think they are constructed in order to describe an unlikeable or ill-fated character, not spontaneously given to or taken by a real person. Like Delilah and Desdemona.
I can't remember my daughter ever asking me what Claudia meant but if she had I would have said:
Now we have to look up Claudius, to even know what meaning it originally had - to us, it's just a classic and respectable name that has been used throughout history. It belonged to your grandfather, and probably some of his ancestors too, and that's why I named you it.
It probably came from a nickname Claudius, that was given to a guy who had a limp, injury, or deformity. By calling him "cripple" affectionately, they showed they thought being crippled was NOT the important thing about him. At the least, his family made the name reputable and continued it.
People sometimes nickname each other based on unflattering superficial things, because by doing that we show that we do NOT think those things are important things. Romans had names meaning "rival" and "blind" and "curly" and "old" and "mad rage" and "blue with envy" and "empty, vain" ... I think it's because they didn't take themselves too seriously. Also, some of these things might have been a humorous reference to something the person had done, that was admired. And, some people might have had a superstition that a negative-seeming name was protective against bad fortune.
A pretty name doesn't make you pretty, and a pleasant name doesn't make you pleasant. A "negative" meaning name is showing understanding that it's not important to be recognized for being pretty and pleasant, for someone to earn and deserve respect and affection and praise. You can be obviously imperfect and occasionally ridiculous, and also be admirable and beloved.
- mirfak
This message was edited 7/11/2024, 8:48 PM
