Are Any of These Damaging?

So, thanks to my ‘lovely’ (can you feel the sarcasm oozing?) experience earlier this week (the name criticism continued, and a nasty message that was removed from the board actually warned users against using ANYTHING remotely frilly…would love to know what that leaves us with for names…), I’m feeling more and more like I need approval or something on my name list. Sad, I know, but, I’ve sort of been made to feel as though any name I choose might potentially be ‘damaging’ to a child/young woman/old woman/society/whoever

So, here’s the list, which are usable? Which would harm someone in adulthood?:

[name_f]Elsie[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Freya[/name_f], [name_f]Polly[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], [name_f]Amy[/name_f], [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Kate[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f], [name_f]Martha[/name_f], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], [name_f]Millie[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Effie[/name_f], [name_f]Lottie[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], [name_f]Leah[/name_f], [name_f]Laura[/name_f], [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Isobel[/name_f], [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Annabel[/name_f], [name_f]Esme[/name_f], [name_f]Amelie[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Delilah[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f], [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Christabel[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f].

I’m not really looking for opinions on each individual name, (hence why the list is longer), just which could be ‘damaging’ (hate that term, but I’m not sure how else to put it) to a person later in life.

None would be “damaging”. All of the names you listed are perfectly acceptable established names. 100% usable. Some of them may not be my style or someone else’s style but that can be said of literally any name.

I can’t see that any of these would be damaging. Wow, damaging. That is a strong word. I can’t see that any of these would even cause any problems. Some of them are a little nickname-y to me, but that is hardly damaging. And they are nice nicknames. Okay- maybe [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]. I think this depends on where you live, but around here, [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is the cow mascot for a popular brand of milk. So there is a strong [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]-the-cow association, but maybe not where you live?

Definitely not where I live, haha, [name_m]Borden[/name_m] milk hasn’t been sold in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] in years :stuck_out_tongue:

Damaging? Really?

But no, none of those names are even remotely “damaging”.

Yep, that was the sugar coat version of what I was told - the real one involved swearing, an argument and the deletion of an account. It sort of sent me into a panic haha.

The only one I can see any harm with is [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] because of the biblical reference. I think this doesn’t necessarily only affect Christians - I would be worried about giving my child the name of a well known character with a bad reputation (do you understand what I mean).
Otherwise they are all perfectly good names - most of them aren’t my style but that’s not really the point.

I don’t think that any of these names would be damaging at all. Your style is pretty awesome [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. Many of the names on your list are on mine. :slight_smile:

Haha, thank you! You have excellent taste :wink: x

If someone insulted you and then gets their account deleted pretty quickly afterwards, I don’t think you should worry yourself over it. That person has a lot of issues behind her abuse so try not to take it personally(I know it’s hard). It also may have been a troll getting her kicks out of internet bullying. There seems to be alot of that going around. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t let “toxic people” win the day and ruin your confidence! I don’t think any of your names are “damaging” but there are a couple I wouldn’t personally use as first names.

[name_f]Ellie[/name_f] - just reminds me of the blond dimwit [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]-[name_f]Mae[/name_f] on the [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] Hillbillies.
[name_f]Effie[/name_f] - sounds like a short version of the F-word. When we didn’t want to say the full word when we were children, my siblings and I said this word. Yeah, I know we were weird! :slight_smile:

While some of the names on your list aren’t my style, I still find them to be usable, normal, beautiful, established names. The names on your list are definitely usable from babyhood to adulthood, and could fit a wide range of personalities.

I’m sorry that you now feel like you have to get approval on your favorite names. However, I approve of them! :slight_smile:

I was the one who deleted my account - they got a slap on the wrist for swearing, telling me how to live my life and mocking me for being 18 (sounds pretty backwards haha). I don’t know, she seemed like a well-known user, and once she started, quite a few others did - even with some users backing me, it got way too out of hand for me haha. I’m trying not to, but it is quite hard.

I’ve never used [name_f]Effie[/name_f] as that, but I can see where it comes from :p. [name_f]My[/name_f] sister used to say some interesting things too, like, instead of the B-word, it was ‘bwitch’ (she was about 5 haha). I was kind of on the fence about it, because of the Skins character [name_f]Effy[/name_f] (still not sure how they got [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Effy[/name_f]…), but I still liked the sound.

Could [name_f]Effie[/name_f] work as a nn for [name_f]Florence[/name_f]?

thank you, haha I feel that way about them, but I was told off for ‘adding ‘ie’ to every girl’s name’ (as if I just invented the use of [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]?) so now I’ve been left to guess haha. I’m glad you do though!

I think people could buy [name_f]Effie[/name_f] for [name_f]Florence[/name_f]. It’s traditionally been a nickname for [name_f]Euphemie[/name_f] and [name_f]Euphemia[/name_f], very pretty names that might be a little more “flouncy-Victorian” than most of your list. Most of your names read old-fashioned but in a comfy way, if that makes any sense. And certainly not damaging! The only names I can think of that are “damaging” are things like:

  • names associated very strongly with one terrible person (e.g., [name_m]Adolph[/name_m])

  • a name spelled nothing like what it sounds like, and NOT because it has its origins in another language (spelling [name_u]Chase[/name_u] “Khass” but still expecting people to pronounce it [name_u]Chase[/name_u])

  • possibly names that are overwhelmingly considered ugly by most people and in popular culture ([name_f]Bertha[/name_f], [name_f]Hortense[/name_f]) - but even that’s more a matter of taste. A lot of people think [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] is an ugly, old lady name but I really like it.

  • Names that very prominently feature or sound like a swear word or negative word ([name_f]Annus[/name_f], Fati if in the U.S.).

This kind of behaviour is NOT encouraged here on Nameberry. It’s called internet bullying and it’s rampant. When did being 18 years old become a crime? I must have missed it. :slight_smile:

[name_f]Effie[/name_f] can be used as a nn for [name_f]Euphemia[/name_f], [name_f]Hephzibah[/name_f] or [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] or practically any other name with F/PH in it. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like any of them? I love them myself. I guess you could use it for [name_f]Florence[/name_f] because it does begin with the initial “F”.

@isoleith - I love [name_f]Euphemia[/name_f] actually, I just doubt I’d ever get to use it outside of the MN spot. I’m pretty much all for anything Victorian :stuck_out_tongue: It definitely makes sense though, the majority of my list is recognizable, haha. I agree with your definitions of damaging. Although, I have to admit, I have a soft spot for [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] and [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]. I’d never use [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], but in the right combination, it could work. ([name_f]Shirley[/name_f] [name_u]Temple[/name_u]'s mother was [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], for example, which is cute enough).

I know, that’s why I came to NB for opinions :stuck_out_tongue: Apparently I should ‘get myself a life’, ‘go out drinking’ (hello, illegal in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] until 25th [name_f]October[/name_f] 2014 for me), and ‘grow up’ because I’m 18 years old and have a name list. Oh and apparently I’m creepy therefore no guys would want me. (I just about died then, creepy? Hahahaha seriously doubt THAT is the reason why I haven’t got a boyfriend.). [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] and [name_f]Euphemia[/name_f] are very pretty, but I’m not sure if I see myself with a little girl named that. I considered [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f] nn [name_f]Effie[/name_f], but [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f]'s a bit too ‘out of the style box’ for me. I thought about going the Skins route (which is a British teen drama, for those who don’t know, it’s also my all-time favourite show), and using [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Effie[/name_f] like they did, but it just doesn’t make sense at all for me. (Yet her brother was the perfectly logical [name_m]Anthony[/name_m] nn [name_u]Tony[/name_u]).

None seem damaging at all.

I’ve gotten some flack on the boards about some of my names. [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is one of my top choices. It was my grandmothers name as well as sounding like my initials LC but EVERYONE says not to use it as a Full Name because it’s more of a nickname. Personally I love it, and my grandmother went through 86 years with it and had a long and interesting life.

Be proud of your names, a lot of people get stuck on semantics and/or follow the crowd

[name_m]How[/name_m] could anyone think those are damaging? [name_f]Kate[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], especially! I like your list.:slight_smile:

OMG. When I think or “damaging” names I always think of “Men in Tights” and how Latrine changed her name to that from Shthouse. Seriously, unless you are naming your child Shthouse it’s going to be really difficult to come up with a “damaging” name.

Your entire list is comprised of completely normal and in some cases very main stream names. Not all are my style but that’s a good thing. Actually that’s a great thing! If we all had exactly the same names on our lists there would be no reason for us to come hang out and share ideas on NB. I wouldn’t have discovered some of my favorites on my list. Your doing great with your name list, don’t listen to the haters. If you feel you need approval… you’ve got my approval.