I’ve really grown to love this quirky little nature name recently. I think it’s sweet but spunky, and I like its slightly androgynous shape and sound.
Here in the UK it’s a well-known brand of spread, which doesn’t really bother me ([name_f]Flora[/name_f] and [name_f]Olive[/name_f] seem to get away with this), but the other comment I’ve seen frequently is that it’s a “cow’s name”.
I’m interested to hear how many of you feel the same about [name_f]Clover[/name_f], and whether you think this makes it difficult to wear?
A cow’s name? I think I’ve heard this too, now that you mention it, but where I live I don’t think it would be an issue at all. I picture pretty little clover flowers, but no cows. I personally really like [name_f]Clover[/name_f]! I think it could be difficult to wear due to unfamiliarity, but it’s not really one of the more “out-there” nature names and everyone knows what clover is. I’ve heard people say [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] is a cow/dog/cat name before and that hasn’t stopped parents from using it! I mean, granted it’s much more familiar, but you get my point. I think [name_f]Clover[/name_f] is usable. I guess it depends on how much of a cow name it’s considered to be in your area?
It kind of does read as a “cow name” to me, just in the sense that it’s a name that would be unexpected on a human but par for the course on a cow.
That said, I don’t think that should matter! It’s not, like, Fido or Spot, if that makes sense—it doesn’t feel like it should be exclusively a cow name. [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] is one of my all time favorite names, and I’m constantly told it’s a “cat name” (or, occasionally, “dog name”) but I don’t think that should be enough of a reason to stop me or anyone else from using it. The same goes for [name_f]Clover[/name_f].
All of that said, I would probably pair [name_f]Clover[/name_f] with a more classic middle name juuuust to be safe! But I think it could be really sweet and fresh on a human. It’s easy to spell and say, and similar to but more interesting than [name_f]Chloe[/name_f].
Let me start off by saying that this name is one of my favourite guilty pleasures so I don’t mean to offend…
…but this name to me sounds like a cow (@midwinter has a great point) or a stripper. But I suppose it would be acceptable in this day in age when lots of kids are being called gp names!
Lol, my mom always says that about [name_f]Clover[/name_f] and [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]. I really like the sound of [name_f]Clover[/name_f], but can’t personally like it due to personal association. I don’t think it’s a cow name, but others do, and I think it depends on whether or not it bothers you. If it does, you might want to go with another name.
Unfortunately the association you mentioned is very strong for me. I am not trying to defend it. In principle I don’t believe in dismissing names as “cow names” or “dog names.” It takes a real effort of the will for me to redirect from this initial reaction, but I imagine wider use of the name would cure this.
For me [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] & [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] are cows’ names, but not [name_f]Clover[/name_f]. However, for me [name_f]Clover[/name_f] is the unpleasant girl in a children’s book from the 1960s, who’s mean to [name_u]Lyle[/name_u] the Crocodile. [name_f]Clover[/name_f] does reform, but my initial negative impression has obviously endured! FWIW, though, I adore clover as a flower…one of the best things I’ve ever smelled was the scent coming off an entire field of sun-lit clover.
I have never thought of [name_f]Clover[/name_f] as a cow name at all. As a previous poster mentioned, I would think more of “[name_f]Bessie[/name_f]” when I think of a cow name, but as someone who has a “dog name,” I don’t attach much importance to connotations like that.
I honestly like [name_f]Clover[/name_f] a lot! It has a strong, feminine sound to me and I love flower names. I think it could age well although the closest thing I’ve ever seen to it in real life was someone named [name_m]Clovis[/name_m].
In Australia, we have a politician named [name_f]Clover[/name_f], so I think it’s perfectly usable. It might be unfamiliar but I don’t think of a cow when I hear it, I think of a meadow or field. I think it’s pretty
I live in the U.S. and I know a little girl named [name_f]Clover[/name_f]. I always thought it was super cute. I had no thought of cows whatsoever when I met her.
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f] was once considered too bovine, as was [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], and [name_f]Bessie[/name_f]'s beginning to shake that image too. I don’t think [name_f]Clover[/name_f] is any more a ‘cow’ name than [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] was! Plus, clover has all the lovely verdant and lucky associations.
I’ve never met a cow with a name–they’ve all been affectionately referred to by the last few digits of their number
I’m also from Australia and was going to mention the politician. No I don’t think cow, but more meadow as a pp said. I think [name_f]Clover[/name_f] is very appealing, it has a quite distinct presence without feeling heavy.
My husband really likes [name_f]Clover[/name_f] and it has grown on me, but the cow’s name comments really ticked me off when I posted about it myself. I just don’t know what gives this impression to so many people. I don’t know if this makes it unwearable or not, but with how adults can be the biggest name bullies, we chose to move [name_f]Clover[/name_f] farther down our list
I like [name_f]Clover[/name_f]! I went to school with one as a kid and as far as I know nobody made fun of the name at all or referred to it as a cow name. I think it’s really usable! Lots of people [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] & [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Annabelle[/name_f], and I think those names both scream cow. To each their own, I guess.
I love the name [name_f]Clover[/name_f] (I think because it sounds like [name_f]Clodagh[/name_f]) and I can see the cow connection, but it’s not my first thought.
Ooh, an Australian politician called [name_f]Clover[/name_f]? Awesome!
Thanks for all the responses. It does seem to be a common association, and while it doesn’t bother me per se, it’s more about whether it would bother the future wearer of the name to have a “cow name”… which I suspect it would. Shame!
Funny, I actually think [name_f]Clover[/name_f] is one of the floral names that would “age” better. I think the strong, clean sound of it feels slightly more mature somehow than [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_f]Pansy[/name_f], etc.
