There are some names which the Nameberry description is really mean about but they may be one of your favourite names.
Let’s beg for redemption for some of these names and make our case in this thread for those names we love even if some may think us a little oddball for doing so.
I’ll kick us off.
The Nameberry page for [name_f]Elfrida[/name_f] claims it is unappealing on every level. I beg to differ.
There are gorgeous nicknames from [name_f]Elfrida[/name_f], [name_f]Elfie[/name_f] which is super cute on a baby or toddler and can transition nicely to Elf in teenage years. I was at uni with an Aelf (Aelfgifu) and she was super classy and not kooky at all. You also have the classic [name_f]Frida[/name_f] which fits in great with many of the super cute hundred years rule names that are coming back into fashion and has the über cool namesake of [name_f]Frida[/name_f] [name_f]Kahlo[/name_f]. It is also an alternative route to [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] for those who don’t want to go with the more obvious [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] or [name_f]Elise[/name_f].
Secondly, it would be a great name for an Anglo [name_m]German[/name_m] family. Although the name is Germanic in origin, it was also the name of the first crowned queen of [name_f]England[/name_f]. The historical [name_f]Elfrida[/name_f] was a powerful politician and as a woman in her time this has to gain an extra dose of healthy respect.
Hurrah for [name_f]Elfrida[/name_f]! Now it’s your turn, defend those unloved names!
[name_f]Clarabelle[/name_f] may be a smoosh name, but its not just a Disney cow! Its a sweet, girly, and cute name! There’s more that I’ve come across but I can’t remember.
Aw I’m glad someone likes it I know somebody who was calling her baby [name_m]Cuthbert[/name_m] jokily as a nickname when she was pregnant as she wasn’t finding out the gender. I told everyone I loved the name [name_m]Cuthbert[/name_m] and have always wanted to name a son that and they all looked at me like I was barmy. But most of the names I like inspire that reaction
I absolutely love the girls name [name_f]Mallory[/name_f]! However on NameBerry people don’t seem to find it that appealing. [name_f]Mallory[/name_f] is a [name_m]French[/name_m] name meaning “Unlucky” I think that’s a bit of a harsh meaning for such a gorgeous name.
“Combo names are rarely greater than the sum of their parts” is what Nameberry said about my daughter’s name! Apparently they are not fans of combined names, regardless of their history or loveliness! I think [name_f]Luella[/name_f] is a great mix of girly, spunky, southern and class. It’s vintage, though not necessarily a classic. Added bonus of [name_f]Lu[/name_f] and [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] for nicknames and is a name that, while never being popular, has been around for awhile.
I love Nameberry but sheesh their name descriptions can be very narrow and even snobby! I’d like a little more objective descriptions on names.
I really like [name_m]Bonaventure[/name_m]! NB hates it apparently. I accidentally ran across it and it grew on me, although I don’t think I’d take it off of the GP list.
[name_m]Cuthbert[/name_m] is lovely and would fit in well in a classroom full of Alfreds and [name_m]Georges[/name_m]. Think that sometimes people who were naming last generation have had a hand in the opinions. My Mum despises [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] and keeps going on about how dreadful it is and that she will tell our other two daughters to name the baby [name_m]Willy[/name_m] if we call her that. I keep telling her that we are pronouncing it [name_m]German[/name_m] (which will work as we live in Germany) and therefore it doesn’t even sound like willy and the old name thing is big here too. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] isn’t on this year’s chart [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], [name_f]Mina[/name_f] and [name_f]Minna[/name_f], the short forms are, and it wouldn’t sound out of place with all the Claras Fridas Emmas and Mathildes being born right now. She keeps suggesting names which were eccentric creative choices in the eighties and nineties but are fairly boring now like [name_f]Freya[/name_f] (yuck) or names which to he have much greater teasing potential would we ever return to UK like [name_f]Giselle[/name_f] and [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], which may work in the states but I just hear a rude word for male ejaculate and an invitation to feel somebody. Much worse than a name beginning with [name_m]Wil[/name_m] on a girl, especially as how many [name_m]Williams[/name_m] nowadays get [name_m]Willy[/name_m]?
I love the name [name_m]Norbert[/name_m]. Unfortunately no one else seems to, and nameberry says it comes with a “kick me” sign I don’t really understand why [name_m]Robert[/name_m] is fine but [name_m]Norbert[/name_m] isn’t.
[name_f]Elfrida[/name_f] is a great name, I think Elf/[name_f]Elfie[/name_f] would be such a cute nickname on a little girl.
I love [name_m]Norbert[/name_m] too I often disagree with the negative descriptions of some names on NB, but I have always put it down to differences between American tastes and British tastes. Or just that I love unusual names
I love this thread and I agree completely with [name_f]Elfrida[/name_f] and [name_f]Mallory[/name_f], such beautiful names! I disagree with the discription for the name [name_f]Myrna[/name_f] (Mrs. Thin [name_m]Man[/name_m] was lovely but her name is not). The sound might be a bit harsher than is popular right now but I think it sounds beautiful. It’s fairly “nickname proof” although I like the possibility of M or [name_f]Minnie[/name_f], a nickname given to [name_f]Myrna[/name_f] [name_m]Loy[/name_m] who is, in my opinion, a pretty fantastic namesake. It also has a wonderful meaning of “high-spirited or festive”. I know [name_f]Pam[/name_f] and [name_f]Linda[/name_f] are entitled to their opinions but I do feel that the name pages should be more about the history of a name than making comments such as “Playground poison” or “kick me sign”
Nameberry says that [name_m]Emil[/name_m] “has a slightly unfriendly feel”. I really don’t see this myself, to me it seems like a very soft, gentle and, yes, friendly name. It’s wildly subjective, though, people are welcome to find [name_m]Emil[/name_m] unfriendly if they like, it’s not like there’s a right or wrong here.
I also don’t see any problem with the subjective descriptions. I mostly find them fun, even when I disagree with them. There are much better sites for name etymology and history and to be honest, when Nameberry tries to do that sort of thing it very often gets it wrong. The strength of the site is in its entertainment value and the forums, it’s not really the best informative source.
[name_m]Emil[/name_m] is a lovely name. One of my oldest daughter’s best friends is called [name_m]Emil[/name_m] and he is one of the sweetest boys you could ever wish to meet. Not weird or unfriendly at all in Europe.
[name_m]Bonaventure[/name_m] isn’t a personal favourite but it isn’t as bad as all that and I can definitely see the appeal of both putting it in the middle name slot and using it as a way to get to [name_u]Bo[/name_u] which is a very jaunty nickname.
Agree with this, I like that the descriptions aren’t incomplete or boring like so many naming sites ([name_m]Emil[/name_m] is great btw)
I’d like to defend [name_m]Seymour[/name_m], I know the reaction to a baby with this name would be awful but to me it is just a lovely sensitive vintage sounding boys name, more appealing than [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] or [name_u]Sidney[/name_u]
The nickname [name_m]Sy[/name_m] is great and I love how it sounds like “see more”, that is just such a sweet association
I also [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the J.D [name_m]Salinger[/name_m] character- I’m a sucker for a good genius, the crazier the better
I know somebody who was calling her baby [name_m]Cuthbert[/name_m] jokily as a nickname when she was pregnant as she wasn’t finding out the gender. I told everyone I loved the name [name_m]Cuthbert[/name_m] and have always wanted to name a son that and they all looked at me like I was barmy. But most of the names I like inspire that reaction 
I don’t really understand why [name_m]Robert[/name_m] is fine but [name_m]Norbert[/name_m] isn’t.
