We’ve decided (I think!) on [name]Delilah[/name] [name]Lark[/name] for our second daughter due early [name]June[/name].
But unlike with our elder daughter, where I felt “[name]Iris[/name]” would suit any baby girl, I’m getting the sense that maybe [name]Delilah[/name] doesn’t…
Have any of you waited to see a baby and renamed because they “aren’t an x” somehow? What sort of a girl couldn’t carry off [name]Delilah[/name]? Though frankly I’m not going to know whether my daughter has the sass to do so when she’s born am I? Should I have a name in reserve?
What springs to mind when you hear the name (yes, I know about the ghastly [name]Tom[/name] [name]Jones[/name] song and I’m not bothered about the biblical story’s possible negative connotations) please?
I’m slightly worried it might be the preserve of the pretty and/or charismatic - that a plain and/or very serious type might not enjoy it at all.
I think it is always wise to have a couple of back up options. It wasn’t a problem for us but I know some people have changed the name at the last minute because it didn’t suit their baby.
I know you said you don’t care about the biblical connotations but that for me is what springs to mind. It is a name that carries a lot of history and for me negative connotations. For that reason I think I would take a very specific kind of girl to carry it off. Although, like you said that would be hard to know from birth.
I love the name [name]Delilah[/name]. I wasn’t raised [name]Christian[/name], so I know very little about the actual bible story, but am vaguely aware of the connotations. I tried to sell my hubby on [name]Delilah[/name] with both of our girls, but he couldn’t get past the bible story. Finally now, though, on baby #4, he has agreed to put it on our list! I think it’s a beautiful name, and if she was ever bothered by the biblical connotations, she could always go by [name]Lila[/name].
The first thing that comes to mind for me is the Plain White T’s song “Hey There [name]Delilah[/name].”
I think of the bible story too, but I like [name]Delilah[/name]. She was cool, but I also like [name]Jezebel[/name] and [name]Vashti[/name], and [name]Lilith[/name] even though she of course isn’t really in there. I like women who think for themselves and don’t do things just to please a man.
To the name, it’s too frilly for me, but I do like it. It’s very pretty. I think you need a special kind of girl to pull it off bough, so I’d have some other names just in case.
Agreed. That’s really all I can think of. And for me, I can’t really imagine a [name]Delilah[/name] that can wear it well, that makes it a cool and spunky and pretty name, because the Bible story is literally all I think of. I know a [name]Delilah[/name]–she’s in her 80s, I think–who goes to my church, and she just doesn’t seem like a [name]Delilah[/name] to me.
It’s one of those names I never suggest, because I just can’t get past my religious hang-ups, but yes, I do think it’s wise to have a back-up, just in case. I think I would have HATED being a [name]Delilah[/name]–not just because of the religious ties, but because I’m a really shy person and I never could have dealt with being a [name]Delilah[/name]. Regardless, I think it’s good to have a back-up for any child, even if the name’s as tame as [name]Jacob[/name] or [name]Anna[/name].
I think [name]Delilah[/name] is gorgeous. The Bible character used to bother me but now I don’t care.
[name]Delilah[/name] [name]Lark[/name] is a bit L heavy
I always picture [name]Delilah[/name] as having long, very dark hair and medium to dark skin. I also think of [name]Delilah[/name] as a sultry, confident woman. I’ve only known one [name]Delilah[/name] and she was a quiet, pale-skinned, blue-eyed blonde. Her name just seemed wrong on her. But I don’t picture anything for [name]Lila[/name], if that’s the nn she’ll be going by. I think any look/personality works with [name]Lila[/name]
I think it is ok. I also think of the biblical association, but stronger in my mind is a mean teacher I had named [name]Delilah[/name]. However, I would love to meet a sweet little [name]Delilah[/name]. I think [name]Iris[/name] is stunning!
I think [name]Delilah[/name] does need a certain kind of girl to pull it off. I definitely picture a confident, fun-loving pretty girl. Plus, she may need some sass to deal with people’s attitudes about the biblical connection (which doesn’t bother me in the slightest; I see it only as a part of a story that reflects misogyny. It does reinforce the sultry, confident image though). However, I can imagine [name]Lilah[/name] or [name]Dilly[/name] on someone quieter. However, I have difficulty seeing a [name]Delilah[/name], [name]Lilah[/name] or [name]Dilly[/name] etc being a CEO, doctor or potician; I’m not sure it’s a name for a serious girl.
I also think of the Bible story - but I think people would get past it as they got to know your little girl.
I do agree that some names don’t suit certain babies, call me crazy, but as soon as I saw our second ultrasound for our little girl, I knew we had to go back to the drawing board! (Working on that now!)
I picture a [name]Delilah[/name] (nn [name]Lila[/name]?) as being very confident and fearless. Possibly a bit loud with lots of attitude and a definite sense of her style.
I think I agree with you all re the type of girl who could pull off [name]Delilah[/name] but I think that’s a risk I’ll take. But I’ll have another name in my hat in case it just strikes me as wrong when she’s here. Possibly I should find another middle name rather than [name]Lark[/name]. Because if she does turn out to be a serious type we could always use the middle name - and [name]Lark[/name] has happy, free, confident associations too.
Oh dear - [name]Iris[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] (first daughter’s name) was so much less problematic. But I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Delilah[/name] and fought hard for it the first time round too.
I live in [name]England[/name] which is far less [name]Christian[/name] than [name]America[/name] so possibly for us the name doesn’t have the strength of biblical connection it does in the States. I’m from a Jewish/Catholic background but am agnostic at best so the religious angle doesn’t bother me personally. Husband nominally Catholic but similarly unbothered by the name.
Actually I find [name]Delilah[/name]'s story interestingly ambiguous. The story is told in the Old Testament and thus by the Jewish people but we might have a different opinion of her were we reading the Philistine version of events… Though her name is Hebrew (night to [name]Samson[/name]'s day - sounds like poetic license), the bible doesn’t state that she’s Jewish (and for what it is worth she’s not the prostitute that [name]Samson[/name] visits earlier in the story - that’s almost certainly a different woman) so if a Philistine is she actually not just the equivalent of a spy for her own people? I know that’s all morally ambiguous but we don’t know why she does what she does - the Bible does not tell us. I could definitely see a case for her as a heroine with the right backstory! There’s a lot of fairly bad behaviour in the Old Testament and I’m fairly sure [name]Delilah[/name]'s is not the worst of it!
I don’t think she’s as beyond the pale as the immediate image of [name]Jezebel[/name] or [name]Salome[/name] - the other two Biblical bad girls.
[name]Delilah[/name] is a spy yes, that’s how I’ve always viewed it. The victor writes history, or whatever this is, and men (not saying all, but a large portion) have always (or in modern times) liked to attribute the evils of the world to women. [name]Delilah[/name] was clever and resourceful, with a lovely name too.
[name]Ottilie[/name] - that’s how I feel precisely. Phew!
BTW - I was touring a local prep school (ie a very smart school for 8-13 year olds) the other day and there were 5 (think it was 5, at least) Ottilies! Think it is gaining popularity over here. Or at least amongst a certain set.
I love [name]Delilah[/name] but not with [name]Lark[/name]… To me it just sounds a bit odd. Have you tried adding a second middle name?? [name]Delilah[/name] … [name]Lark[/name].
[name]Jezebel[/name] is actually another biblical woman who’s treated very badly. Her name does mean maiden of Baal, or Baal exalts. I love [name]Jezebel[/name], she’s independent, strong-willed, courageous. And as for what she did wrong; she refused to convert to her husband’s faith and she made herself ready for dying according her culture’s traditions. Another example of men trying to pin all evil on women.
My almost 3 year old daughter’s name is [name]Delilah[/name]! She is strawberry blonde and blue eyed and her name fits her perfectly! She is beautiful, sassy and just has a great personality! I am glad we chose it for her I think it’s a beautiful name and everyone says it’s a beautiful name! [name]Just[/name] go with your gut feeling! I did! [name]Lilah[/name] was almost a [name]Savannah[/name]…that wouldn’t fit her at all!!!
I think it’s a beautiful name and everyone says it’s a beautiful name! [name]Just[/name] go with your gut feeling! I did! [name]Lilah[/name] was almost a [name]Savannah[/name]…that wouldn’t fit her at all!!!