Discusssion on names that 'make a personality'

General Name Discussion
1

While researching a name i liked i came across a site that gave me a ‘personality profile’ after reading it i thought oh dear cant name my kid this name i don’t think i could handle someone so headstrong!

A second later i thought WTF am i nuts? ok im pregnant and emotional but that was a crazy thought! NAMES [name]DO[/name] NOT CREATE PERSONALITIES!

Calling your girl [name]Poppy[/name] doenst ensure she’ll never suffer from depression!
[name]Posy[/name], [name]Arabella[/name], [name]Maisie[/name] are very cute but it doenst mean your little princess will be a little princess and not grow up to be the butch one in a lesbian relationship!

i have also found myself falling into the ‘hot’ boys names versus ‘nerdy’ names trap. Me and some friends discussed a while back now how [name]Jake[/name] is a hot boy name but [name]Nigel[/name] would be a nerd. Each name we had a very vivid mental image of a [name]Nigel[/name] (skinny, glasses, complete sterotypical geek) and [name]Jake[/name] (broad chested, handsome, wide grin). We concluded [name]Arlo[/name] would be a surfer (duh!) and [name]Mia[/name] shy, [name]Harry[/name] chubby and english and [name]Juniper[/name] a toddler in a yellow romper with a cute shiny brown bob.

i’m torn between knowing that certain names evoke certain mental images and are easier to ‘wear’. [name]Jake[/name] could be a nerd but if [name]Nigel[/name] were he’d get bullied ‘that’ much more. then again i’m assuming he would be bullied for his name but i do think if you are already different and your name ‘fits’ the stereotype you stand out. and the fact that people MAKE their names not the other way around. [name]Edward[/name] is probably a ‘hot’ name now thanks to twilight but if you asked me ten years ago if i thought [name]Edward[/name] was a hot name i would say ew no old gentlemanly grandad.

what i’m trying to get at i think, is even though i strive to be non-judgemental i am human, we all are! and we all make judgements! there is nothing wrong with having a judgemental thought, its what you do with it. Thinking back to that highly judgemental stereotyping conversation with those friends we werent being b*tches we were actually just being honest with each other and sharing opinions and because we are so close that kind of thing is okay.

i think when we are discussing names, the [name]Person[/name], is often forgotten. [name]One[/name] [name]Jennifer[/name] might have hated being one of many, another may have found comfort in that. Your kid might love having a crazy spelt ‘yooneek’ name another might strongly dislike it. I could name my child [name]Gunther[/name] and he could love being unique or not really care or hate it.

i’m wondering how others feel about this? it extends to a lot of different areas eg name meaning having an influence on character, names that you feel conjure a certain personality, people who have had an influence on how you view a name etc

just a reminder to feel free to say whatever! it is okay to say you think of a nerd when you see the name [name]Hollis[/name] as opposed to a handsome fit boy in shining armour we all have these judgements and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. this is a place for us to discuss and share these opinions! Everyone has a different experience of a name or how they react to that and they are entitled to it. Lets not be overly PC about it and actually say what we want to say.

2

I do have some name prejudices : / When I see a poorly spelt name (e.g M’kaelya) or cheesy, overdone double barrelled name (e.g [name]Lily[/name]-[name]Mae[/name]) or something super tacky (e.g [name]Cayden[/name] or [name]Destiny[/name]) I can’t help but imagine that the person attached to the name is going to be rather chavvy, lower class and unintelligent. I know it’s bad but I can’t help it.

3

I think to an extent, yes names can shape the personality; it really depends on how much you care and let the reactions of others affect you and how your view yourself, whether or not you go along with the expectation for your name or buck the expectations. People always end up having associations with names whether because of a famous [or infamous] namesake or because they knew people who bore that name [name]IRL[/name] and that does impact the way people will treat someone even if it’s not intentional.

I’ll give you some examples. I’ve known people with names like [name]Adolph[/name] and [name]Lucrezia[/name]. Now, neither of them had any resemblance personality-wise to their rather infamous namesakes and both went by nicknames. It didn’t stop people though from having the immediate reaction of associating the names with [name]Adolph[/name] Hitler or [name]Lucrezia[/name] Borgia and acting weird towards them when they learned of the names. So while it didn’t ‘make’ their personalities, it certainly affected the way people treated them. I think because the names were more out there they had learned to handle and expect the reactions more so than someone with a name that perhaps is just perceived as being trashy because it’s become over-used/ trendy or creatively spelled.

If you have a name that many people consider a stripper or porn star name, imagine what that can do to someone’s self-esteem. If you have a name that is spelled funny and people are always calling you the wrong name as a result, that can also negatively affect one’s self-esteem.

That’s why I think not only the meanings of names are important to consider, but also the associations people have with the name.

4

For me, [name]Nigel[/name] = [name]Nigel[/name] [name]Barker[/name], a “noted fashion photographer” and male supermodel, and not really nerdy at all.

And besides that, nerds are cool now. Check out [name]Matthew[/name] [name]Gray[/name] Gubler, aka [name]Spencer[/name] [name]Reid[/name] on Criminal Minds; he’s an unapologetic nerd in reality, AND he’s a former male model.

[name]Adrian[/name] [name]Curry[/name], from ANTM is also a “nerd” and runs a raiding guild in World of Warcraft.

Other self-admitted and proud Hollywood nerds: [name]Nathan[/name] Fillion, [name]Wil[/name] Wheaton, [name]Felicia[/name] [name]Day[/name], [name]Vin[/name] [name]Diesel[/name], [name]George[/name] Takei, the casts of [name]Doctor[/name] Who and Torchwood (i.e., [name]David[/name] Tennant, [name]Billie[/name] [name]Piper[/name], [name]Matt[/name] [name]Smith[/name], [name]Arthur[/name] Darvill, [name]John[/name] Barrowman, [name]Eve[/name] [name]Myles[/name]). Actresses [name]Danica[/name] McKellar and [name]Mayim[/name] Bialik both have advanced degrees in their fields (mathematics and neuroscience, respectively, and McKeller has even authored textbooks).

Also, I don’t know if the actors in The Big Bang [name]Theory[/name] are nerdy in reality, but the characters ([name]Sheldon[/name], [name]Howard[/name], [name]Leonard[/name], [name]Raj[/name], [name]Bernadette[/name], [name]Amy[/name] [name]Farrah[/name] [name]Fowler[/name], and now [name]Stuart[/name]) certainly are, and they’re awesome.

Basically, there’s no shame in being a nerd!

5

I totally agree with you. I know so many different people and I can’t say, “[name]Every[/name] _______ I’ve known has been terrible”… though I am more likely to say, “[name]Every[/name] ______ I know is fantastic!” and I forget about the bad apples.
I mean, my favourite name ever is [name]Edmund[/name], and both pieces of literature I’ve read with an [name]Edmund[/name] character has had traitor qualities… not the end of the world for me.
I know a fantastic [name]Audrey[/name] and I know a less-than-stellar [name]Audrey[/name], yet it was one of my favourites for years.
I do have to say that [name]Lucy[/name] is not my legal name and I feel decidedly less comfortable and confident with my legal name, so my name does change my personality a bit. I’m still the same person but feeling comfortable in your own skin does get affected by your name, I think.

6

Renrose! I agree with you a hundred percent. Couldn’t have said it better.

7

I think that names and personalites are connected, but it’s not the only connection that relates to personality. There are tons of other things that contribute and form a personality. But I do believe that a name is a contributor.

8

Names don’t create a personality at all. I’m a [name]Megan[/name], and at my schools growing up there were ALOT of Megans, each one very different. There was a rich, popular [name]Megan[/name] that is very successful now, there was a [name]Megan[/name] that got pregnant Freshman year, there was a [name]Megan[/name] that was a nerdy [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name]/SciFi geek (Me, lol), and many other Megans that were all very different, regardless of their name. My bestie was a [name]Jennifer[/name], and she is unlike any other [name]Jenn[/name] I’ve met! The thought that a name creates a personality is just wishful thinking imho! People want a fierce Tomboy so they name her “[name]Charlie[/name]”, but that girl could end up being Homecoming queen and the parents have no control over that! I’m not planning on naming my daughter [name]Posy[/name] because I want her to be some sweet little flower, I love the name and I can’t wait to see what she makes of it, not what it makes of her :slight_smile:

9

I find it really funny that [name]Nigel[/name] is your typical nerd name… I know a [name]Nigel[/name] and he is very handsome. :slight_smile:

10

I’m a [name]Brittany[/name], born in 1984. On the first day of my advanced lit class in college my professor called roll, looked at me and said, "you’re not a “[name]Brittany[/name]’, I can tell.”
Most people think of [name]Brittany[/name]'s as the blonde cheerleader type. I’ve literally had every color hair but blonde, even pink. I’ve never been a cheerleader. I studied lit in college before going to school to become a chef. I’m shy and quiet. I’m a name nerd as well as…well, I attend Comic-con in San [name]Diego[/name] every year. I have a [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] tattoo. I sit outside waiting for midnight showings of Batman movies. And I’m obsessed with books, The Big Bang [name]Theory[/name], and all things [name]Joss[/name] Whedon.

I guess I just feel like it’s really easy to stereotype people based on names. Especially certain names. As someone who doesn’t at all fit the perceived personality that goes with their name. I don’t think it’s a HUGE deal, but I think that it’s important to realize that the name doesn’t actually make the person.

11

[name]Nigel[/name] is a hot name!

[name]Just[/name] look at [name]Nigel[/name] [name]Barker[/name] from ANTM!!!

12

Honestly, I think that’s one of the advantages of more “normal” and less unique names. Since there are so many, people have met many people with them with many different personalities so you’re less likely to make a snap judgment. Is [name]John[/name] a geek or a jock? neither, both, either! Whereas a name like [name]Amelie[/name] immediately brings up a picture of that person.

However, even though your name can lead people to make certain judgements, as soon as you get to know someone, they become the picture you think of with that name, for better or for worse, maybe moreso with strange names, but it happens nonetheless.
So if you really love a name, you’ll just have to teach your child to be proud of their name and to live in such a way that people have a positive, lovely view of your name forevermore.

13

I like [name]Nigel[/name]!

I don’t think a name creates a personality, but it (most likely) reflects the child’s parents personalities. When I meet other [name]Agnes[/name]'s (my first name) we do seem to have certain things in common (a bit quiet, bookish, arty, romantic, a tiny bit melancholic), but I don’t think it’s the name in itself, but certain types of people like certain types of names.

14

I’ve always felt that [name]Laura[/name] is a shy/quiet name, [name]Sara[/name]/Sarahs I’ve known tend to have strong personalities. I always figured these were just coincidences. My name is [name]Tara[/name] & I’ve been called ‘bubbley’ by some…loud & funny…and I actually know 2 other Taras I would describe that way!

15

I agree, it most likely reflects the parents personalities, I don’t see how a name can have a personality as much as evoke certain feelings or associations. All the Sarahs, Nigels, D’Artagnans (I know one) might be completely different from the ones you know or imagine one would be like.

16

[name]Nigel[/name] is a fat old pervert name!