I tend to associate names on my list with seasons. For example, [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] would be a “summer” name and [name_f]Freya[/name_f] would be a “winter” name. [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] would be an “autumn name” and [name_m]Felix[/name_m] would be another “summer” one.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you do this? And if so, what names do you put with each season? Would you be tempted to choose a name that matches your idea of a season if your child was due in that time frame?
I think I sorta do this. Not exactly but in the same vein. Some feel tropical or summer-y ([name_f]Amaya[/name_f], [name_f]Naia[/name_f], [name_u]Kai[/name_u], Océane, [name_f]Delphine[/name_f]) while other’s feel cold and winter-y ([name_f]Anwen[/name_f], [name_f]Lumi[/name_f], [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]). [name_f]Spring[/name_f] is another one I associate a lot of names with ([name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_f]Lilia[/name_f], [name_f]Elowen[/name_f]). A lot of nature names, obviously.
Other names I’m not sure about. They just feel “warm” or “cold” but I think that’s usually because of their meaning or sound. For example, [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] & [name_f]Amalia[/name_f] are both “warm” to me but I don’t associate them with seasons.
I don’t know if I’d use a name that matches the season “just because”. If my favorite name is [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] - I would use that no matter what season. However, I might tweak her middle name. Like Océane in the summer or [name_f]Rosaline[/name_f] in the spring/fall.
Sometimes! I go by feeling, sound, and smell.
If something reminds me of warm spice, I think of cool / chilly seasons like Fall and Winter. Those names are Saffron, Clove, and Rosemary. If something reminds of me cool refreshments, I think of Spring and Summer. Those are Drusilla, Eustacia, and Quince. If the spelling of a name looks breezy and sweet to me, that seems like Spring. So, names with a lot of e and a letters, especially close together. Reese, Fleet, and Arleen, for example.
So, going off my sig: Arcturus is Spring / Summer. Bear coming out of hibernation! Maximilian is Summer. Ramiel is a summer’s thunderstorm or a winter’s snowstorm with thunder behind it. Abell is autumnal. Sylvan is Spring with silver-topped trees and spring storm elegance. Estella is brighter during Winter. Dorothea flourishes in Fall.
Most of the time, I go by what personality / quirks I think the name is associated with. For example, Steven is super different from Stephen. Steven is a bit sharper behind the calm persona. Steven is the bass player, often overlooked but once he stops playing, everyone notices. People rely on him to take care of the most important and underrated stuff. Honestly, for Steven, I would associate that name with Fall, even though the E sounds usually remind me of breezy Spring. That name is all about being prepared and wanting nothing to do with the weight of Summer.
Stephen is a bit more sarcastic and droll, probably would rather be the singer or the guitar player. That ‘ph’ spelling makes me think more Summer for some reason. Huh.
@gildedfairyx: The warm and cool sensations make a lot of sense! That is part of what guides me in sorting names to particular seasons. Also, [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_f]Oceane[/name_f] is beautiful!
@awkwarddeafchick: Smell is an interesting one! I like the ideas of spice representing the colder seasons. Like mulled wine or apple cider with cinnamon. Your descriptions of each name are wonderful. I particularly liked [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m]'s.
Not really, although I think I could. I associate names with certain colors, and I associate months/seasons with certain colors, so they could match up. For instance, [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is a light pink and purple color, and I associate the month of [name_f]April[/name_f] with purple and [name_f]May[/name_f] with pink, so I guess [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is a spring name. [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] is red and brown, like [name_f]September[/name_f] and [name_u]November[/name_u] respectively ([name_f]October[/name_f] is orange) so I guess she’s a fall name. Others would be harder though. [name_f]Juno[/name_f] is a sky blue, like [name_u]January[/name_u] and [name_u]June[/name_u], so her season isn’t quite clear. Similarly, [name_m]Leo[/name_m] is yellow and green, like [name_u]August[/name_u] (bit more gold than [name_m]Leo[/name_m]’s yellow) and [name_u]March[/name_u] ([name_m]Leo[/name_m]’s green is darker), which don’t match up. I do think [name_m]Leo[/name_m] is more of a summer name than spring, but I can’t decide if [name_f]Juno[/name_f] is summer or winter.
The season of their birth would definitely not impact which name I pick for a future child.
Weirdly, I do agree that [name_f]Freya[/name_f] is more of a winter name, however I have a character named [name_f]Freya[/name_f] who is definitely a summer birthday (probably [name_u]June[/name_u]).
Thank you! I associate seasons strongly with smell, so I thought it was appropriate for the topic. Now you’ve got me wondering what name would be associated with mulled wine and apple cider with cinnamon. Hmm. Also, [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] is one of my top favorite names!