I’m not sure how this works for anyone else, but when I consider a name I always envision it on a human of that gender in different stages of life.
For example, lately I’ve been really crushing on [name_u]Scout[/name_u] for a girl. enter thought process
Can I see [name_u]Scout[/name_u] as a newborn? Check.
Can I imagine scout as a little toddler? Check.
Can I imagine a six year old girl with her name taped to her desk in first grade? Can I imagine her not being teased or ostracized for her name? Check.
Can I imagine a teenage girl called [name_u]Scout[/name_u]? [name_f]Kinda[/name_f] check.
Can I imagine a uni student called [name_u]Scout[/name_u]? Not really.
Can I imagine going to the bank and being served by a middle aged lady called [name_u]Scout[/name_u]? Not really.
Can I imagine a woman going to parent teacher interviews and introducing herself as [name_u]Scout[/name_u]? Nope.
Can I imagine a grandmother called [name_u]Scout[/name_u]? If I stretch my imagination, it’s kinda cute. end thought process
That is where I get stuck with names. I think this whole process, and I’m not sure where it has come from, really holds me back from loving names like [name_u]Scout[/name_u], and even using them when the time comes.
Is my thinking irrational? [name_m]How[/name_m] do I get out of this thinking rut?
I also do not mean to offend any [name_u]Scout[/name_u]'s out there!
Yep same here I also see a certain name with a certain hair and Eye colour like [name_f]Milly[/name_f]'s blonde dark blue eyed and [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] has auburn or dark brown hair with either striking green or icy blue eyes
I don’t really have a check list, but I do like to be able to imagine the name on a person of some age. And I love having an image of what someone with that name would be like. It’s not really that much of a necessity for me though, because I think that names will almost always suit the person. But I get where you’re coming from, I have some irrational rules which restrict names I like, mainly the whole mostly 7 letter firsts.
I never understood “will name age well?” thing. I think every name will suit old gradma or university professor or a child, as long if it’s not [name_u]Baby[/name_u] or Male.
I can’t imagine [name_u]Scout[/name_u] on an adult, either, but that’s because it’s rare name that become slightly popular recently. I can’t imagine [name_f]Melusine[/name_f] on a baby, only on young adult woman, but that doesn’t mean name won’t fit my child.
I think this is a fantastic way of gauging a name’s versatility. [name_u]Scout[/name_u] is a favorite of mine, but I doubt I would use it, partly for its inability to age too well. [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] nn [name_u]Scout[/name_u] is a great solution if you’re open to it. I have to say, more parents should adopt your method of choosing names. We may end up with a few less Makynzli’s in the world.
I don’t go by the age thing, because a lot of women in my family either had/have cutesy names, or opted for the diminutive and hate their full name. The only test I do is, I ask myself if I would like to be called one of the names on my list. Would I like to be a [name_f]Doris[/name_f]? Yes. Would I like to be named [name_f]Honey[/name_f]? no.
^That’s the only test for me too.
I can imagine pretty much any name on a person of any age. Some names are easier to imagine because we’re used to seeing them on people that age and others are harder because they haven’t been very common for very long, it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t work.
