You see, as you can probably infer from my username, Sansa is my first choice for a daughter, should I have one. Today, after a year or two of having them in my heart, it suddenly hit me that I have a glaring problem with my favorite girl name and my favorite boy name - [name]Leo[/name]. I’m hoping there are fans of the show (or books) around to give their opinion, but I’ll try to sum it up for general answers.
Sansa is a name of a POV character in the Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and [name]Fire[/name] series that is becoming more well known. As a character, among her greatest antagonists are the members of the Lannister family. In this medieval inspired saga, the main families are represented by a sigil (often an animal). The Lannisters’ icon is a lion. [name]Leo[/name], as everyone knows, means lion. Something about having my two favorites oppose each other in this way makes me think that maybe I shouldn’t use Sansa and [name]Leo[/name]… together.
Any opinions?
PS-I think if I gave up one, I’d rather keep Sansa. I feel rather attached to it, and it’s hard enough for me to find girl names that I could actually picture myself using.
I’ve read Game of Thrones and I did not think of that connection until you pointed it out. You might be over-thinking just a tad, but that’s to be expected when you love a name as much as you love Sansa
You’re definitely over-thinking this. The name Sansa will most likely become recognizably tied to the show. You’ll probably get people asking you if your daughter is named after the character, but who cares? If a random person, upon hearing your children’s names, goes through that whole convoluted thought process leading them to the conclusion that you named your kids after enemies, well…then they’re a huge nerd? LOL! Really, I don’t think it matters. Any connection between the names is coincidental.
I haven’t seen or read GOT, but I’d choose Léo over Sansa if I felt the need to drop one. [name]Love[/name] it with the accent, “LAYo”
Sansa reminds me of words like “sensory” “sensitive” “Samsung” and the French word “sans” (without.) It feels like a name that might be given to a company that produces touch-screen technology or something.
Yea you are definitely overthinking it. Despite having watched the seires and knowing it quite well, I didn’t make that connection before I read it here and it still doesn’t bother me.
Haha, maybe I am getting just a bit harebrained here. It’s kind of a relief to hear that though, as I sincerely like both names and would want to use them if I could.
emmabobemma: I speak French, so sans is one thing I considered as a possible downside of the name, but in the end it wasn’t enough to turn me off it. [name]Soraya[/name] is a lovely choice of what you suggested, though. I do have a love of S-names, for both genders.
thatkathryngirl: I figured I’d get the questions, and I agree, it doesn’t matter that much. Sure, I heard of the name through those books but in the end, it’s that I like the name that I’d use it, not because I’m some crazy obsessed fan-lady.
I think the name Sansa is pretty, but I agree with this. Probably because my MP3 player was produced by a company called Sansa and I have a Samsung phone. What about [name]Senna[/name] or [name]Zanna[/name]/[name]Zhanna[/name]?
ETA: Also, I don’t think anyone will ever make the connection to GOT and the lion sigil. [name]Don[/name]'t worry about it!
I’ve heard of the mp3 a long time ago too, but even that doesn’t bug me. I’ve considered similar names to test how much I like Sansa, but I really always end up back with it.
I think Sansa is a really beautiful name! It doesn’t sound made up or like it could only exist on the show. I think the [name]Leo[/name] connection is unnoticable to the common person, only big game of thrones fans. I wouldnt change your choices if they are your faves just because of the connection. game of thrones will one day be an old show too
But if you change one , I would keep Sansa as it is unique and you really seem to love it.
Oh , I have a samsung phone too always have and never made that connection. It doesnt sound like a company or product to me.
Ha! I have a Sansa mp3 player, too. However, I think the fact that there is a character in a popular book/tv show with that name will make it seem more acceptable as a name for a human rather than electronic equipment to most people.
Definitely over thinking it.
I’ve read the 1st book and didn’t even remember that their symbol was a lion, much less connect that with the name [name]Leo[/name].
Personally I feel like Sansa sounds like sugar substitute, but if it’s your only love, then go with it.
daninurse: Thank you! Indeed, one day the show will fade into the dust, but right now it’s at its apex, seemingly, so that makes me all discombobulated, I guess.
I’ve read the books AND watch the show, and I didn’t notice the connection until you pointed it out.
[name]Even[/name] though the lion is the sigil of House Lannister, the lion is a historic, cultural, and literary symbol world over. I do see that a true, super book nerd (that I count myself as one) who had need of tact possibly pointing it out to you, but you can always say “Well, I didn’t name him Joffery/Petyr/Illyn/Tywin/[name]Walder[/name]/Greggor…” etc.
I love that you want to name a daughter Sansa! She’s one of my favorite POV, and I find the general fandom’s lack of appreciation for her a little disheartening.
Personally, I’m just as obsessed with ASOIAF’s names as I am with real world names.
habert: Oh, I could so sympathize with you on the lack of appreciation. I don’t know if you’ve ever made it over to the Westeros.org forums, but it’s especially divided in fan opinion there. I am a nerd for the books, big time. Specifically with Sansa, I identify with her story a lot as there was a time in my life when I was younger that I felt very in the midst of chaos as she was in her time of imprisonment in [name]King[/name]'s Landing.
GRRM uses a lot of great names. So many that I’d like to use a lot, but I’ll restrain myself xD
It’s very upsetting that some readers don’t have sympathy for an eleven year old hostage in a very abusive situation. I find Westeros.org to be generally the most appalling when it comes to discussing female characters. I love towerofthehand.com!
Yes, some of my favorite names that I would consider: [name]Jorah[/name], Jeor, Brienne, Trystane, Doreah, [name]Doran[/name], Jeyne, and Sansa! There are others, I change my mind constantly, haha!
For some reason, I always thought the name [name]Kevin[/name] a bit boring and a “my old man” kind of name. But spelled [name]Kevan[/name] and attached to [name]Kevan[/name] Lannister, and suddenly it transforms to a very usable name! It’s funny how that works.
Another one that’s been floating around my brain lately is Damaris, which bears much similarity to the Mother of Dragons. I think it’s probably not do-able, sadly. Jorah, Brienne, Doreah, Doran, I all like. I agree about Kevan, though I am drawn also because my “brother” has that name ("" = old childhood friend). Some other names that bear mention… Arya (ahead of the trend, GRRM!), Brandon (though it’s dated to most people), Eddard “Ned”, Asha/Ashara, Theon, Sandor I like in a weird way… it’d be neat as a short form of Alexander perhaps. Jaime and Robb are common-sounding names that I never liked until I picked up the books. I like Circe, but Cersei has ruined it for me by a mile.
And, I think that’s it? Probably not. His character indexes at the back of each novel are a name lover’s dream!
Edit: Ah, Davos. Though I am iffy as before the show came on, I was saying it dave-o’s. Prefer the dah-vos they have going on, I must say.
Oh, I can’t believe I forgot Davos! Because I love Davos. I love love love him. Most of my friends who I turned on to the books do not understand my love for him. They are like “Oh, he’s cool I guess” and I’m just head-over-heels for him. What can I say? We don’t get to choose who we love.
So, yes, Davos is definitely on the table for me for future children, although I might be partial for it to be a MN. But Davos is definitely my kind of style for names, AND I love the character.
So, long story short, I think you’re awesome to be considering Sansa so seriously.
