Lately I love [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] to death. I think it’s a gorgeous & masculine name but I would know what you think.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think it’s too tied to the character? I will confess that I haven’t read the book but others have told that the character isn’t the best role model.
What do you think?
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you like it?
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a boy named [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] would be embarrassed about his nÂme?
Okay, I adore Wuthering Heights but despite of and because of it I would not name a child [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m]. The name is very tied to the character and he was not a very nice person. I would not say he was entirely bad, more of an anti-hero, but he’s no role-model. I also very much [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] was in use as anything other than a surname until [name_f]Emily[/name_f] [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] used it, so he’s also sort of the ‘original’ if you like.
If I met a little boy named [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] I would assume his parents were huge fans of Wuthering Heights and/or [name_f]Emily[/name_f] [name_f]Bronte[/name_f].
As for the name itself it’s very tied to the character, to me it would be the same as people who use [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], a famous tragic kind of character, who is not the best role model but not a completely terrible person either.
While I think that the separate names of [name_m]Heath[/name_m] and [name_m]Cliff[/name_m] are OK, I do think [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] is one step too far. Sorry, but it’s VERY connected in my head to [name_f]Emily[/name_f] [name_f]Bronte[/name_f], Wuthering Heights, and even [name_f]Kate[/name_f] [name_m]Bush[/name_m]. I wouldn’t use it as a first name, because of this, and the obvious teasing potential… it would make a cracking middle though!
I love [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m]. The character is one of my most favourite ones of all time, I don’t think he’s a ad namesake at all. Yes he’s stubborn and proud and a bit mean, but who isn’t. He’s much better than many super boring idiot characters I see people swoon over all the time. [name_m]Heath[/name_m] Ledger was named after [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m], I think it’s a better idea to use [name_m]Heath[/name_m] like his parents did unless you put it in the middle. I would also advise you to read the book. It’s a wonderful story, a very rare one as the two main characters are not that sympathetic. She didn’t write a fluffy boring story, it’s so real the way everything is captured, these two characters have been through hell, and they do make some very bad decisions, but their love and passion for each other is extremely well written, it leaps out of the pages and intoxicates you. Anyway… people like all sorts of boring, bland, horrific character names, in my opinion [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] is better than most even though he’s a tad cruel. Most of the people (in the book) deserve it quite honestly. [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m]'s incredibly complex and he’s most definitely human, and a man (as in; not a boy). So thumbs up from me!
As soon as I read the title of this thread, [name_f]Kate[/name_f] [name_m]Bush[/name_m]'s Wuthering Heights started playing in my head. I imagine someone with the name [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] would get that song sung at them enough for it to be annoying.
I think it’s very wearable with the nickname [name_m]Heath[/name_m]. The full name is sort of on the edge of being too much, but I think a certain sort of person could pull it off.
@hanniekitt : thanks. I undersand what you mean about the name be too tied to the character . I havent read the book so i dont know if this is bad or good though . @alexa400 : thanks .Well , iam not a fan of [name_f]Emily[/name_f] [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] lol . @babtr1ll : thanks . I like it as a middle too . But with what first ? @ottilie : thanks . I read that [name_m]Heath[/name_m] Ledger was named after the character . [name_m]Even[/name_m] his sister name is [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] after the character too ! With your description about the character i know i definitly want to read the book . Mabe i can find it online … @nono : thanks : I dont know about the song . But i agree . the right person would pull i off ?
So , what middle or first would you pair with [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] ?
Yeah sorry, [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] is a bit too much for me. Too much on its own, without even the connotation of the book. Also, if you haven’t even read the book, that to me is another no. I think the only way literary names like that can work, is if the parent has a strong connection to the character or the book for whatever reason. That’s just my two cents.
I like the suggestion of [name_m]Heath[/name_m] though!
It has been so long since I read the book I have forgotten the character but in today’s world I would tend to feel that it is a bit [name_m]OTT[/name_m].
I like [name_m]Heath[/name_m] and toyed with combo of [name_m]Heath[/name_m] [name_m]Cliff[/name_m] but [name_m]Clifton[/name_m] [name_m]Heath[/name_m] sounds better to me. So, at the end of the day I think I would go for [name_m]Heath[/name_m] but the downside of that is it would annoy me if people thought my child was named [name_m]Keith[/name_m].
Not only Wuthering Heights comes to mind, but also I am reminded of the little orange cat cartoon. That being said, I do know a [name_m]Garfield[/name_m], another orange cat cartoon, who wears his name well. I think [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] could work, but I would reserve for the middle name spot.
[name_m]Bill[/name_m] Cosby’s character’s name on The Cosby Show was named [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m]… That’s a pretty good namesake if you ask me! And I agree with the previous poster that [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] from Wuthering Heights has some good, redeemable qualities.
Personally, I love the name, and it has cute nickname options, so I’m all for it!
It would work as a middle name, but it feels slightly pretentious as a first name. It is dashing though. Honestly I’d rather see [name_m]Heath[/name_m] or [name_m]Cliff[/name_m] get some love.
I know a [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] who is about 35 years old. I actually just found out his name was [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] too! The whole time I have known him he has gone by [name_m]Heath[/name_m], I just though that was his name. Found out a few weeks ago he is in fact, [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m]!!
He goes by [name_m]Heath[/name_m] for obvious reasons, [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] is quite a mouthful. He thinks his name is just ok, he said he does like [name_m]Heath[/name_m] though!
I love it! After Wuthering Heights, I also thought of [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] Huxtable, but in any case, it’s a sufficiently versatile name. The kid could choose to go by either [name_m]Heath[/name_m] or [name_m]Cliff[/name_m], if he finds [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] a bit weighty.
I kind of hated [name_m]Heathcliff[/name_m] in the book, so I wouldn’t be able to shake that negative association. I love [name_m]Heath[/name_m], though.
