So I’ve always loved the name [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] not only because of the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] character but also because of it’s meaning and overall sound. I’d love to use it myself as a baby name BUT I’d hate for it to be constantly associated with being based off the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] character.
Does anyone know anyone called [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], used it as a name for their baby, or is anyone themselves called [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and do you/they have this problem?
I can’t answer your questions, but I just want to say I don’t think it’d be a big deal, these days! My answer would have been different when the books were still coming out-- maybe even the initial eight films-- because the series was everywhere. You couldn’t get away from it. Now, though it’s obviously still very popular, I think most people have enough distance from it to where we wouldn’t just assume [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] was a tribute name. Greek names are really well-received by most people; it’s not like you want to name your son Voldemort or something. There’s obviously going to be some association with the character, just because the name isn’t otherwise popular, but I doubt it would be overwhelming.
To be honest, I wouldn’t have a problem naming my child [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_f]Katniss[/name_f] and all these names that could be associated with fictional characters, if I like it, I use it. I’m now struggling between [name_f]Aimee[/name_f] and [name_f]Davina[/name_f], which I got from a TV show, for my baby #2 and I don’t even care about the fact that I took it from fiction, of course [name_f]Davina[/name_f] and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] are different things as [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] is basically the only place most of us heard the name. But I do know a little girl called [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], my niece, who loves her name exactly because of [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] and no one seems to think of [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] [name_m]Granger[/name_m] when they hear her name, she also goes by [name_f]Emma[/name_f] as a nickname and sometimes I call her [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]. She is a super smart, happy-go-lucky kid and because of her, everytime I hear the name [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], I have positive thoughts.
I definitely think you’d get a bit of association with [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], especially with book 8 just coming out, but with the other books being older and this one being in a script format, it’ll probably fade as she gets older.
I wouldn’t let that stop you from using it if you love the name though, it’s beautiful.
It’s all [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] to me and nms, but to be fair it does have a history of use in the early 1900s on the SSA list
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f] is my absolute favourite name. The ancient meaning, the lyrical sound, it’s just beautiful. I would definitely use it if I had a daughter.
I think the book reference is super prevalent, it would be hard to get away from it, especially here in the UK. I’m not a [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] fan, but the association doesn’t bother me - it’s not like she’s a bad character or anything. I don’t care about the reference personally, I love the name too much to let that bother me.
Before [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], I doubt most people in the U.S. would have pronounced it correctly, so it will be interesting if the name itself stays mainstream if the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] association fades. No other books have had such widespread influence in the years since the originals were published, and I think it’s safe to say at this point that they’ll endure as classics. So I would bet the name is always associated with [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], but I agree that it’s not really a big deal.
I’m in the same boat as you! I love [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], but I’d hate for my future daughter to always be associated with [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] [name_m]Granger[/name_m] (not that she’s a bad character or anything, she’s actually a pretty good character: she’s smart, loyal, kind, witty, wise, etc) but knowing how popular HP is among our generation, I’m afraid the association is too strong. I think as time goes on, the association will lessen. And I think the book series puts a positive spin on it. People will be happy to hear it and they’ll say, “Oh I love her name! I loved [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] in HP”. And you can always say it isn’t after HP, it’s a family name or it’s from [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] or from Greek mythology. And I will agree that the book series has made the name recognizable and more easily (I’m sure she will have some trouble nonetheless) pronounced. And I agree that the nickname [name_f]Minnie[/name_f], or [name_f]Maia[/name_f] ([name_f]Maya[/name_f]) or [name_f]Mia[/name_f] would, would be so cute. If I had guts, I’d go for it.
I have a friend named [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]! Everybody called her [name_f]Maia[/name_f] when she was smaller, but she started pushing for [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] in full a few years ago, and nobody has a problem with it. When I think [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], I think of my friend, not the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] character. Although that may be because I’ve never been interested in [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], but I think it works very nice!
I think it’s all [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] [name_m]Granger[/name_m], sadly. She is a great character, don’t get me wrong (my fave of the saga, actually), but I think the association may be too big (especially for the generation who grew up with the books). I also love the mithological origin. Maybe something similar? There is a book 8 coming out soon, so I don’t think [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] will fade soon.
I do know a little [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], actually! Her name caused quite a splash where we lived, mainly because I used to live in a small country town where girls were mainly named Top 10 names. Anyhow, her mom was an English teacher and the girl’s name came from [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], which the mom was never shy about ([name_f]Hermione[/name_f]'s brother was named [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] before it was cool lol). Adults didn’t really get the association, but us kids did. No one bothered her about it, that I know of. [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] [name_m]Granger[/name_m] is probably one of the coolest namesakes ever! To me, the name represents intelligence, friendship, bravery, personal growth, passion for convictions, and so on. I can’t think of one negative connotation regarding the name [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]. I’d love to use it, but it sort of clashes with my surname and DH isn’t a fan.
I love HP, my all time favorite books. Sadly though I feel as though [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] is all HP. I had never heard of the name prior to HP, and in my age group generation (20-30) every single friend of mine will associate [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] with [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m]. It is such a beautiful name though.
I would imagine that many (if not all) real Hermiones are elderly ladies in [name_m]Britain[/name_m]. I love [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] [name_m]Granger[/name_m] and think she’s a great character to have tied to a name. I don’t see why a strong tie to [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] should prevent parents from using [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]. It isn’t as though J. K. Rowling invented the name for the series.
I’ve never met a [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and have only ever heard the name because of [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m].
Honestly, I would assume the mother was a super fan if I didn’t just read all the previous posts stating that the name [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] was not invented for the series and actually dates back quite a bit. HP is still pretty popular where I live.
If this name was my style and I really loved it, I don’t think I would even let a popular series like this stop me. I would just be prepared to do a lot of explaining that YES she shares a name with that character, but NO she was not named after her.
It depends on how annoying you would find people making that association all the time.
Sadly, I have to agree that [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] sounds like a HP reference to me. I think it’s because I’ve never heard the name before HP - which is strange, because I’m interested in mythology and esp. Hermeticism.
Another reason is probably that I know quite a few people who seem to consider exclusively novel or movie character names for their children. So over the last few years, it’s started to really annoy me.
And of course, I personally don’t care for [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], so it’s not even a pleasant reference to me.
HOWEVER! If someone told me they were going to name their daughter [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], for the mythology, not for HP, I’d [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] that. I’d consider myself an ignorant for only thinking HP, and the reference would fade quickly - esp. with a real little [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] walking around.
All names have some downsides (modern=made up, classic=boring, unique=too out-there, ect.)
At this point in pop culture, use it if you like it.
I would certainly associate [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] with [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], and assume she was named after the character. I also don’t think [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] is going to fade from certainly my generations kind anytime soon, what with book 8 having just been released, and there new films coming out in the next few years.
But I don’t that should stop you. She’s really a wonderful namesake, and the name is lovely, and people will get over it once they know a little [name_f]Hermione[/name_f].
I love [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], and I love the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] character. She’s my favourite, I love the series, and I’m a sucker for a good literary name. I do think HP brought the name into the limelight (it’s in the top 1000 in [name_f]England[/name_f]/[name_m]Wales[/name_m]), but in a good way, and I’d gladly name a daughter to honour her. I don’t see a problem ;). Unfortunately I don’t know any Hermiones, but it is a great name with awesome associations!