[name_u]Ever[/name_u] since I was young, the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] saga(?) has been a monumental part of my growing up, and it’s always meant a lot to me. It sort of ended up shaping me into who I am, and worked as a coping mechanism when I was younger, so it’s almost like, a part of me, if that makes sense?
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t get me wrong, I’d never outright use a name I didn’t like, [name_m]JUST[/name_m] because it was in [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] (looking at you [name_f]Luna[/name_f], [name_m]Draco[/name_m], [name_m]Lucius[/name_m] and [name_m]Ron[/name_m]), but there are some names that I’ve learned to love over the years, thanks to the characters. For the longest time, it was just [name_m]Harry[/name_m] and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] that I grew to love because of the movies, but lately, [name_m]Neville[/name_m]'s been one I’ve liked a lot.
I love the character of [name_m]Neville[/name_m] Longbottom - and honestly, I can connect to him in so many ways, so I really do feel like I love the name [name_m]Neville[/name_m], but, I feel like something is holding me back.
I saw some, well, not so nice (to put it nicely) comments about the name, so now, I feel more torn on it.
A) What are your honest thoughts on [name_m]Neville[/name_m]?
B) Does the name [name_m]Neville[/name_m] sound whiny or dull?
C) What do you imagine a boy named [name_m]Neville[/name_m] looking like? (Hopefully nicer descriptions that what I’ve previously found :p)
Well I just recently jumped on the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] bandwagon (just bought book 3 last night-I’m a little late to the party, I know haha) and from what I know about [name_m]Neville[/name_m] so far is that he seems to be an overall very good kid, clumsy and forgetful but always well meaning. I don’t have a bad association of the name but I definitely think of [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] right away. I think the name seems very British and charming- soundwise it kinda reminds me of [name_u]Devin[/name_u], [name_m]Kevin[/name_m], [name_u]Evan[/name_u], [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_m]Gavin[/name_m] etc. I wouldn’t say it’s dull but it’s not overly exciting. But it’s nice that is not mega popular in rankings abd it would age really well. I picture a [name_m]Neville[/name_m] as an honest boy with a solemn face and big round, soulful eyes. Not very athletic (not chunky though) and somewhat bookish.
IMHO [name_m]Neville[/name_m] really was the hero of the HP series, and there’s even lots of fan theories that [name_m]Harry[/name_m] was just a decoy and he was in fact the chosen one! anyhoo…
As for picturing a [name_m]Neville[/name_m], the actor in the movie pretty much sums up what most of our children will be like – awkward for many, many years but then suddenly a strong and attractive person. What your kid will look like is a crap shoot no matter how normal or attractive the name.
If you love the name I say give it a go, and as far as literary characters go, you’ve chosen a great one to hopefully inspire your son. If you’re really worried, pick a slightly less unusual MN or let [name_m]Neville[/name_m] be the MN. Good luck!
I love the character [name_m]Neville[/name_m] Longbottom but honestly I don’t love the sound of [name_m]Neville[/name_m]. It’s not a bad name and I think it was perfect for the awkward nerdy lovable kid in the book, but I think it sounds just like that awkward and nerdy (I guess though if thats what you’re going for its a great choice!)
I love that name, too! I just picture a [name_m]Neville[/name_m] the way I picture most boy’s names I haven’t used on characters–which is very hard to describe, sorry, but it’s positive.
It’s definitely not my favorite name…it’s nerdy, but a bad nerdy. I think of the kid with the huge framed glasses and a pocket protector with braces, that gets stuffed into lockers and the bigger kids bully him for his lunch money. It’s right up there with [name_m]Dudley[/name_m], [name_u]Sheldon[/name_u], and [name_m]Eugene[/name_m]. The character in the movie and book definitely becomes the hero in the end but before that he was the cluts people laughed at, [name_f]IMO[/name_f], not a good namesake.
Two of my friends have fathers named [name_m]Neville[/name_m], i think its a great name for an adult but i feel like its a bit too nerdy to suit a young person. I wasnt a bully in high school, but if i had been, id have been stealing [name_m]Neville[/name_m]'s lunch money.
Thanks for the input everyone, some was I guess more harsh than I expected? Haha, oh well. I’m still on the fence, but, I know a couple boys with ‘nerdy’ names - I know a 17 year old [name_u]Sheldon[/name_u], and a boy named [name_u]Sidney[/name_u], which seems to sort of fall into the same vein, and they get on fine. Besides that, you’d bully someone off their name? O.o
I used to get bullied a lot because of my name, so yes it happens. There are people who have names that can pull it off great and overcome that. But most can’t. I knew a [name_m]Dudley[/name_m]. Everyone was incredibly cruel to him, not just because of his name but I bet that threw gas on the fire. He had to switch schools. [name_m]Just[/name_m] think of the [name_m]Neville[/name_m] in [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], he got bulled, he was the nerdy cowardly kid and his name fits him. He was pretty bad ass in the end though, but his act of courage was out of character, essentially. I’m not trying to be mean or anything, there’s lots of names I like that most people wouldn’t but I’d never actually name a child any of those names, minus my favorite guilty pleasure name [name_m]Floyd[/name_m]. It’s a good name in theory, I just wouldn’t name an actual child that XD There’s lots of cool nerdy names out there! Some of my favorites that give me the cool but nerdy vibe are [name_m]Walter[/name_m], [name_m]Calvin[/name_m], [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u], [name_m]Clyde[/name_m], and [name_m]Alfred[/name_m]
Hey, [name_m]Neville[/name_m] was a great character. I say if the novels were that influential to you, you should use the name. He was always good hearted and lovable in my opinion. Plus at the end he really proves himself a leader and a true Gryffindor. As far as teasing goes, you are more likely to have adults go on and on about it than other children because 1. Naming is becoming more diverse. 2. Kids being born now won’t be nearly as familiar with the series as the current generation, because they are little kids.
The name does sound a little nerdy, but honestly, people put way too much stock into teasing potential of names. Any name can be made fun of. [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] becomes icky [name_f]Vicky[/name_f], [name_m]Zach[/name_m] rhymes with ball sack, [name_m]Donny[/name_m] ponny, all examples of real life teasing over very normal names. But even if your child is made fun of for his name, he won’t die from it. I don’t think that kids should be bullied, but if they are it teaches them how to overcome adversity, a very important life skill. You can’t coddle your baby forever.
Obviously I wouldn’t name my child something truly awful, but [name_m]Neville[/name_m] is a fairly tame choice.
I love [name_m]Neville[/name_m] - both the character and the name. It’s handsome and strong and intelligent. I know (through a friend) a [name_m]Neville[/name_m] and he wears it well. [name_m]Neville[/name_m] Longbottom is possibly the most admirable characters in HP, definitely a respectable character to name your child after. Honestly, I kind of imagine an awkward child, but growing through his teens and maturing and becoming someone that you would want to know and be friends with.
SO, um, yeah. Vote for [name_m]Neville[/name_m] from me
