Impressions of Sterling?

It’s a name I don’t think we’d ever seriously consider, but it is one that I keep coming back to. It has an intriguing sound…but something about it bothers me. I first came across this name when I was little, in an American Girl series (for the [name_u]Kit[/name_u] doll). In the book, the boy was presented as timid, sickly, sheltered, little…he was nicknamed Lamby, for goodness sakes. Since then, I always think of this name as wimpy and timid.

What do you guys think? And do you think this is actually wearable?

To me, [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] is the exact opposite of the timid, sickly boy you described. I think of it as roguish, almost a bit cowboy.

I know a [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] who is in his late 20s (who oddly enough doesn’t fit my description – he’s a fighter pilot). He carries it very well and to my knowledge has never had any issues with his name.

I really like the name [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] and it is definitely not a timid, quiet name, [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. I get the opposite of @lonestar’s impression from the name. For me, it has a British boarding school/old money kind of feel to it with undertones of mischief. I picture a handsome boy in a neatly pressed uniform but with the collar and tie undone and a roguish grin. You know he was brought up well and knows how he should behave, but has no desire to actually behave because where’s the fun in that? haha

I think it is wearable. Nowadays, there are hardly any names that aren’t wearable because names are so varied now. What’s trendy or popular ranges from classic names like [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] to word names like [name_f]Snow[/name_f] and [name_u]Story[/name_u] to place names like [name_u]London[/name_u] and [name_u]Holland[/name_u] (and [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] technically). [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] isn’t going to stand out as odd or out of place in the grand scheme of names being thrown around. One thing to consider about wearability (pretty sure I made that word up, but whatever…lol), though, is your specific community. Are names like [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] odd where you are? If so, is it going to bother you that, in your particular area, [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] is going to be a name that really stands out?

@lonestar: Oh wow, our connotations are completely different lol! Interesting to hear of an actual [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] :slight_smile:

@chelsanne22: Another different connotation! I have to say, even though all of our thoughts are different, I like what you two have to say about it and it makes me like it more than I ever have. Maybe I will have to run it by my husband :slight_smile: Good point about wearable names. I grew up around people with standard popular names ([name_u]Michael[/name_u], [name_f]Kayla[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_u]Tyler[/name_u], etc) or those with foreign names (my relatives)…so those are my “normal”. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I realized there were people named [name_u]Story[/name_u] and Sparkle! I once again live in a relatively small town, where everyone pretty much names their kids some version of [name_f]Adalyn[/name_f], [name_f]Braelynn[/name_f], [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] (+ variations), [name_m]Liam[/name_m], [name_u]Noah[/name_u], and [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. Shoot, even naming my kid [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] or [name_m]Charles[/name_m] would be earth-shattering in these parts :wink: sadly, I’m not even joking lol. So [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] would definitely stand out…but I guess I have to decided whether or not it would be worth it. It doesn’t bother me, but I live in a town that is tripping over itself to be “progressive” that anything different than what they like will be condemned, ironically.

Sounds like maybe your town needs a [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] to shake things up! lol Especially if [name_m]Charles[/name_m] or [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] is earth-shattering. I can’t even imagine. xD

Haha, I agree! Leave it to my adopted living place to be so weird :stuck_out_tongue: although I guess it provides the slight “comfort” that any name I choose would be sneered at lol.

I know a sterling, he’s about 7, plays with my kids, very confident and very cute little kid, he’s not a conformist, most of the people we associate with are not and his parents are very intelegent. I always liked the name and was happy to know a child called this. It’s often referred to as a virtue name because it denotes value. I have never read those books. I think I may be slightly older than you as I believe I stopped being interested just before that series came out but I wouldn’t assume that most people have read that and hold it as an association. Mostly people will assume sterling silver as an influence. I think it’s a strong and underused name.

I think of [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] [name_u]North[/name_u], the early 20th century American author. It’s engaging, intelligent, slightly outdoorsy due to Mr. [name_u]North[/name_u]'s subject matter, and [name_f]IMO[/name_f], very wearable.

I am not a fan, but this is one of my husband’s favorites. He thinks it’s strong, masculine and interesting. The -ing ending for me is just too hard to get past personally.

I think of the term for money/currency, firstly. And then the Scottish city ([name_m]Stirling[/name_m]). So it’s overall not very ‘‘namely’’ to me and the fact it’s so closely related to money makes it feel a bit flashy / ‘‘cheap’’ in the way that [name_u]Armani[/name_u] or [name_m]Cash[/name_m] sound to some people.

I really just can’t picture it on a real person, so can’t really agree or disagree with the timid description. (I have known of one, he was the little boy of a blogger I followed a few years ago. He was adopted as an older child and it wasn’t his birth name and I never thought it suited him so that doesn’t help at all).

I’m very aware that this sounds negative so far but I really don’t dislike it! In theory, think it has a nice sound and I love the letter combinations (very visually pleasing I mean!). It reminds me of bells, and it feels so golden and spirited. I would ultimately say it’s a good name!

[name_u]Sterling[/name_u] to me sounds very western, which I like.

I like [name_u]Sterling[/name_u]. It is charming, uncommon, but simple.