I love the name [name_f]Amity[/name_f]. It does make me think of Amityville Horror, but I also think of the [name_u]Elliott[/name_u] [name_m]Smith[/name_m] song and a character in a novel that I read this summer, so it’s not like it’s the only reference.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think the Amityville thing ruins the name? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think of that associate immediately? If you do, does that make it unusable? What about if it’s hyphenated like [name_f]Amity[/name_f]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f]? Does that diffuse it? What do you think of the nickname [name_f]Amma[/name_f]/[name_f]Ama[/name_f]?
A former classmate of mine named his daughter [name_f]Amity[/name_f], a few years ago. They named her after Amityville, but it was kind of funny, because people didn’t draw that connection and instead looked up the name and found the definition of amity. People fell in love with it and the very thing the girl was named after still hasn’t even been brought up! I feel like that association isn’t exactly on the forefront of everyone’s minds anymore, so you should be safe. [name_m]Even[/name_m] then, if someone asks about it, you could just share your personal association of the name and why you chose it. I personally associate it with its denotation since [name_f]Amity[/name_f] is hardly a common word or name.
I think hyphenating it wouldn’t really stop any potential association with Amityville, because you still have the distinctive name in the mix…it’s like if you were to want to name your boy [name_m]Adolf[/name_m] but were worried about the Hitler association, so named him [name_u]Michael[/name_u]-[name_m]Adolf[/name_m]. I don’t mean any disrespect by that, by the way. I just feel it doesn’t automatically throw people off of what you are trying to avoid. Honestly, [name_f]Amity[/name_f] is a very pretty name. [name_f]Ama[/name_f] could definitely work as a nickname and so could [name_f]Ami[/name_f]. My former classmate calls his girl “[name_u]Cal[/name_u]-[name_f]Amity[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]” lol.
I like the name [name_f]Amity[/name_f] and I have never made that connection. Being a word name may help a little in that regard, as namegirl mentioned.
Haha my name is [name_f]Amity[/name_f]. When people ask me about it, I tell them I was basically named after a church and that it means “friendship”. That disarms them pretty quickly. The vast majority of people under 25 don’t know what the Amityville Horror is when it comes up (even though they keep making ever-crappier cinematic remake flops) It’s more common to get Divergent or Jaws comments. Fun fact: you can find amity used as a word in literature like [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Eyre[/name_f], The Canterbury Tales, and Gone With the Wind. Funny you mention [name_f]Amity[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] because I’ve seen that combination mentioned on the Internet many times. Maybe because [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is all the rage lately it is seen as something super normal to pair it with? Anyway, I also love [name_f]Verity[/name_f].
My first thought would be that it’s a beautiful and slightly unusual virtue name! My thoughts are drawn to the actual meaning of the word ‘amity’ as opposed to anything else. I would use it-it’s lovely.
I never did until a few years ago when someone brought it up on a baby name forum, probably this one. I knew the connection was there but it never came to mind beforehand. I think it’s a sweet name.
[name_f]Amity[/name_f] is lovely and I think of friendship. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t like those nicknames, but that’s up to you and whoever else nicknames her.
[name_f]Amity[/name_f] actually reminds me of the [i]Divergent[i] book series, actually. It’s not my favorite name, and I’d probably go with [name_f]Ami[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Ama[/name_f] for a nn, but it’s not bad.
I immediately think Amityville, but I’m in my late 30’s and love horror movies. And even though I’d think of it, it’d be more in a “isn’t that cool” way than a “who would do that to their child!” way.
I actually think it’s a very gorgeous and sweet name and should be used more often
So actually the first time I heard of the Amityville Horror was in some internet article or comment about how someone’s friend had named their daughter [name_f]Amity[/name_f] and apparently LOTS of people would say, “oh, like the Amityville Horror!” when told the name, and it was upsetting to the parents.
But as I said, prior to reading that I had never heard of it, and thought of [name_f]Amity[/name_f] as a word meaning friendship. I also noticed the [name_f]Amity[/name_f] (hi!) on this post said she was named after a church–I have most often noticed “amity” used in connection with [name_m]Christian[/name_m] groups (and it’s an otherwise rare word), so I think I would think of that before Amityville. At any rate, kids won’t have any horror-esque associations with it, so I don’t see teasing at school being a problem, and if any adults brought it up you could politely and firmly remind them that [name_f]Amity[/name_f] means friendship
I love [name_f]Amity[/name_f] and I think that the association wouldn’t be an issue. She may get asked about it sometimes, but I doubt it would be a focus. I think it’s an unusual virtue name with a beautiful sound - so definitely a winner in my book.
There was a young (10? 11?) [name_f]Amity[/name_f] at the summer camp I worked at this summer and another girl came over to me and went “did you know that girl’s name is [name_f]Amity[/name_f]? So cool, just like Divergent! I wish my name was [name_f]Amity[/name_f]” etc etc. So I think it’s definitely wearable despite the horror association. Personally, I always think of the island in Jaws first (I’m 22.)
