Respondents: 59 (This poll is closed)
Hmm. This is a difficult one. I’ve always been obsessed with Latin names (Latin nerd!) and astronomy, and [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] has always been one of my favourties. It means “female warrior” which I really like, and it’s a star in [name_u]Orion[/name_u] which is a lovely constellation.
Then I read [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] & the Goblet of [name_m]Fire[/name_m]. [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] & the Order of the [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]… and, well, she’s not that nice is she? But… I’m fascinated by her. She’s a bad seed, yes, but she’s a powerful woman, an extremely skilled witch, and she does have some nice qualities like loyalty, faith, courage, passion and devotion. And she was portrayed by my favourite actress in the movies.
So I’m casting my vote for “yes, though I strongly associate it with Mrs Lestrange”. People name their children names of other not so sympathetic characters all the time ([name_m]Holden[/name_m], [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], [name_m]Milo[/name_m], [name_m]Fred[/name_m], [name_m]Tom[/name_m], [name_m]Alec[/name_m], etc).
Yes it’s usable, though - as Otter said - a [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] born in the next twenty years is likely to hear a lot of HP references.
I’m copying and pasting comments from the previous 2 threads so that I can have all the comments in one thread (for my peace of mind) and also for anyone else interested:
[name_u]Jem[/name_u]:“I love the name [name_f]Bella[/name_f], and I love the name [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], but I would not personally use [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] because I do get a strong Ms. Lestrange reference from it. However, I do often consider [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]; the difference being, as you said, the fact that Ms. Lestrange was indeed a sociopath. Like you said though, Ms. Lestrange does not ‘own’ the name by any means. While I would not feel comfortable using it, I still think that it’s not too unusable. Best ofluck!”
Bluesparrow5684:"Well i certainly like the name… However when i see the name it automatically puts it in association with [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] Lestrange…
I voted no but im more in the maybe column… I think she could make the name her own and then the association would be for a lovely little girl… Not a very strange fictional lady… "
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]: During my research on the name, I did discover that it was a Latin and that it meant “female warrior”. However, for me it wasn’t one of the things that attracted me to the name, so I overlooked it. But I will edit my question now to include it, as you brought to my attention the fact that it was a selling point for others.
Renrose: I think it is usable as well… but the fact that so many people associate it with [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] sort of bothers me, though I do love those books.
For me, [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] has a cute and playful quality about the name, yet at the same time it is very haunting and melodic. It is a name I cannot overlook as I think that it demands attention due to it’s rarity. The name has history to it, is a star that shines brightly and also has an unforgettable name sake - love her or hate her, she was a very unforgettable character in the novel.
It is not stylistically the type of name I am looking for… but it fascinates me. At this point in time I probably would not add this to my list, just a guilty pleasure (that I do not feel guilty about liking). I never associated the name with her due to the fact that I find it to be a perfectly usable name and I was actively shocked that so many responders felt adamant that it was unusable due to this association.
Although the first association for me is Ms Lestrange I think it is useable. It is similar to names like [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] etc plus it comes with some awesome nicknames like [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_f]Trix[/name_f], [name_f]Trixie[/name_f] etc. The meaning is great too. Yes the character is a sociopath, but as you said she does have redeeming qualities.
I think it’s one of those names you might want to wait a few years with. It’s one of those names that’s so unusual people will only have the one association with it - a bit like [name_f]Madonna[/name_f] or [name_f]Cher[/name_f] - and while Ms Lestrange is a strong character, she’s not exactly got a lot of redeeming characteristics. But then again, like has been said, names of other less favourable characters get used, though I don’t think they’re so ‘one person only’ names. I wouldn’t use the name myself - I’m not a fan of [name_f]Bella[/name_f] names much at all - but I don’t think it’s completely unusable, though be prepared to get a lot of questions about it. I’d suggest maybe it’s more suited to a middle name at the moment, at least until HP dies down a bit.
I feel silly/dumb because I don’t know who this Lestrange person is. :[
But I voted yes, it’s usable because I didn’t think of anything besides
all the cute nicknames you could come up with. [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_f]Trixie[/name_f], etc.
AND, I like the meaning a lot. :]
It’s usable, but I strongly associate it with [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] Lestrange.
THIS. I love [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f], but as a HP fan, the connection is bothering me. I [name_f]Love[/name_f] astronomy, and [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] is one bright star from [name_u]Orion[/name_u], my favourite constellation. [name_m]Even[/name_m] I thought about naming my future son [name_u]Orion[/name_u] and my daughter [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] (at least as part of their names). But I do want to read HP to my future kids and Mrs. Lestrange isn’t a nice association…
I also adore its meaning, female warrior. To me, [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] is so beautiful and strong and brave and…currently on my GP list.
Sorry for the rambling. I vote the second option.
To me it’s usable because I knew of the star long before the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] books were written. Most of my peers don’t know HP (came out when I was in high school) however a child of today named [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] will definitely have peers who’ll make the connection. It’s a risk but not a terrible name
I love this name. It’s definitely a guilty pleasure of mine and I would consider using it as a middle name if I could get DH on board. I love [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] love [name_f]Helena[/name_f] Bonham [name_u]Carter[/name_u] as well though. And for me, the fact that [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] is not only a connection to her, but also one of my favorite series of books, makes the name usable. I would put it in the middle name spot simply because other children are going to associate the name only with the crazy witch and not with the fact that she is wonderfully written character and played exquisitely by an amazing actress. But then again, if Mrs. [name_m]Lovett[/name_m]'s first name were revealed in the film adaptation of [name_u]Sweeney[/name_u] [name_m]Todd[/name_m], I’d probably consider it usable as well. And she wasn’t exactly sane. lol I just can’t get enough of [name_f]Helena[/name_f] Bonham [name_u]Carter[/name_u] and the characters she portrays.
I also love gorgeous Ms H B-C. The HP connection is strong but this is an indulgent beauty of a name that is too delicious not to use if you are brave enough.
thank you everyone for your comments
[name_u]Jem[/name_u]: I don’t think I’d have the heart to use any HP name even if the reference wasn’t bad.
Bluesparrow: Thanks for the suggestion of the maybe column
sunshine kid, escg33k, nat108: I agree I think it should be a perfectly usable name and I like it.
essjay: I never really saw it as a one woman name as I never saw anything that striking about it due to it’s similarity to other names. however it is important to consider that other people do, hence this thread. You’re not near the only one that thinks this way.
southern.maple: Though I don’t think the connection is that strong, I can appreciate that other people so, it is good to hear that despite this connection it is still usable.
c@29, cathbeth89, suzywoo: yeah it shall remain a GP for me as well, I would used it if I liked it more. It’s nice but not at the top of the list for me.
I would totally use this name if my SO would agree. I think it’s a beautiful name from a constellation. I have never seen the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] movies & only read the first book, so I don’t associate the name with the character.
I did just ask my SO what he thinks because he loves [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]/[name_f]Bella[/name_f] (and that is way too popular for me to consider using) & he said no way because of the [name_f]Trix[/name_f] ending and potential for teasing in school.
poeticxtac: Great to see more people like this name as much as I do. I started looking at names of other stars to see what else may be usable.
I also thought, like you did, that [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] may make a great alternative to all those [name_f]Bella[/name_f] names