I love the name [name]Ivory[/name]. I am not planning on using it with this baby girl, but it is on my favorites list. I was told that this name can be racially offensive though. I personally do not get it, and I am from the south. I am not racist, I just love the name. Plus the name [name]Ebony[/name] is pretty popular, and I do not see that as offensive either. I know there are plenty of names that mean white that are popular and people don’t automatically think of it as offensive… just curious about what you guys think about this…
I don’t think it’s offensive at all. I think people put way too much thought into what’s “offensive”. It’s a great name!
I do see the appeal in [name]Ivory[/name], but the logic is that since [name]Ebony[/name] was used by African Americans to show pride in their race, [name]Ivory[/name] is used to show pride in the Caucasian race–hinting toward white supremacy. I’m sure most people wouldn’t mean it that way, at least, not these days, but you never know. I never really knew the associations until I joined Nameberry, but apparently a lot of people think that way. Maybe [name]Ivy[/name] could be an alternative? Stylistically it’s very different from [name]Ivory[/name], but it still has a bit of the same essence, to me, without the negative [name]Ivory[/name] associations. Plus, [name]Ivory[/name] conjures up images of the ivory in elephant trunks and the black market with that, killing the elephants for their trunks and everything, so in general, it has a bunch of negative images to me. I think it has a pretty sound and natural appeal, but even if I loved it enough to use it these days, I probably wouldn’t, because it’s so offensive to some people.
Good luck!
People might think of soap or elephants before they think about anything racial. It’s not terrible, though. I just prefer [name]Ebony[/name] (on a dark-haired girl of any race).
I don’t think it’s offensive at all! Lol, people take offense to everything these days.
I don’t think it’s offensive, but [name]Avery[/name] is a good alternative if you’re worried about it.
when I think of [name]Ivory[/name] i think of the Waynans and they make me laugh 
I don’t think it’s offensive… [name]Ivory[/name] also isn’t white, it’s an off-white, kind of looks yellowish
I dont think its offensive at all. Then again I just read a book with a very cute little girl name [name]Ivory[/name] so maybe Im biased. I dont think people will get the “racist” connotation nowadays but you never know.
I wouldn’t worry about it at all. [name]Ivory[/name] was actually my top name for years. I think that the fact that color names ([name]Scarlett[/name], [name]Violet[/name], [name]Ruby[/name] etc.) are getting more popular will also help. You could also use different spelling if you are more attached to the sound of the name than the meaning ([name]Ivorie[/name], Ivoree). And, as you can see in the name description, African-Americans have even chosen [name]Ivory[/name] (usually for a boy) in reference to the African [name]Ivory[/name] Coast.
I think it’s very pretty, and I started liking [name]Ivory[/name] after reading [name]Kate[/name] [name]Morton[/name]'s fantastic book The Forgotten Garden where a little girl named [name]Ivory[/name] was a main character:)
I don’t think it’s offensive in the least.
It doesn’t strike me as offensive or potentially offensive to others, however, whatever you decide, thank you for taking the time to think about it and ask others about it. Wondering if something is racially offensive shouldn’t be dismissed easily. I would ask as diverse a group as possible.
[name]Ivory[/name] is just another nature name to me, along with [name]Jasper[/name] and [name]Ruby[/name]. If [name]Ivory[/name] is racist then so is [name]Opal[/name] and [name]Pearl[/name] (and I’m not giving up [name]Opal[/name] so anyone that’s offended can kick rocks)
I like [name]Ivory[/name] because it’s similar to [name]Ivy[/name] but softer
I don’t think it’s racist, maybe it offends people because of the [name]Ivory[/name] trade? IDK I think this name is fine.
I think it is fine.
Haha, I seriously thought of elephants and the [name]Ivory[/name] Coast before the race thing occurred to me! [name]Ivy[/name] is a cute nn for [name]Ivory[/name]!
I had also thought about using [name]Ivory[/name] as a name. I didn’t use it because all I could think of was the elephants being killed for it. I am so glad I didn’t use the name. As for the race thing, I didn’t even think of that at all. Calling a little girl Vanilla would be way worse!!
I am not getting why it would be offensive. Isn’t Ivory a resource?
It apparently has some kind of reference to white supremacy and racism.