Love the Name, don't like the meaning?

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries,

I recently made a post for names Hubby and I like ([name_m]Arthur[/name_m], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] and [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] ([name_u]Alfie[/name_u]).

One name I left out even though we like it, because we really don’t like the meaning - “[name_m]Archer[/name_m]”.

We love the sound, the nickname options ([name_m]Archie[/name_m], [name_m]Arch[/name_m]), but are unsure about it because the name means “bow man” and has a violent connotation.

The other names we like have not been chosen for their meanings, we just don’t have any issues with their meanings.

Would you keep this name on the list just because it’s a nice name, or disregard it due to its meaning?

Thanks for your thoughts!

If you’re really bothered by the meaning then I would take it off.

I don’t think it’s that bad as a meaning though, archery and and being a bow man could be a sport (target shooting with a bow and arrow is in the olympics) and I just don’t think of it as being that violent. At least no more violent than ‘bear’ which is [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]'s meaning - both could be violent, but neither necessarily are.

All that being said, again if it is something you think will always bother you (and since you’ve made a post about it that seems likely) then I’d take it off the list. If you’re planning more children you might feel differently in the future and bring it back, but right now your other names are all very handsome so I don’t think you need to put [name_m]Archer[/name_m] back on the list. I like [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] best.

It makes me think of a hunter in a forest :slight_smile: I think it’s a cute name, doesn’t sound violent to me. Sort of romantic, [name_u]Robin[/name_u] Hood-y.

If I were you, I woudn’t worry about the meaning… I think meanings can be nice touches if they are especially poignant, but otherwise don’t really matter. I think [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] are lovely though, so not sure you need it!

The meaning “bow man” is not necessarily violent. We actually don’t use bows as weapons often anymore anyway, so now a “bow man” is much more likely to be a hunter or a sportsman, which is significantly less violent. As a pp said, I get the imagery of a hunter in a forest much more so than anything particularly violent. Hunting can be seen as violent, but it can also be seen as supportive and life sustaining.

On the flip side, if you’re going to focus on the archer as someone using bows as a weapon, why is it violent and not brave and protective? Those people using bows as weapons were often doing it to protect their monarchs, families, towns, etc after all.

[name_m]Archer[/name_m], and it’s meaning, makes me think of [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_u]Robin[/name_u] Hood. It makes me think of adventure, nature, history, … It does not make me think violence. [name_m]Archer[/name_m] is a handsome name. I adore it.

As a whole I do not let meanings steer me away from names I love. There are two names that I cannot get over the meanings, [name_u]Cameron[/name_u]“crooked nose” and [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] (and variants) “blind”.

I agree with this. [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Archer[/name_m]!:slight_smile:

I think if you love it enough, the meaning won’t be a problem. I personally love [name_m]Archer[/name_m] because I really enjoy archery and it doesn’t have to be a violent sport (unlike [name_u]Hunter[/name_u] for example). One of my favourite names has a bad meaning (aggressive, warlike) but I love everything else about it so much it really doesn’t bother me anymore.

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I agree this does not have a violent connotation. There is the literal person with a bow and arrow meaning, but I think of it more in a positive sense - like a person who hits his mark, someone who is noble and accurate, etc. Maybe this will make you feel better about the meaning?

I agree with others that [name_m]Archer[/name_m] doesn’t sound violent- more sporty. [name_m]Gunner[/name_m] would be an example of a name that I wouldn’t pick based on meaning/ connotation. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] that’s helpful!

The meaning of a name is very important to me: If I don’t like the meaning, I will not use a name. That goes even for names whose meanings I feel indifferent about (eg, [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f].)

I understand your reservations about the meaning of [name_m]Archer[/name_m], even though I don’t find it too violent a connotation, because I see archery as a meditative practice as well. I have vetoed names like [name_u]Hunter[/name_u] and [name_u]Blaze[/name_u] in the past because they seemed too violent to me. I think you can go either way with [name_m]Archer[/name_m]!

I don’t view [name_m]Archer[/name_m] as having a negative or violent meaning. Archery is an elegant sport that requires concentration and precision, so it’s a positive association for me. :slight_smile:

When I had [name_m]Archer[/name_m] on my list I actually enjoyed the meaning, I saw it as a positive one. I didn’t think of it as violent at all.

I personally wouldn’t have a problem with that meaning nor would I imagine “violence” but since it is a word name, there is no hiding the meaning. So if you don’t like it don’t use it. For example if you weren’t crazy about [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]'s meaning “bear” it wouldn’t be too big a deal, but you probably wouldn’t name your son [name_m]Bear[/name_m] in that case.

I do not consider archery to be a violent sport. I don’t think there’s a problem.

I adore the name [name_m]Archer[/name_m] for its bowman meaning, because I think it like this: the bowman has practiced for years and years, shooting arrows and missing, hitting the target something, getting the center, or landing in the brush. A boy called [name_m]Archer[/name_m] will be reminded of the hope and the promise of life, and that he will have bad times and good times, but that it is in the journey.

If the meaning bothers you I wouldn’t use it. Since it’s a word name, the meaning is quite obvious. But like others have said, it’s not necessarily a violent word (although, personally, archery does make me think of the book/movie We Need to Talk About [name_m]Kevin[/name_m], which is a pretty dark, chilling association). It CAN be violent, but I think most people associate [name_m]Archer[/name_m] with the sport or hunting for food.

I don’t think ‘bow man’ is violent at all. I think most people associate bows and arrows with history, skill, and sports. Ask a few people if they associate archery with violence, and I think you’ll feel a lot better about the name’s meaning.

I personally like the name [name_u]Archer[/name_u] regardless of its meaning- its actually a name that I have on my boys list. And I think depending on the month of when a baby is born it could absolutely work! [name_u]Archer[/name_u] would be a great name for a baby born under the Sagittarius zodiac sign (late [name_u]November[/name_u]/early Decmeber) - since its symbol itself is an archer.

But either way, if you like the sound of it or if it means something to you personally the actual meaning of the name that was given to it in the 17th century shouldn’t really sway you.