I just love the name [name]Kennedy[/name] for a little girl, but it means “misshapened head” which puts me off of it. What do you other Berries think? Would you use a name you loved even if you didn’t like the meaning?
I also like the name but dislike the meaning… it would be terrible if the poor kid had a misshapen head!!! Im not sure if I would use it… but if you really love it… i guess who cares!
I would definitely use a name I loved even if it had a bad meaning. First of all, how many people know the meaning of their name? (I’m not sure about mine, I see different meanings everywhere) [name]How[/name] many of her future classmates and colleagues would know… or care? It may give a good laugh for a few hours or a day at most, but not something that would scar her for life or anything.
No, I wouldn’t. A name having a positive and uplifting meaning is a big deal to me. However the name also has to have a nice ring to it. So I can understand the predicament.
For example, I like the name [name]Claudia[/name], but I wouldn’t use it given the meaning. And the reverse is also true, there’s names out there that I love the meanings of, but wouldn’t use because of the sound of the name, example [name]Ethel[/name].
At the moment, I cannot say that I can. I do think it would be easier for me ff I just liked/loved a name based on its sound and not it’s meaning.
There have been names in the past that I really liked, but the meaning put me off. Yes, although no one else may realize–I will. I just remember how this guy was so proud of his name meaning. And I always thought I would like to name my child something that he/she would be just as proud to have–not only because of the sound of it, but because of its meaning.
I mean I wouldn’t use a name that I thought sounding horrible, just because it has a nice meaning. So, why should I do the opposite.
For instance, I have already associated names such as [name]Portia[/name] and [name]Porter[/name] as pig names. I have no idea why, but they feel kinda ‘Porky Pig’ to me. I kinda like [name]Calvin[/name], but it means bald, and on my paternal side of family; lol, well, let’s just say that could be considered mean on my behalf.
Another thing I might consider is if there is a name that is close enough to my original, that I also like. For example, [name]Calvin[/name], means bald, yet [name]Kevin[/name], means handsome. Slightly different, but I might be able to love the latter just as much.
I also have a problem with actually using a name that start with [name]Con[/name] or [name]Mal[/name]–even though many of them I do like.
I suppose I am weird compared to most.
I think the meaning of a name is more than just etymology. [name]Kennedy[/name] probably had other associations for you before you knew it meant “misshapen head”! I think of it as a strongly Irish name with a nice rhythm, like [name]Malachy[/name], and I think of JFK of course. [name]Both[/name] are positives in my book. I do think it’s a famous enough surname that people will wonder if it’s a family name for you, or what the significance is. I’m personally not so drawn to using surnames that don’t come from family or some other strong connection.
@Natural, the actual meaning of [name]Portia[/name] is pig, that might be why you associate it as such.
i named my cat [name]Claudia[/name] earlier this year when she has just a tiny kitten as i love the name! also liked the ‘claw’ part of it teehee! after i found out i was pregnant while researching baby names i found out the meaning of the name [name]Claudia[/name] is ‘lame’. Oops! But its really not that important to me, my name ‘[name]Rebecca[/name]’ means something to with lords slave or something religiousy and because i’m not religious (spiritual definately, religious no) it kinda just brushed off me. There always comes a time when you look up the meaning of your name but i honestly dont think it will ruin your life if the name isn’t ideal!
having said that the ‘misshapen head’ thing is really unfortunate! i totally see your problem!
I had the same problem with the name ‘[name]Lola[/name]’ which i loved but the meaning was a bit depressing. someone on here suggested I do a google search as I may find it had other meanings. I did this, and it does. So you might find the same thing? good luck with that…
I get how you feel. I love [name]Nola[/name], but the meaning “white shoulder” does nothing for me. It’s not horrible, but it’s not good either. As a result I traded it in for [name]Nora[/name], though if my partner said he really likes [name]Nola[/name] I’d still use it.
I prefer to use a name with a positive meaning, as to me it’s a way of expressing a hope for your child’s future. But I appreciate that not everyone really cares about or knows the meaning of their names! Are there any similar names that you could love that have better meanings? “Misshapened head” isn’t really that bad I suppose, but I’d feel uncomfortable with it, especially with the association to JFK’s death, if tenuous. Sorry!
Thanks to everyone who has answered so far!! I took the advice of several of you and Googled the name. I’ve found that [name]Kennedy[/name] can also mean ‘royal’ and ‘very loving’! I’d love to hear more opinions though, on names you love with meanings you hate.
That is probably the weirdest name meaning I’ve ever heard!? Personally, I would ignore it. I love name meanings but I wouldn’t let it ruin a name for me. My sister’s name is [name]Mallory[/name] and it means ‘bad luck, misfortune’ We tease her about it but obviously we love her name! And my daughter is Mhairi which means ‘sea of bitterness’ again what a horrible meaning but I love her name! Have you researched the name extensively b/c sometimes you can find varying meanings for names and maybe there is another nicer meaning floating around out there. If not, then I say use it anyway even if you love it. [name]Trust[/name] me, you’ll laugh about it someday!! If my name meant that, I’d definitely laugh!!
Interesting topic. Probably the worst moment when making a choice like this is when a grade school teacher decides the children should look up the meaning of their names, and poor “lame” or “misshapen head” endures a lot of grief. Not to puncture your balloon, but I do think sometimes these alternate meanings like royal or very loving are invented and a way to make people feel better about the meaning of a name. All the meanings on Nameberry have been thoroughly researched over the years first for our books and now for the site, to try to drill down to the most accurate meanings. [name]Even[/name] so, we still make mistakes as there are often several alternate meanings and disagreements over meanings! But by and large, I think you can trust the meanings given on Nameberry as well as on Behind the Name.
I don’t use names if I don’t like the meaning. Meanings mean a lot to me. I know I would hate it if my name meant misshapened head. My name starts with [name]Mal[/name]- and it bothers me that [name]Mal[/name] means “bad” in a lot of languages.
[name]Kennedy[/name] I’d use in the middle if I end up with a daughter with my SO, because there’s a street named [name]Kennedy[/name] that has a lot of significance to our relationship, but that’s only in the middle and if I couldn’t find anything else I loved that fit the first name. It’s currently nowhere on my girls list.
I’d skip it or use something close, [name]Kenna[/name], [name]Kendra[/name] and maybe use the nickname [name]Kennedy[/name]. But even then, you’re still calling her “misshapened head”… Plus the [name]Kennedy[/name] connection is a bit unsettling, they all died pretty horrible deaths. JFK was actually sniper shot in his head.
Some people don’t care for meanings, I don’t particularly understand that notion. What your child’s name means, is what you’re calling her. Words have effects. I think you should ask yourself:
Would you really want to call your daughter “misshapened head”? Is there another name you’re also very fond of?
Other names with negative meanings I like but will never use:
[name]Maria[/name]/[name]Mara[/name]/[name]Marie[/name] - bitter one ([name]Every[/name] girl with a variant of the name [name]Mary[/name] I’ve ever met or heard of has either suffered through some tragedy, or has been a miserable personality. And I’ve met a lot!)
[name]Cameron[/name] - crooked nose
[name]Every[/name] time I hear the name [name]Cameron[/name], I think crooked nose. Then I usually notice that the person who bears the name has a crooked nose. I suddenly become even more sensitive to the slightest deviation from a straight nose, and a family whose surname is [name]Cameron[/name] thus seems to have a genetic predisposition to crooked noses.
The name [name]Campbell[/name] means crooked mouth. I didn’t know what the name [name]Kennedy[/name] meant, but I wonder if, like [name]Campbell[/name], that will change how I perceive the Kennedys.
Now all that said, I think you should use it if you like it. The name [name]Cecelia[/name] means blind, and is one of the most beautiful names I have ever heard. [name]Claudia[/name] means lame, and yet I think of [name]Kirsten[/name] Dunst in Interview with the Vampire. Unless the name is [name]Rainbow[/name] or Starshine or Moonbean (or [name]Apple[/name], or [name]Petal[/name] [name]Blossom[/name]… I could go one. There are some truly awful names out there.) no-one will care. The name [name]Kennedy[/name] has a lot of history and a lot of meaning aside from just “misshapened head”.
I wouldn’t use it. We have discarded names we loved for meaning bitter, bald… I’m sure there are others. Misshapen head is pretty funny, but I couldn’t do that to my baby girl!
I was never a big fan of the name [name]Kennedy[/name] in the first place but when I found out its meaning it completely put me off it. I would never use a name with such a horrible meaning. I’d always know and it seems kind of cruel when there are many beautiful names out there with much nicer meanings.
It isn’t a hard and fast name that I’ve nailed down, just one that I like. I probably won’t use because of the meaning…it just seems too cruel. Other girl names I love include [name]Dakota[/name], [name]Iris[/name], [name]Charlotte[/name], Raeanna, and [name]Kathryn[/name] (nn [name]Kitty[/name]). The middle name would defintely be [name]Gracelyn[/name], after my two sisters, who are my best friends.
Honestly, the meaning of a name doesn’t really matter to me. I usually like names because of the sound or the flow with our last name (or the middle name) or because the actual name has meaning for us personally. If a name has a really nice meaning, it’s a nice plus, but if it’s not a great meaning (or if it has a bad meaning), I overlook it. Think about it – how often have you known the meaning of a name when you’ve met someone new? And if you did know the meaning, did you bring it up or judge the person because of it? Of course not. I know lots of people put a lot weight on the meaning of a name, and that’s fine. It’s just not important to me.