There seems to be a bit of prejudice toward names that people make up, as if they’re not “real” names and have no meaning. This is ironic because many people choose a name regardless of its meaning, just because it sounds nice (for example, [name]Tristan[/name], which means ‘riot’, or [name]Mara[/name]/[name]Mary[/name]/any other variant, which mean ‘bitter’). What is the difference, really, between Ilis (a made-up name) and [name]Ilka[/name] (an old name)? When people meet little [name]Ilka[/name], they are probably going to think the name is made-up, because it is practically unheard of. In my opinion, naming a child an archaic name just to be original is no better (or worse) than naming a child something straight from your mind that has personal meaning to you. After all, most people don’t walk around with a name meaning book in their hands, checking whether a name exists and what it means. So I say go forth and make up names that sound pleasing and have personal meaning!
I think the whole prejudice against supposedly made-up names is kind of funny, actually. I mean, all names were originally made up, right? [name]Even[/name] a so-called “classical” name like [name]Mary[/name] or [name]John[/name] was invented by someone, sometime. So why can’t we make up names now? Names invented now really can’t be any worse than names then, and we shouldn’t have any less right to make up names now than we did then.
I don’t mind “made up” names, as long as they aren’t two names smashed together. Then it just sounds like the parents couldn’t make up their mind between [name]Brandon[/name] and [name]James[/name] so they call him Brames or something,
All words were originally made up, too, but we don’t go around making up new words for their meaning, or purposely misspell them. It’s exactly the same with names-- names were ‘invented’ by taking specific parts of a language. They weren’t just thought of out of the blue.
Having said this, I guess I would rather see an invented name, if it at least followed basic rules of language, than a misspelled name.
I agree with a previous poster that eventually at some point in time all names were created. Be it from a word or just something that sounds nice. I do think however that some mad eup names are sort of ridiculous (im talking about names like Chandaleria and Tamaletreelyn) but i think if it sounds nice, or has meaning to you, more power to you!
Actually, names were more often created than ‘made up’ - people would give their child a word name to describe them, such as ‘Tacitus’, meaning quiet. Over time this may morph into another name, due to variants in pronunciation in different areas, as very little was written down, or in order to make the name more feminine. For example, the Greek agathos (meaning good) became the name [name]Agatha[/name].
I concede names like Brames or Chandeleria are stretching it. I suppose I’m referring to made-up names that sound like they could be real names. For example, my handle here: Linelei. It’s made up (actually it’s from a made-up language, Tolkien’s Sindarin), but it could feasibly be a real name, as it is similar to [name]Lorelei[/name] or [name]Linnell[/name], both ‘real’ names. And it has meaning to me; I’ve been using it online for about 11 years. So I think it’s just grand! I care more about the way sounds flow and fit together than some archaic meaning. Of course, I also respect people who care deeply about meanings. To each their own, I think!
I actually wouldn’t class names which authors invent as ‘made-up’ names. Of course they are, but I feel that the authors have enough reason to justify inventing a name, and I would then call the name a name from literature. I think authors put much more thought into inventing names than others do - rather than inventing [name]Jaden[/name] because they like the ‘ayden’ sound, they go about it as Paracelsus did, calling water spirits [name]Undine[/name] because ‘unda’ is Latin for wave.
Also, for example the name [name]Pollyanna[/name], a combination first used in literature, I imagine was chosen to reflect the pampered nature of the little girl, but also to make sure that no real girls took offence from sharing the same name as quite a (at first) bratty character.
I wouldn’t hesistate to use names from literature for my own children - indeed, [name]Undine[/name] is on our list.
Opinions are fine, cursing and offensive language is not. I had to remove several messages here. Please notify us if this recurs.
I absolutely agree with this. Language (and names) developed, it wasn’t just decided upon one day. That history is important to me. I like the idea of a name having a history and being part of a greater language- [name]Katherine[/name]'s 3000+ year history appeals to me far more than my own invention of something like Katibeth. And I think invented names tend to sound a bit less sophisticated, to be honest.
If someone decided to call computers “drifluns,” nobody would understand them. If they decided to change the spelling of the word “circus” to “sirkus,” it would be incredibly difficult for others to read. Sure, there may be a reason they decide to do that, but there’s hundreds or even thousands of years of history behind why things are spelled or called what they are. Why should it be different with names?
It depends on how it sounds. I agree with the people who said things about names that don’t even sound like names, or are spelled wrong or really strangely, like Kriystall Annadeannabeth ([name]Both[/name] of which are off the top of my head, btw)
Literary inventions are cool.
I also agree that authors making up names is not in the same class as parents making up names. Writers name characters who live among other characters in worlds created by the author and in complete control of them. Parents name real people in a world where you have very little control over the events and other people your child will encounter, especially as they become young adults. Occasionally a writer makes up a name that people really like and it becomes a common name in the real world.
One reason I dislike MOST made up names is because the general trend right now is to take a perfectly lovely name and mangle it. Example: Gracyn
Perfectly good name [name]Grace[/name] made masculine sounding with the son ending and then tried to girl it up again by changing it to a Y.
Why not just [name]Grace[/name]?
My issue with most modern made-up names is that a lot of them sound juvenile. I can’t picture a grown woman named [name]Brylie[/name], sorry.
I agree with IrisRose -
There are a few “modern” made-up names I can respect - take [name]Briallen[/name], for instance. It comes from the Welsh word briallu, meaning “[name]Primrose[/name]”. It has substance and an origin to stand on. Pretty sounds and letters randomly put together don’t stand up to the development of language.
A long time ago when I was watching the move Seven, I misheard the Gwyneth Paltrow’s character’s name, and it stuck in my head. Now I am 99% sure I wouldn’t use it for my own child, but at the time, I put it on my list. The name was “Traesten.” I thought it sounded clean, bright, and fresh, sort of crisp like “Kiersten” but not as overused, and much more contemporary than “Tristan” or “Tracy” (which was the actual character name), which I’ve never liked. It’s the only name I ever “invented,” and I can’t say I’m usually a fan of invented names…but I do like that one!
I like seeing “made up” names. Mind you, I may not like them all, but I have to give credit to those who like unique and are actually looking for a name that is that-not just a “uneek” spelling.
I agree with those that said that all names at some point are made up. There is nothing fundamentally better about an established, well known name to a so-called made up name. [name]Both[/name] have their place and value. And both can be very nice, pretty, names.
My opinion on a made up name is that some people may like it, some may love it and some may think it’s terrible…which pretty much goes for any name really. That being said the people who love to look up the history and meaning of a name are also more likely to dislike made up names…sometimes it has less to do with the actual name and more to do with the lack of “name background”.
I agree with you about misspelled names vs invented names. But I have to disagree with you about people not inventing words. If new words are never invented then how is it that new words are added to the dictionary every year? lol not trying to be argumentative, just wanted to point it out.
@entangler: People don’t tend to sit down and invent words like they sit and invent names. The words come from somewhere- from other established words or roots. Think of recent additions to the dictionary:
Dude- Dud + attitude
Octomom: Octo + Mom
Facebook
Manga- from Japanese
Acai- from Brazilian Portuguese
No one sat down and said, “Oh, Manga sounds nice. That’s what I’m going to call this new thing.” It evolved from another word already in existence. A name like Brynzlee didn’t-it’s just sounds put together.
I see both sides to this argument. I guess it depends on the name.