Name Meanings Questionnaire

General Name Discussion
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I’m just curious how people weigh the meanings of names vs other factors. I’d love to hear your thoughts! You’re welcome to answer the questions and/or share your own thoughts on name meanings.

  1. How important is it to you that a name on your list has a positive/interesting meaning?
  2. Are there any name meanings that make you automatically like a name better?
  3. Have you ever put a name on your list primarily because of its meaning?
  4. Are there any name meanings you don’t like?
  5. Have you ever moved a name off your list because of its meaning?
  6. If you had to give four children (not necessarily your children) names that all had the same meaning, what group of names would you choose?
  7. If you had to give a set of twins names with complimentary or opposing meanings, what would you choose?
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Fun questions!

1. How important is it to you that a name on your list has a positive/interesting meaning?
Not at all, to be honest :sweat_smile: If a name I love has more than one meaning, I most likely won’t even remember all of them! I don’t care for my name’s meaning and it’s never bothered me, even as a namenerd, so I doubt a child would care that much.

2. Are there any name meanings that make you automatically like a name better?
At the same time, this can also be true! A name’s meaning can make me like it more, if I already like the name. It’s not greatly important, but it’s a fun bonus! I especially love nature meanings, and especially more “rare” ones (for example, there are plenty of names that mean “violet”, so that one doesn’t excite me, but [name_m]Viorel[/name_m] & [name_f]Viorica[/name_f] are the only names I know of that mean “sweet violet”, which makes the meaning feel more special and a bigger positive of the name). And I adore names with beautiful, poetic meanings, e.g. [name_f]Aruzhan[/name_f] (beautiful soul), Gedimina (to long for you & keep you in my mind), [name_f]Achelois[/name_f] (she who washes away pain)

3. Have you ever put a name on your list primarily because of its meaning?
No, I don’t care about meanings enough to do that.

4. Are there any name meanings you don’t like?
Excluding obviously negative ones, I don’t like names with overly religious meanings. “God is my oath” etcetera.

5. Have you ever moved a name off your list because of its meaning?
No!

6. If you had to give four children (not necessarily your children) names that all had the same meaning, what group of names would you choose?
Fun question! If I was being realistic, I would pick virtue-related meanings because there is just so much variety with them! It covers names that mean brave, strong, healthy, loyal, glorious, wise, graceful, etc. But I feel like this isn’t the most fun answer, so I’ll go with animal meanings instead! In which case I may do Orsika (little bear), Janja (lamb), Alkyoni (kingfisher) and [name_m]Kovas[/name_m] (black crow).

7. If you had to give a set of twins names with complimentary or opposing meanings, what would you choose?
Orfeas (the darkness of night) & [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] (to sparkle)

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1- I would say 7/10 importance. It doesn’t have to have a perfectly aligned meaning but we want some meaning (so word names are most likely a no for us) and we have researched etymologies heavily.
2- We appreciate firsts/middles that have meanings that somewhat build a concept
3- A few!
4- it’s more connotation and/or historical usage rather than meaning. For example, [name_m]Adolf[/name_m] has a great meaning but the historical usage and Hitler association is too strong.
5- Yes
6- Probably virtues or obscure virtue names.
7-Maybe Sun/Moon?

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  1. Fairly important. I wouldn’t use a name in real life with a negative meaning or no meaning, and positive name meanings make me like names I would be neutral about and love names I like even more.

  2. positive or nature meanings

  3. Maybe? I couldn’t name an example but maybe this has happened?

  4. Anything negative or questionable. I’m also not a huge fan of meanings that are just “town by the rocks” or something like that, it seems weird and boring for a person.

  5. [name_f]Lola[/name_f] by itself. I’d only use it now as a nickname for [name_f]Paloma[/name_f].

  6. [name_m]Light[/name_m], because I like it and there’s such a wide variety. Meet [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], [name_f]Kiara[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], and [name_m]Valo[/name_m]!

  7. I would choose [name_m]Elio[/name_m] and [name_f]Luna[/name_f] - sun and moon.

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It’s not the most important thing - sounds and ‘feel’ are of more importance - but I do find an interesting meaning makes a name sing just a little more. I say interesting because I don’t hate that [name_m]Tristan[/name_m] can mean sorrow or noise, for example :person_shrugging:

Unexpected meanings (like [name_f]Isra[/name_f] ‘she who travels by night’ or [name_f]Cherith[/name_f] ‘winter river’), gold meanings (Cressida, [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], [name_m]Artan[/name_m], Xanthe), love-related meanings (Carys, [name_f]Mabli[/name_f], [name_f]Kerensa[/name_f], Angharad) - generally anything that makes me think ‘that’s cool’.

I think I need to like something else about the name too (love the meaning of [name_f]Heulwen[/name_f] for example, but not sure I love the sound?)

I don’t super love overly religious meanings - and the names I love with those meanings typically have another association/personal meaning that outweighs that?

No! While there are a couple of names I find the meaning a bit off-putting, I also just don’t enjoy those names?

[name_f]Jemima[/name_f], [name_m]Callum[/name_m], [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], and [name_f]Paloma[/name_f]

[name_f]Bronte[/name_f] and [name_m]Taran[/name_m]

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such interesting questions!

Not really, but I appreciate good meanings. Interesting meanings, I think, make a name more likable for me.

definitely! One of the reasons Felicity is my favorite names is because of the wonderful meaning. I especially like names with virtue-like meanings but aren’t exactly virtue names ie. Felicity, Irene

this is complicated.I have noticed some names, and taken an interest to them solely because of meaning, but by the time they’re on my list, I also have other reasons to like them. No name is on my list just of meaning, but I notice them because they have a good meaning. hope this makes some sense, my writing sense appears to have deserted me :woman_facepalming:

not really. I don’t like names like Addison (son of Adam) that are used on girls, because it means, well, son of Adam. but this is a highly debatable topic, and I don’t want to cause an argument, so that’s it. Otherwise, I don’t really have any other name meanings I don’t like.

I haven’t.

Eirene, Forsythe (b), Fenna (f), and Mirela. I like peace names :heart:

Oh, I’ve been waiting for this question forever! I would name two girls Nora (light), and Layla (dark).

these were so fun to do, thanks!

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  1. Not very important, really. I would say a positive/interesting meaning is definitely a bonus, but not a requirement.
  2. Absolutely! Anything long and poetic immediately captures my attention, or anything that feels cozy and nostalgic… for example, [name_m]Alden[/name_m] (“old friend”).
  3. Not on my main list, but on my GP list!
  4. Definitely, but not enough to make them deal breakers for me. For example, take the lovely [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] (meaning “blind”), which I would pair with a name that spins the meaning into a positive light – to make “blind faith”, “blind love”, etc.
  5. Nope, not unless I’ve just fallen out of love with the name
  6. Ooo great question! Hmmm… maybe meanings that revolve around the sun/dawn, because I love the symbolism that comes with it – [name_f]Cyra[/name_f], [name_m]Finlo[/name_m], [name_f]Tesni[/name_f], & [name_m]Elouan[/name_m]
  7. [name_f]Arianell[/name_f] & [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] (silver & gold)
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This is actually one of my top “reasons” for putting or keeping names on my list. If they don’t have a good, imo, meaning either etymologically, or at the least personally, they don’t stay favourites for me

I tend to lean towards names with meanings relating to celestial bodies and nature, and even spiritual or religious meanings even though I’m not religious anymore myself. If a name has a celestial meaning I tend to like it more even if I might otherwise not have liked the name

Definitely, especially when I was younger. I picked my favourite names by their meaning most of the time, but now a few of my faves I just like inspite of their meanings

Not particularly, I usually don’t mind most meanings and can appreciate even the odd ones; but a really “negative” meaning would keep me from using a name on the off chance any child[ren] I had also ended up a name nerd to avoid their potential disappointment

No, but I generally am looking at the etymology and meanings right away so it’s never come to that :sweat_smile:

It’s October, so I’ll do more spooky themed with names that havs meanings relating to night/darknesss, first middle with a death related meaning, and second middle with a celestial meaning:
Lilith Persephone Luna
Orphea Valkyrie Esther
Nyxtos Apollon Solaris
Náttfari Perseus Elros

I would definitely go with Chloe (life) & Persephone (destroyer) for twin girls, Taran (thunder) & Stellan (calm) for boys, Cassander (light of men) & Noctiluca (light in the darkness) or Nyxtimene (a light to withstand the night) for one of each, and then Vesper (evening star) & Lucero (morning star) for either or

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  1. A positive meaning is a nice extra, but I’m more interested in the significance it has to me than in the actual meaning
  2. Any good religious meaning - mostly [name_m]Christian[/name_m], but can also be Jewish - makes the name instantly more interesting to me. This can be literal, like “strengthened G-d”, but also by association, think [name_m]Zeal[/name_m] or [name_m]Zion[/name_m]
  3. The only one that comes to mind is Menophilos (friend of the moon)
  4. I can’t think of any. Maybe for girls anything that means “beautiful” or something similar, because it seems kind of… old fashioned? Silly? I don’t know
  5. Not that I can remember
  6. I think in that case I’d stick with the theme I started with my oldest son, and give them Icelandic animal names. His name’s [name_m]Hjörtur[/name_m], I might go with Fálki (falcon), Otri (otter) and Súla (northern gannet) as siblings
  7. Shemesh (sun) & Geshem (rain)
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I absolutely love that idea of turning something with a more negative meaning into a positive by adding an uplifting middle!! Never thought of it before but definitely will now :dizzy:

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Pretty important. If there’s a name I really love for some other reason but it doesn’t have a meaning I like, it can still make it onto the list. If it doesn’t have a literal meaning I like, it almost definitely has personal significance, which I consider to be a part of meaning! I can’t think of a single name on my list that I’m unable to interpret in a way I like or has no personal significance.

Yes, 100%. So many names I love have gotten onto my list because of meaning, and then I’ve gradually come to love the sound. I get so excited when I find a name with a meaning I really connect with. Some examples I can quickly think of are Aishafsat (gathering of life) and Bhakti (loving devotion).

so many :wink:

I tend to dislike names with meanings related to wealth or prosperity. But something I do with a lot of names is reframe the meanings in my mind so that their meanings align with my beliefs more. For example, one of my favorite names Aishwarya means “prosperity” in Sanskrit, but I like to think of it more as prosperity of the heart, rather than physical prosperity.

I don’t think there’s a name I’ve ever removed particularly because of its meaning, but every name I’ve fallen out of love with has had a meaning I’m not particularly attached to!

the “life” siblings → Chava, Ayşe, Hayat, & Vida

Dunya & Thusitha “Sita”

“this world” & “heaven”

Dunya & Sita :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Fun topic! I always find the way people pick names fascinating.

  1. It’s somewhat important a name on my list has a good meaning, but not a deal breaker unless it has a horrible meaning. [name_f]My[/name_f] name means “beloved” which I always thought was really nice. But it very rarely came up in conversations and wasn’t a big deal honestly. [name_f]My[/name_f] son’s name means “dark eyed one” and he has light blue eyes :rofl: so the meaning definitely doesn’t match up.

  2. The names that mean happy or lucky had me really drawn to them for a while. We’ve gone through a lot of fertility issues so it felt really fitting to use something with a positive meaning like that.

  3. I don’t think I’ve ever added a name to my list just because of what it meant. But I have added names to my list that I was on the fence about but having a positive name meaning pushed it over the edge to include it.

  4. There’s a lot! On my list right now I have [name_m]Crosby[/name_m] (at the cross), [name_m]Lennox[/name_m] (with many elm trees), [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] (bringer of treasure), [name_m]Wendell[/name_m] (wanderer), [name_m]Leander[/name_m] (lion man), [name_m]Calloway[/name_m] (pebbly place), and [name_m]Remington[/name_m] (place on a river bank) all for boy names but I don’t love any of those meanings. I don’t hate them enough to not consider them as names though.

  5. We’re not religious and I’ve eliminated a few names because of overly religious connections. It didn’t feel right to have something related to Christianity when we aren’t.

  6. I googled “names that mean lucky” so I’m not totally sure these all mean exactly lucky, but going off that list I’d do [name_m]Felix[/name_m], [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], and [name_m]Benedict[/name_m].

  7. [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] and [name_f]Esme[/name_f] (both meaning beloved )

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1. How important is it to you that a name on your list has a positive/interesting meaning?
At this point, it’s so rare that I add a new name to my top list that it almost needs a positive meaning to give it an edge over other longtime loves, at least until I form a connection to it. for instance, Rowan’s meaning doesn’t do much for me positive or negative, but im so attached to the name that it doesn’t matter.

2. Are there any name meanings that make you automatically like a name better?
anything related to travel/exploration, wonder, uncommon nature meanings, and meanings which evoke strong aesthetics

3. Have you ever put a name on your list primarily because of its meaning?
im not sure if I would’ve put Mosaic on my list if not for the gorgeous artistic meaning/association. same with [name_f]Reverie[/name_f] and [name_m]Lazuli[/name_m]

4. Are there any name meanings you don’t like?
anything religious, especially related to christianity or the abrahamic god

5. Have you ever moved a name off your list because of its meaning?
when I outgrew my faith and realized its negative impact on my life, there were a few names which I let go of, mainly those which are shared by saints or have explicit religious meanings. one example is [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f] (“most holy”) which used to be my favorite middle name

6. If you had to give four children (not necessarily your children) names that all had the same meaning, what group of names would you choose?
(shades of blue): [name_f]Azure[/name_f], [name_m]Lazuli[/name_m], [name_f]Teal[/name_f], & [name_f]Indigo[/name_f]

7. If you had to give a set of twins names with complimentary or opposing meanings, what would you choose?
[name_f]Nyx[/name_f] (night) & [name_f]Aya[/name_f] (dawn)

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  1. Not vital? I usually see it as a perk but don’t block a name from my list unless it has some sort of very negative stigma attached to it (not just name meanings, but there are a few I have axed because of the meaning alone).
  2. Yes. [name_f]Eliora[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] are the biggest examples I can think of right now. Usually if it has a really beautiful meaning that has significance to me because of my faith.
  3. Not sure about primarily because of the meaning, but I have come to LOVE [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] because of her meaning. I would love to get Lirielle and Zivel on my list and those I’ve come to love for the meaning primarily (I think Lirielle means “beautiful flower” or something like that… Zivel means “the brightness of God” and I think that is ridiculously beautiful).
  4. Usually something I disagree with because of my faith. I’m not interested in using [name_m]Hayden[/name_m], for example.
  5. [name_m]Hayden[/name_m], years ago. I don’t know that Calvin’s ever been on my short list but years ago I was like “I will never name a son this” because early balding is a trend in my family… don’t want to make it worse for the poor kid than I have to lol. I don’t think I would rule out [name_m]Calvin[/name_m] today though—he’s sweet.
  6. Names meaning peace or associated with peace. After my own struggle with mental health, peace means so much to me. Like [name_f]Fenna[/name_f], [name_f]Mira[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], and [name_m]Solomon[/name_m]? [name_m]Or[/name_m] maybe names meaning “Dawn” or “new day” for very similar reasons: [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], [name_f]Dagny[/name_f], [name_f]Zora[/name_f], and [name_f]Alba[/name_f].
  7. Twins: complementary - [name_f]Vera[/name_f] and [name_f]Nadia[/name_f] (Faith and Hope), opposite - [name_m]Sverre[/name_m] and [name_m]Axel[/name_m] (Wild, swinging, spinning and father of peace, respectively). Was going to use [name_m]Noah[/name_m] but [name_m]Sverre[/name_m] and [name_m]Noah[/name_m] don’t really seem like as good of a pair as [name_m]Sverre[/name_m] and [name_m]Axel[/name_m] are.
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  1. I focus more on the sound and flow so not overly much but it will give me pause if it has a not so great meaning
  2. Absolutely - two examples off the top of my head are [name_f]Zenaya[/name_f] (princess) and [name_f]Kalilah[/name_f] (beloved/darling)
  3. I have to like how it sounds but definitely
  4. I went through a stage where I was obsessed with [name_m]Calvin[/name_m] but the meaning definitely isn’t my favourite - not enough to be a dealbreaker though
  5. no I haven’t
  6. [name_m]David[/name_m], [name_f]Kalilah[/name_f], [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] & [name_f]Amara[/name_f] (beloved)
  7. [name_f]Laila[/name_f] & [name_f]Stella[/name_f] (night & star)
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Thanks for the answers everyone, it was really interesting reading everyone’s responses. Here’s mine!

How important is it to you that a name on your list has a positive/interesting meaning?
It’s among the most important factors to me. The only way I’ll chose a name that doesn’t have a meaning I love is if it’s got an amazing sound, a nickname I’m really into, AND I have some sort of positive association with it.

Are there any name meanings that make you automatically like a name better?
Any name that references a humanoid mythical being (elves, mermaids, witches).
Any name referencing rainbows (because gay) or the ocean (because I like the ocean).
I’m also partial to names for girls that mean wild or wanderer.

Have you ever put a name on your list primarily because of its meaning?
[name_f]Siofra[/name_f] “Changeling”, [name_f]Delfina[/name_f] “dolphin”, [name_f]Fiadh[/name_f] “wild”, and [name_f]Deianira[/name_f] “destroyer of men”. [name_f]Sereia[/name_f] is on my list because of beauty and the nickname [name_f]Svea[/name_f], but I admit it shot to the top because it means mermaid.

Are there any name meanings you don’t like?
I’m surprised how many people also avoid religious meanings (or prioritize religious meanings). I especially dislike names that mean “pledged to god” because I feel like it implies a lack of choice on the part of the child. I also strongly dislike names that mean pure or virginal.

Have you ever moved a name off your list because of its meaning?
[name_f]Elise[/name_f] and [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]

If you had to give four children (not necessarily your children) names that all had the same meaning, what group of names would you choose?
[name_f]Ziazan[/name_f], [name_f]Nanako[/name_f], [name_f]Iris[/name_f], and [name_m]Walken[/name_m] (all mean rainbow)

If you had to give a set of twins names with complimentary or opposing meanings, what would you choose?
[name_f]Fiadh[/name_f] “wild” and [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] “freedom”, or [name_f]Oona[/name_f] “lamb” and [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] “lion”

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  1. The meanings are very important to me, especially if it’s a name I would consider for my own children, in real life. I really want to give them a name that carries a positive meaning. That’s what makes me love word names. They always create a very beautiful image in my mind.

  2. Not necessarily. I think a good meaning will make me see a quality in a name, but that doesn’t always change my perspective. I prefer something related to nature or that alludes to positive characteristics. Names that mean light, joy, brave, calm, gentle, beautiful, star, peace, luck, or beloved are some that easily catch my attention.

  3. To reach my list, I need to like the sound, meaning and spelling of that name. So, I think my answer has to be no. A nice meaning doesn’t garantee a place on my list. Unless… It is a name for a character.

  4. I just don’t want a name with a negative connotation or one that is extremely religious. I mostly avoid names associated with diseases or anatomical characteristics (sick, weak, fragile, crooked, bald, hairy), negative personality traits / negative feelings (for example: fury, envy, fear, disdain, sadness, hurt, mourning), and names associated with violence (destroyer, rival, war).

  5. Not that I recall, but there are names that I lose interest after discovering their origin and meanings.

  6. I would choose something related to:

  • Flowers, plants, and trees
  • [name_m]Astronomy[/name_m]
  • Colors and/or minerals
  • Virtues (joy, love, peace, courage, kindness, wisdom, etc.)

For example:
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Blythe[/name_f], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] & [name_f]Joy[/name_f]
[name_f]Lili[/name_f], [name_f]Suki[/name_f], Nari & [name_f]Yuri[/name_f]
[name_m]Forest[/name_m], [name_m]Grover[/name_m], [name_m]Roscoe[/name_m] & [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m]
[name_f]Elanor[/name_f], [name_m]Helio[/name_m], [name_m]Samson[/name_m] & [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]

[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] (dawn) & [name_f]Vesper[/name_f] (evening)
[name_m]Blaze[/name_m] (fire) & [name_m]River[/name_m] (water)
[name_m]Stellan[/name_m] (calm) & [name_m]Wilder[/name_m] (wild)
[name_f]Bianca[/name_f] (white) & [name_f]Melanie[/name_f] (black, dark)
[name_f]Gaia[/name_f] (earth mother) & [name_f]Maris[/name_f] (of the sea)