Anyone else feel like they’re just running in circles with names lately? Mainly girl names for me, it’s been several months since I had a new name crush, it’s so frustrating 
There’s so many that I like/want to like but I’m just not feeling it
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Me exactly rn 
it sucks
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Oh my feelings exactly, especially with boys names - do I only really like James??
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I hope this doesn’t come across as hublebraggy or anything but I’m kinda tired of people complimenting my name when they meet me since I don’t really like it. I feel bad because I know they’re just trying to be nice and I have nothing against the idea of complimenting names, it’s just that it happens like… a lot for me for some reason and I don’t really understand why? I mean I can see the appeal and like it usually comes from older people who probably aren’t very familiar it and don’t know it’s the name of basically every other gen z girl (which makes it especially irritating when people say how “unique” it is) but it still happens way more than you’d expect to the point where whenever someone says “oh that’s such a cool name!” I’m kinda tempted to say “no it’s not!” but I don’t want to be rude obviously.
I don’t usually mind introducing myself as my name terribly I guess since I’m just mentioning it in a neutral sense but having it complimented for some reason makes me feel way worse about it. Like for a name that’s so loved apparently it’s just irritating that I, someone who has it, happens to be the one who isn’t a fan.
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All I have to say for tonight is that [name_f]Paloma[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] is a stunning combo and it is outrageously unfair that [name_f]Paloma[/name_f] means “dove”!
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Ok, so… I like [name_f]Jane[/name_f] now? It’s so weird, because I’ve never understood the appeal of [name_f]Jane[/name_f], but all of a sudden she’s so lovely and gentle and sweet. I mean, I’m not mad at loving [name_f]Jane[/name_f], especially since it has always seemed like a name I should really enjoy, it is just a big adjustment for me.
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A real conversation I just had with my partner:
Me: * Telling him about the gorgeous name [name_f]Thulile[/name_f] *
Him: Wow, I love that!! It reminds me of [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], which I also love!
Me (who asked him two weeks ago if he liked [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], only to receive a resounding no): …you didn’t like it two weeks ago?
Him: Oh, well I like it now
Like… lmao guys I know opinions on names change but… not that quickly smh 
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@winterlyricalfox my husband does this daily 
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@winterlyricalfox
[name_f]My[/name_f] SO does the same thing! He’s even the same way with pet names lol
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Yes!! [name_f]My[/name_f] husband does this too! All the time! It’s better when he goes from not liking a name to liking it, rather than the reverse haha
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I’ve seen a lot on here about how adults are usually harsher about names than kids (usually brought up in reference to teasing potential), and the more I’ve thought about it, it’s so true. I think back to the kids I knew growing up who had unusual names, but to us kids, they were just names! The only time I remember thinking a name was strange was when I met a girl named [name_f]Chyna[/name_f] (pronounced like China), but that’s it. [name_f]My[/name_f] mom would comment on names of kids my age, but I never noticed them being strange haha. Unless it’s something really easy to tease about, I think the vast majority of kids will be like, “Nice to meet you, [name_u]Azure[/name_u]. [name_f]Wanna[/name_f] play over there?”
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This is literally me when I randomly starting loving [name_f]Jane[/name_f] about a year ago too I swear, one day it just clicked all of the sudden
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i’ve seen Elio around on the forums a bit these past few days, which has reminded me of my love for it. the problem is, why does disney have to make a movie called Elio?? i am not looking forward to the big jump in popularity it’s about to experience!
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This is just something I need to get off my chest, but I have rather complicated feelings about the popularity of Greek mythology names.
Seeing [name_f]Athena[/name_f], for example, in the US top 100 is kind of… baffling? On one hand, it’s cool seeing names from my culture being loved world-wide (albeit with very butchered pronunciations haha). On the other hand, it makes me think… [name_f]Do[/name_f] the parents of ALL these Athenas actually know anything about… [name_f]Athena[/name_f]? [name_m]Can[/name_m] they recite more than one story about her, do they know her symbols, her titles?
I feel like Ancient Greece & Greek myth have become so aestheticized that many use these names just for the vague aesthetic of our mythology, rather than genuine interest in it, and for me personally that crosses the line from cultural appreciation into cultural appropriation. I’m talking specifically about names from our mythology and literature here, not Greek names in general - Ancient Greek myth is such an important part of our culture that to see it used casually or without care for the original context feels disrespectful.
And many times, the same people who will gush over how much they love the name [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] will call [name_u]Ares[/name_u] unusable, despite [name_u]Ares[/name_u] being more popular in… well, Greece!
This isn’t about imaginary combos btw, just when it comes to naming real babies. Thanks if you read this whole rant!
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While I do whole heartedly agree with you and understand where you’re coming from, I do think it’s important to note that a lot of US Americans most likely do have a lot of knowledge of Greek Mythology. In most public schools, a whole portion of most [name_f]English[/name_f] classes is dedicated specifically to Greek Mythology because of how it has helped shaped literature throughout history, as well as the Iliad and [name_u]Odyssey[/name_u] being required reading material. Mainstream TV shows and moves and book series inspired by and based on Greek Mythology are super popular and have been for decades. So I don’t think its completely fair to say most don’t have a good understanding of the figures from Mythology 
Now as for [name_f]Athena[/name_f], that’s a name that fits a ton of name trends: starts with A, ends with A, soft sounding, literary connection. [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] as a figure is super popular in pop culture here, but especially for readers so even though the mythological figure wasn’t popular, she is one of the most recognized for a ton of people here now, and the “aesthetic” dichotomy of her is very trendy right now. [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] as a name also fits a lot of naming trends right now too, whereas [name_u]Ares[/name_u] doesn’t and he is seen as a very angry, warmongering figure (and has negative associations for anyone who has watched the tv series [name_m]Hercules[/name_m] or [name_f]Xena[/name_f] [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_u]Warrior[/name_u] or the [name_u]Wonder[/name_u] Woman movie or read [name_m]Rick[/name_m] Riordan’s [name_u]Percy[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] books or movies. Which all have a major cult followings)
All of this to say: I agree 100000% that anyone using names from other cultures sacred mythologies, histories, or religions without knowing the nuances of the figure behind the name could be borderline appropriation, but I also think most who are using those names truly do appreciate and understand that when it comes to Greek Mythology names specifically given how popular they are in pop culture here and don’t truly see/understand that it could potentially be problematic because it very likely just comes from a media they love (which is also why names like [name_u]Madison[/name_u], [name_f]Wendy[/name_f], [name_u]Percy[/name_u], ect. started charting and became so main-stream; the original namers were likely inspired by media and it just caught on from there)
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I think that’s part of my issue, though. Popular media about Ancient Greece like [name_u]Percy[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] or [name_u]Troy[/name_u] or [name_f]Xena[/name_f] are far from accurate to the real myths. That said, I don’t believe that I ever said that most Americans don’t have a good understanding of our mythology? Although, having learnt a little bit about it at school isn’t necessarily a reassurance, considering people forget things they learn at school all the time
[name_u]Loving[/name_u] [name_u]Percy[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] or whatever and having a basic understanding of Greek myth through such media is not the same as loving and appreciating Greek myth to me, because it is inaccurate, doesn’t take place in the same historical or cultural context, lacks the same nuisance and importance to Greeks, etc., and if you use, say, [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] because you liked her story in [name_u]Percy[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u], I personally do not consider that cultural appreciation in any sense.
Also, I get what you mean about [name_f]Athena[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] sounding aesthetic or on trend. [name_f]My[/name_f] point was that I consider it insensitive when people bash the mythological names that Greeks are called as “too aggressive”, “too negative”, etcetera because of the myths, not that they themselves should want to use [name_u]Ares[/name_u]!
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I think most ancient mythology has influenced so many cultures beyond their birth place, looking at month and day names, for example, that it feels odd to gate-keep the names.
The different languages having their own versions of the names already shows that, I think. Nowadays names rarely get translated anymore so that happened centuries ago.
I also think that, especially in the US, [name_u]Percy[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] inspired quite a few people.
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I wasn’t gatekeeping, though? I have nothing against people using names from Greek myth, I just believe that you should know things about the figure if you want to use said name. I understand that Greek mythology has influenced other cultures but it remains Greek mythology and our culture, and if you want to use names from a culture that isn’t yours that ARE incredibly significant to that culture and its people, you need to at least do some research into them. That’s my opinion on the matter, at least!
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I think I may have not have been as articulate in getting my point across, as I was more explaining why those names are used and not that it is cultural appreciation or even appropriate in a lot of cases. European mythologies aren’t really mainstream or taught in schools so those names are not heard or used. But Greek and [name_m]Roman[/name_m] mythologies are, so those names are common knowledge even if there is not a direct tie back to the original Hellenistic deity, the names are very well known, and US culture and media is steeped in it. Versions of it are everywhere, as Greek Mythology was and still is such a significant influence. I was just trying to point out that the names are common from media. And, the cultural and historical influence of media on naming trends is well known and documented. Someone naming their kid [name_u]Noah[/name_u] because they like The Notebook is the same as someone naming their kid [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] because they like Disney’s [name_m]Hercules[/name_m] film. I did not mean to imply that was overall completely good and fine, as both examples could potentially be cultural appropriation depending on the lense you look at it with, but I also think it is much more nuanced than that. And I was more trying to explain why I personally think the names have become so common use and trendy here, so my comments about media and being taught in school was more to build that case, and why many who do actually go as far as to use the names probably do have at least a working knowledge of the history of the names and the original figures, even if it may be through a faulty lense.
I completely agree that if you are choosing to actually use a name from a culture that is not your own you should do research on it, and as you stated before at least use the correct pronunciation, but the US is such a melting pot of the world because of colonization and does not have it’s own unique culture so I also think few here understand the true significance of appropriation or that those from those cultures may feel that way about it. I really am not trying to be argumentative, and I’m sorry if I came across that way. This is an important and nuanced topic that I personally find interesting so my thoughts may come across as rambly or insensitive, but that is not my intention. I am ethnically Jewish, raised Messianic, though I’m not religious at all now, but I completely get seeing names that are significant to your identity and culture being used out of context or by people who have no connection to it can make you feel some type of way. I just also think we don’t give enough credit to media and pop culture on how it has impacted to world; naming trends being a big part of that. It isn’t even necessarily a positive or negative thing, it just is and helps explain the “why” of the names being used if not fully the “should” the names be used
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Thanks for explaining your point! I understand and agree with what you’re saying - definitely the reasons behind it are nuanced! I guess it’s all a bit too complex for the scope of the original point that I was trying to make, which is why I got confused about what you were trying to say. Apologies for that and thanks for adding your thoughts to the discussion, it was an interesting read! 
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