Hello Berries,
I am seeking advice- and anecdotes- on names that you really like, but for a negative association (be that a personal, pop culture, or other association). I’ve noticed that in many cases, it seems that these negative associations spoil an entire name, but I’ve also seen some people that still feel that the name in question sounds beautiful. [name_m]How[/name_m] do you advise dealing with this type of situation? If you loved the sound enough, would you use it?
My example: I have long loved the name [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f], but whilst learning about westward expansion at the age of seven, I accidentally downloaded a rather lewd cowboy romance novel onto my family’s [name_f]Kindle[/name_f]. While this is more amusing than anything else, I can’t help but think about it when I see this name!
The name [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] is a name I wish I could love, but I can’t. I know about 7-9 (Technically, It’s [name_f]Georgia[/name_f], [name_f]Giorgia[/name_f], [name_f]Jorja[/name_f] and Jorgia, but close enough), and I already have 3 in my classes at school, and another one in my grade as well.
Also, the Jorgia was a really awful person. It was a messed up incident, but it has left a bitter taste in my mouth and I probably can’t like it again, unless something changes fast.
Enough of my stories, but I think it depends on the association [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. If it was a more pop culture thing, I could still see myself using it. I recently read a book where a kind of main antagonist had my favorite name ever ([name_u]Sierra[/name_u]), and I just kinda shook it off. Oh well, it’s a common name. In a more real life situation, it’s harder, because you could still have things to do with the person.
What I’ve figured works for me is making the associations good again. For me [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f] used to be a boring old name for me, but then I found a cool artist called [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f]. Maybe look around for things and people called Wysteria. Personally, I think of the MLP character. I don’t know, I’ve rambled on a bit, but I hope this has been some service to you 
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] is a big one for me, it is gorgeous but I could never name my daughter that because of the associations. Another one is [name_f]Lolita[/name_f]. It is so cute and spunky but obviously unusable.
[name_f]Lolita[/name_f]!! I love how cute and spunky it is, but I would never call my kid it. As a first, middle or even a nickname. Helllll no.
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the name [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]. It’s so classy! I wish I could name it for my boy, but I think a lot of you can tell why I can’t quite use it…
I agree with [name_f]Lolita[/name_f]! So spunky & cute, but nooope. I feel this way about [name_u]Salem[/name_u], I think it makes a beautiful name but is too tied to the witch hunt for me.
Ooh, I absolutely agree about [name_f]Lolita[/name_f]! It would actually be a great honor name for my grandmother, but obviously is unusable due to the novel. A few others for me (personal baggage) are [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_u]Blaire[/name_u], and another is [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] (love the name, but not the song).
Agree with [name_f]Lolita[/name_f] and [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] (as a [name_m]Christian[/name_m] the last is absolutely OUT of the question lol)
I also used to think [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] was the most beautiful nickname in the world and I couldn’t wait to have a little [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] or [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] but there are so many horrible people I came across called [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] that I just can’t fathom calling my child [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], the same goes for [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] and [name_f]Angela[/name_f] yeuch now.
Another category that has spoiled many a name for me: Politicians! I won’t go into the exact names here, but there are several I can think of that have lost their luster due to a particular politician.
[name_m]Francisco[/name_m] is the first one that comes to mind. I love the name but strongly associate it with a former classmate.
I too like [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]. [name_m]Lucien[/name_m] is an alternative I’ve considered. [name_m]Griffon[/name_m], [name_f]Amanda[/name_f], [name_m]Lamar[/name_m], and [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m] are now unusable because of associations with certain people.
[name_f]Alouette[/name_f] is one that immediately sprung to mind. I thought it was such a lovely lilting and sweet sound, then mentioned it to my husband and he started singing the song (which I hadn’t heard or thought of since I was like 5) and just like that it was ruined. Not really about the connotations of the song because I can get over that, but just because I just know I would have it stuck in my head for the rest of my life and that would drive me mad!
Another one I wish I could love is [name_f]Elowen[/name_f]. It looks beautiful, but everytime I say it, it either comes out as L-O-N or I think of a little old English man saying " 'Ello, When?" On paper I love it but it always comes out sounding clunky and with a little man in a tweed coat attached to it. sigh.
I have a few!
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f] is a beautiful name, but she wasn’t exactly the best person accounted in the Bible. The same goes with another favourite, [name_f]Eve[/name_f].
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] is also lovely, and probably the only name my SO and I agree on (not that he even wants kids, but still) but it’s just far too common now. Not only that but a friend of mine who’s drifted apart over the years has a neice named [name_f]Ava[/name_f] so I feel like using it would be weird.
Credence and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] have also been on my GP list for years, but I abhor the connections to the J.K Rowling series so sadly they’re unsable for me.
Also, not a negative association but I adore the name Savannah. I wouldn’t use it because I have a friend named Suzannah and they just sound too similar for me.
[name_f]Annika[/name_f]! So lovely, and actually fairly common where I live, but I had a horrible client with this name and can no longer imagine it for a daughter. Still makes me a little sad though!
I like [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m], [name_m]Nathan[/name_m] and [name_u]Seth[/name_u] for boys, but my boyfriend and I are both atheists (and I have some Norse pagan leanings) so I’d rather not use a Biblical name for fear that it would invite assumptions about our religion, or lack thereof. Also [name_m]Nathan[/name_m] was the name of a crush I had, so I’m pretty sure my other half wouldn’t let me use it for that reason. 
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] is another one I liked that’s been tainted by a really nasty person I know.
For me, [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]: love it on paper and was set to use it for my daughter but then I just started to feel (preggo-)queasy about the pronuciation a Rosemree or [name_f]Rose[/name_f]-[name_f]Merry[/name_f] and the final nail was my mum reminding me that her workplace bully (who traumatised her, quite frankly) was a [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]…
Wanted to turn it around but I couldn’t, despite the encouragement on here to go for it.