Negative connotations?

[Ama2323]

I really like the name [name_f]Eva[/name_f] (pronounced Eh-va). When I mentioned it to my father today, he made a face and said “[name_f]Eva[/name_f]? As in [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Braun[/name_m], Hitler’s wife?”.

It kind of took me by surprise. I was definitely going to do my due diligence before settling on the name, but this kind of ruining it for me though. I don’t want her to go through life with such negative and horrible connotations.

My dad is sort of a history buff so I’m just wondering if maybe he’s an anomaly.

When you hear the name [name_f]Eva[/name_f], do you think of any negative connotations?

• Yes - I associate the name with negative connotations
• No - I don’t think of any negative connotations

Thank you for helping !

[EagleEyes]

I know of the connection but it would never be my first association. I don’t think it would negatively affect the life of a girl called [name_f]Eva[/name_f].

[LallyLippa]

I love the names [name_f]Eva[/name_f] (ee-vah) and [name_f]Ava[/name_f], but I personally would not use [name_f]Eva[/name_f] (eh-vah) due to the association - taking into account I am also very much into history. If I were to meet an [name_f]Eva[/name_f] (eh-vah) her name would certainly not make me think negatively of her. In fact, it would likely help me break the association due to not having met an [name_f]Eva[/name_f].

[shells15]

I also know of the association, but it certainly isn’t my first thought. Then again, I have many other associations with the name that puts it into a different light for me.

[KristaMarie98]

I don’t think a lot of people know that that was his wife’s name. Is your husband a historian? Either way I think you’re in the clear for [name_f]Eva[/name_f]. It’s a beautiful name!

[acajou]

I don’t think of the association when I hear [name_f]Eva[/name_f].

I do think of it with [name_m]Braun[/name_m] and I do a double take when I see the brand name.

[FuzzBall]

Actually, I think of [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Longoria. No bad associations here!

[itsjustjack]

I voted yes, but it’s more complicated than that.

I know the connection and my first thought is always [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Peron. Then an [name_f]Eva[/name_f] I knew (pronounced EE-va though). Then [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Braun[/name_m].

I personally don’t think that this is a totally unusable one person name as some other names may be, however, if the connection is going to be an issue for the close family that still might be a situation where I consider alternatives.

I definitely wouldn’t do it if your last name is even remotely similar to [name_m]Braun[/name_m].

How do you feel about [name_f]Ava[/name_f]?

[rosepip]

I’m aware of the connection and the connotation, but I don’t think of it when I hear the name - and for what it’s worth, I’m a history nerd too. and I’m currently studying Nazi [name_m]Germany[/name_m], so it really isn’t an immediate association.

[lucyxo]

The eh-vah pronunciation is quite common here in [name_m]Wales[/name_m] (although it’s usually spelled [name_f]Efa[/name_f]), so I don’t think of anything negative.

[emmievis]

The eh-vah pronunciation is the norm in most European countries. There are so many girls named [name_f]Eva[/name_f] pronounced eh-vah here, it’d be silly to deem the name unusable because of only one of them, as awful as that association is.

[standardcrow]

Sorry but that’s exactly what my ([name_m]German[/name_m]) DH said when I said I’d love to name a child after my Great Aunt [name_f]Eva[/name_f]. He’s ok with other EV names like [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]/Evelina though… so I think it’s probably ok if [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is a nickname for something else

[ethelmary]

I know her but the name is quite popular so I don’t immediately think of her.

[tfzolghadr]

I know about [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Braun[/name_m], but it’s not a very strong historical association to me, like [name_u]Salem[/name_u], [name_u]Davis[/name_u], [name_m]Forrest[/name_m], [name_m]Adolph[/name_m], etc. I feel like it’s widely used enough to tone down the association.

[DayJoy]

Eva is a lovely name. It’s not uncommon, so the association is weak - like how [name_m]Adolph[/name_m] makes everyone think of Hitler but [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] doesn’t automatically remind most people of Stalin. Also, I didn’t know the name of Hitler’s wife, and think many people are the same.

[Gia.berry]

The [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Braun[/name_m] connection never even crossed my mind before! I think it has enough other associations (especially with the popularity of other Ev- names) that it wouldn’t be an issue. I think the main thing is if that’s what your dad always thinks of, would you still want to use it?

[Greyblue]

I wouldn’t have thought of the connection until you mentioned it

[Aren]

i think only of eve, the first woman. in many other languages, eve is eva.

[Stellahhh]

If it helps, I think that [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Braun[/name_m]’s name was phonetically pronounced ‘effa’ rather than ‘eh-va’.

[choupette]

I know who [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Braun[/name_m] was, but [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is a fairly common name and has lots of other associations so I definitely wouldn’t think of her first.

I can think of: [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_u]Green[/name_u], [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Mendes, [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Longoria, [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Perón, the “[name_f]Eva[/name_f]” from Neon [name_u]Genesis[/name_u] Evangelion.

I don’t think people are likely to think of [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Braun[/name_m] unless your surname sounds close to [name_m]Braun[/name_m].