Some names come with a history.Take the lovely name [name]Diana[/name]. Although classic and beautiful, the memory of the late [name]Princess[/name] [name]Di[/name] still comes to mind when many people her [name]Diana[/name]. Would it be insensitive to use it? Have wonderful names with sad, negative or popular connotaions become voodoo in today’s society? Have you ever loved a name and then learned about someone who had that name and then felt it was “ruined”? Would you use a name that “belongs” to another person (i.e. [name]Antoinette[/name]… beautiful name but who doesn’t think of the [name]Queen[/name]!!!)
Here’s a couple that I can think of with less than positive connotations:
[name]Adolf[/name] (ruined by Hitler; mentioned in a poll I made a little while back)
[name]Katrina[/name] (many now think of the hurricane, and it has dropped quite a bit in popularity since then)
I only feel that way about names that I only associate with one person. So, not [name]Diana[/name] or any other common name. [name]Antoinette[/name] makes me think of [name]Marie[/name], but I like her so to me that’s positive.
One thing I’m always on the fence about is using names of family members that passed away in a tragic way. I know this is ridiculous, but it scares me. I have a cousin who’s husband’s sister passed away as a child. They were going to name their daughter after her, [name]Suzanne[/name]… well little [name]Suzanne[/name] was delivered stillborn. I think that’s just so tragic and it would make me feel like the name was cursed. My mom had a sister who passed away named [name]Joy[/name] and I always wanted to honor her until I found out about poor little [name]Suzanne[/name]. So, basically I wouldn’t use the name of someone who I knew had a tragic story. But I guess I feel that way more about family members than famous people like [name]Princess[/name] [name]Di[/name] and [name]Marie[/name] [name]Antoinette[/name]. Geeze, this was a long post.
I think [name]Goddess[/name] when I hear [name]Diana[/name], so I think that one is still safe!
There are some that I think are off-limits though:
[name]Cher[/name]–Would be sentenced to a life of looking for [name]Sonny[/name]
[name]Madonna[/name]–Although I had a college professor with this name…
[name]Elvis[/name]
I think there can also be unfortunate fn/mn combinations that I can see occuring
[name]Charles[/name] [name]Manson[/name] _____
[name]John[/name] [name]Wilkes[/name] _______
etc.
[name]Hi[/name]!
For me, [name]Diana[/name] is a totally accessible name. For one, [name]Diana[/name] was a dignified princess, a generous, kind, and loving woman, and a devoted mother. There’s a reason so many people love her to this day - despite her flaws, she was a great person! Not to mention the [name]Diana[/name]/[name]Artemis[/name] connection from mythology, [name]Diana[/name] is a great name that I think is very much able to be used.
[name]Antoinette[/name] is slightly more tied to [name]Marie[/name], I think, but I, too, think she is a pretty quirky, fun historical figure, oft misunderstood. I also think [name]Antoinette[/name] is a totally awesome name! I mean, when you see [name]Florence[/name], do you think Nightingale? [name]How[/name] is that different? I recognize there are many other famous women named [name]Florence[/name], but that one sticks out to me from history. Needless to say, I don’t think [name]Antoinette[/name] is a one-hit-wonder!
But, some names I think are too tied to a person, an event, or a stigma to be accessible today. For example, [name]Adolf[/name] is pretty much synonymous with Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and Mr. Hitler, so I’d say that one isn’t a good choice. [name]Napoleon[/name], too, is probably not the best choice, but he did some good things, too, so maybe it could work as a middle name - very much associated with Monsieur Bonaparte, though! One-name wonders like [name]Elvis[/name], [name]Cher[/name], [name]Madonna[/name], and [name]Beyonce[/name], though, should be respected and left alone in my opinion. If I ever met a child with one of those names, I’d be hard-pressed to think of anything but the respective talents!
[name]Lemon[/name] 
I don’t draw that connection with [name]Diana[/name] - I guess the situation’s different in [name]Britain[/name].