With so many names to choose from I still find it surprising that quite a few of them carry a social stigma of sorts. Often it seems these are names from a different culture/language and perhaps the meaning (or story behind the name) gets lost in translation.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t use any of these names (though some, frankly, you shouldn’t), but it’s always useful to know more about the names you like.
Obviously I’m not talking about naming your son [name]Sue[/name], or naming your daughter [name]Marika[/name] (Hungarian nn for [name]Maria[/name]; in Spanish ‘marica’ is a profanity for ‘gay man’), but more along the lines of using the name [name]Adolf[/name]/[name]Adolph[/name].
So, please, if you have some real insight into a name (listed on the site or not) that has more negative than positive connotations (not simply that you personally don’t like that name!), list them and your explanation here!
[name]Cosette[/name] - it has a beautiful sound, however in French it is a synonym of a ‘poor little girl’. It is a girl who is used and abused.
Miette - French word, but I’ve never heard this being used in [name]France[/name]. Its meaning is ‘(bread)crumb’. To me it’s an endearing nn, not at all a name.
Thule - this was mentioned in a blog. Please don’t ever use this! It was important to the Nazis and today to the [name]Neo[/name]-Nazis.
[name]Zingaro[/name] - means ‘gypsy’ in Italian, more of a racial slur than a name.
There are two which I’ve come across/ dealt with that stick out to me.
One is [name]Jemima[/name]. In the UK the name is used, and having spent time in the UK as a child I even met a couple of varying ages. However, here in the US it has the connotation of a “slave name” and the stereotyped picture of Aunt [name]Jemima[/name] on the original packaging of the syrup bottle. It’s so unfortunate too because it’s a gorgeous name with a great meaning (dove).
The second is [name]Cohen[/name]. Personally, the use of this name offends me, especially when people have no religious sensitivity to the name. I don’t mean that non-Jews shouldn’t use the name simply because they aren’t Jewish. Jews themselves would never use the name, therefore I think people need to be sensitive to that fact. I understand that it is often used without knowing it’s meaning, but I think if someone is going to use it as a first name, they need to be fully aware of its context. It is a priestly name in the Jewish community and those with the last name, historically, have been considered the purest. In my mind it is akin to naming a child [name]Priest[/name], which to most I think would be odd.
I researched the name [name]Emmanuelle[/name] a few months ago, and even though I fell in love with it, I found out that it carried rather…inappropriate connotations. More specifically, it was the name of the heroine of a steamy French film. Apparently, it was rather popular too. But as I am a teen, I don’t get this connection but I’m afraid older people will.
Also, the word Rubella refers to a type of measles. Which in my opinion is such a pity, because Rubella sounds so pretty and even has the nickname of [name]Ruby[/name]. But a long time ago, I asked on Y!A about Rubella to see if anyone would really get the measles connection, and almost everyone said they liked the sound of Rubella but would never use it because of the measles thing.
[name]Mignon[/name] - I admit that this has an adorable sound, and I can definitely see the appeal to non-French speakers, however to anyone who speaks the language (I used to live in [name]France[/name]) it is too sweet - it literally is the word for ‘sweet/cute’, and is not used as a name. I would liken it to calling your daughter [name]Precious[/name], Sweetie or [name]Baby[/name]. Additionally, it is the wrong gender for use on a little girl - the feminine form of mignon is mignonne (the final N much stronger). [name]Manon[/name] would be a much more usable alternative.
[name]Dolores[/name] - this is actually the oppostite, really; people seem to dislike the name because of the meaning ‘suffering’. While I agree that the meaning is so obvious to anyone who has learnt Spanish or, indeed, Latin, that it may put them off, ‘suffering’ is not actually truly negative in this sense. [name]Dolores[/name] comes from a Spanish religious title for the Virgin [name]Mary[/name], [name]Santa[/name] [name]Maria[/name] de [name]Dolores[/name] - Our Lady of Suffering, and so really references the sacrifices and patience of the Virgin [name]Mary[/name] rather than pain. This is similar to other titles for Her such as the Italian [name]Santa[/name] [name]Maria[/name] del Soccorso - Our Lady of the Forsaken.
[name]Aryan[/name] - I’ve seen people post on this site saying the love the sound of this name. [name]Even[/name] trying to spell it [name]Erian[/name], etc… But I don’t think it’s ever appropriate.
I have a friend named [name]Aryan[/name], which has a very different meaning for Iranians. But I agree, otherwise, it is in bad taste. [name]How[/name] ironic how they obtained the improper usage of this name…
I completely agree. I love [name]Dolores[/name] and to me it doesn’t mean ‘sorrows’ or ‘suffering’ but sacrifice made for others, thinking of others first and being patient and selfless. To me that’s sometimes a better meaning for a child than simply beauty or something that sounds pretty.
I would like to add [name]LOLITA[/name] - one of the prettiest names I ever heard but too associated with the book/films for people to not look at you like you were crazy for using it.
And I never thought of the [name]Marica[/name] (gay men) thing in spain, I guess cause I don’t think of the name [name]Marika[/name] very often.
Ok…I’m from the Southern US. Please don’t ever name your child [name]Bubba[/name]. [name]True[/name] story. I attended school with a boy named [name]Bubba[/name] [name]Joe[/name] and he lived up to his name in full redneck fashion. No one wants that. [name]Bubba[/name] is a nickname at best…never should it be a given name.
[name]Ariela[/name] - I thought this was pretty at first, until my mom pointed out that it sounds like areola, which is the skin around the nipple (for those who may not know… Lol) I personally don’t think anyone should be given a name that is similar to a body part.
Personally, I would never use a Biblical name because I wouldn’t want any to think I am religious nor would I want my children to have names that are in those myths. But, that’s just a personal thing.
Names like [name]Elijah[/name], [name]Joseph[/name], [name]Jonah[/name], [name]Ruth[/name], and [name]Mary[/name] are very Biblical. But I doubt many people think of the Bible when they hear [name]Elizabeth[/name] or [name]Benjamin[/name]. [name]Even[/name] [name]Chloe[/name] is in the Bible.
Names like [name]Elijah[/name], [name]Joseph[/name], [name]Jonah[/name], [name]Ruth[/name], and [name]Mary[/name] are very Biblical. But I doubt many people think of the Bible when they hear [name]Elizabeth[/name] or [name]Benjamin[/name]. [name]Even[/name] [name]Chloe[/name] is in the Bible.[/quote]
Definitely don’t think of the Bible with [name]Elizabeth[/name] and [name]Chloe[/name], but [name]Chloe[/name] is just barely mentioned.
See, my name is [name]Rachel[/name], and when I tell people I’m an atheist, they’re always shocked. And every other [name]Rachel[/name] I’ve known has been very religious. But, again, the no Biblcal names is purely personal.
I have a question. I am wanting to name my son [name]Cohen[/name], or some spelling of the name. I am not Jewish, but I am half-Irish/ half Swedish. I understand the importance of the name to those of Jewish faith, but I also know that the name has some roots in [name]Ireland[/name], as well. I don’t wish to offend anyone by naming my child [name]Cohen[/name], but I also don’t want to give up my love for this name. Is there a spelling variation that is considered less offensive to those in the Jewish community? I know that Coyne or [name]Coen[/name] are some common spellings of the Irish surname. Any help or input would be appreciated. Thanks!
