When I was growing up, my father almost exclusively called me ‘[name_m]Tiger[/name_m]’ - it was a very rare occurrence for him to call me by my actual given name (which he also gave me). He was the only one to ever call me by this nickname, and I loved it. I lost my father many years ago now, when I was nineteen, and miss him every day.
So, enter (middle name) [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f]. I’ve thought on it before, many years ago, but dismissed it due to the horribly racist [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m] association. I adore [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] for the aforementioned nickname, paired with the flora association (my father owned and operated his own plant nursery, and knew all there was to know about, without fail, every plant and flower he came upon) but does the negative literary association still ruin that completely? I would, of course, give my daughter this information so that she knows and understands it herself, both the positive namesake, and the potential negative association - would that make it any better?
My thought as to a combo is [name_f]Gaia[/name_f] [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f]. I also quite like Freyja [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f]. My other idea, which is probably actually more realistic I suppose, is to use ‘[name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f]’ as a nickname, just as my father used ‘[name_m]Tiger[/name_m]’ for me.
I love it as a mn! The personal connection is very sweet & meaningful. I wouldn’t worry one bit about the [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m] reference. You can probably find a racist connotation behind most names in American history if you tried hard enough.
I think it would be the perfect middle name for your daughter. Being a middle I don’t find it at all problematic that many people associate it with the [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m] character. Your reasons for using it outweigh the literary connection and in the rare case she uses her middle name she can explain the significance if she wants to. But fwiw, if I met someone with the middle name [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] I wouldn’t think it had any relation to [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m]. And it flows great with the first names you listed.
I was literally about to post this thread yesterday! [name_m]How[/name_m] strange.
I really love [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f]. I think it would make a fabulous middle name — it’s pretty and feminine, but the “[name_m]Tiger[/name_m]” part gives it a real fierceness and wildness that I really love. [name_f]Gaia[/name_f] [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] is gorgeous and feisty!
I don’t think [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m] is a dealbreaker. It’s an unfortunate association, but that’s not the spirit in which you’d be giving the name and it sounds like you have a lot of very positive personal associations with it, which I think make it a great choice for you.
Thank you for your replies. I’m happy to hear it would be taken fairly positively. I do really like the juxtaposition of the wild and fierce [name_m]Tiger[/name_m] and the pure and sweet [name_f]Lily[/name_f] in one name.
What a coincidence. I actually searched [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] here and came up with a post you had made several years ago on the name, and did wonder whether you were still into it.
I definitely think your associations with the name should outweighs the [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m] one. If it was a first name, I’d probably advise caution, but as a middle name it’s lovely.
I’d not worry too much about the [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m] association, as long as you’re aware of it and prepared to explain your personal connection to the name (which is a strong one, considering your nickname and your father’s love of plants) then I think you should be okay, especially if you’re using it as a middle name. However, someone is bound to mention it, so if it always bothers you, or makes you feel guilty, then I might sideline it for now.
Might I suggest you use [name_m]Tiger[/name_m]? People use [name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f], [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_m]Hawk[/name_m], [name_u]Dove[/name_u] and even Otter as names, and tigers are fierce cats (not to mention female tigers are incredible hunters and mothers). It might not go with [name_f]Gaia[/name_f], but I do think it would be sweet and strong and meaningful for your daughter.
Thank you for your ideas. [name_m]Tiger[/name_m]'s are beautiful, brilliant creatures for sure and I really like the actual animal association, however, as a given name, I’m just not so keen. While I do love names like [name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_u]Dove[/name_u] (and [name_m]Wolf[/name_m]), I’m just not as fond of [name_m]Tiger[/name_m].
I love [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] and think it makes a perfect middle name. The wild ferocity of [name_m]Tiger[/name_m] with the sweetness and gentility of [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is such a beautiful contrast. And I think [name_f]Gaia[/name_f] [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] is just stunning!! So much wild, green, ferocious goddess power! I wouldn’t change a thing!
[name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] is so beautiful! It sounds magical. [name_f]Gaia[/name_f] [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] and Freyja [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] are stunning names!
I agree with what practically everyone else is saying, that your connection to this name is so lovely. It’s almost as if it was made for you. <3 I will disclose that I’m not the hugest Disney fan there is, but my mind didn’t automatically go to the Peter Pan connection. Since you’re using it in the middle, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.
I agree it works for you as a middle and would think both [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m] and the flower but ONLY because we read the original story often and would never think the intention was a connection to the negative aspects of that film (which are legitimate and someday you should probably explain that whole thing and be sure she’s aware in case anyone ever asks, Dhalia isn’t a write off name either and it has a negative association too. These lillies grow wild on our land, they’re beautiful and bright and unexpected.) I would think immediately that it had something to do with the flower or something I was unaware of and mind my own business while thinking it’s lovely to see fresh flower names! But also unless I were a teacher with access to the child’s full name or a medical provider with the child’s full name o n a paper somewhere… Or even someone who worked with legal documents… I don’t think it would ever come up outside of the announcement of the name. I think your story makes me feel this is the perfect middle name for your daughter.
[name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] is a really sweet name, and that’s such a special connection to your father. It would be so lovely if you used it.
I didn’t actually know there were racist associations with [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f], and didn’t remember it was from [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_m]Pan[/name_m]. When I saw the title of your thread, I thought [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] sounded familiar and I had probably heard it somewhere, but couldn’t think of where.
Maybe you could use [name_f]Lily[/name_f] as a first or middle name, and call her [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] as a nickname? That would still have the association with your father’s nickname for you but people outside your family are less likely to hear it and have the opportunity to be offended by it, which might help your worries.
I really love [name_f]Gaia[/name_f] [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f]. It’s fierce but feminine, and really distinctive. Freyja with that spelling looks rather clunky to me, but [name_f]Freya[/name_f] [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] would be really cool, both names give off a mysterious and storybook-like vibe to me.
I only think of the flower. Pure nature name to me.