[name_f]Do[/name_f] You Think Jonbenet [name_m]Will[/name_m] [name_u]Ever[/name_u] Be Salvagable Or Make A Resurgence? Or do you think it’s tainted do to its association with JonBenet [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m]? I’ve heard a few girls with the name but I wonder if it will ever be used more in the mainstream or in literature. I’m working on a book currently and something about that name just sticks in my head.
It’s a pretty one-of-a-kind name so I think [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m] will always be the strong and immediate association. I’m surprised that you know several girls by the name, to be honest.
I know two, one from [name_u]California[/name_u] and the other was an exchange student in high school but I wonder if one could use it as a name for a character or if the association would be too strong.
Really? No. If those girls with the name that you met were born after JonBenet was in the news, then they were named after her. I wouldn’t want my name associated with something like that.
I think it’s one of those things where because the name is so unusual / distinctive, it’s hard not to associate it with the most famous association, which in this case is JonBenet [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m]. Maybe with time it will be less so, but right now I think it’s too strongly linked to really use. JonBenet is an unusual name so it sticks out.
I wouldn’t touch it.
I don’t think JonBenét can ever be separated from the association with JonBenét [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m], because she was most likely the only person to ever have that name before her story became popular: her dad was the person who came up with her name (it’s a portmanteau of [name_m]John[/name_m] + [name_m]Bennett[/name_m], his own first and middle name).
For a character you can have your shot. You can build your character in any way and I don’t think it will tamper with your story. For a child? Never
Nope. It’s 100% forever associated with one thing, JonBenet [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m]. Her parents made up the name based on both parents family names. So it’s extremely owned by her, both because of the tragedy and because the name didn’t even exist before her.
Is it the portmanteau of [name_m]Jon[/name_m] and [name_m]Benet[/name_m] that stands out to you? JonBenet is pretty unique to [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m] (I’m actually surprised you know multiple girls with that name), but the idea of giving a daughter (whether real or fictional) a name made up of two masculine names could be really interesting. What about JeanMichele / [name_u]Jean[/name_u]-[name_u]Michele[/name_u] ([name_u]Jean[/name_u] pronounced “zhahn”)? Or MarieBlaise? Or, there’s always names like [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] or [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] you could draw inspiration from. LilyBeth / [name_f]Lilibeth[/name_f]? [name_f]JoAnna[/name_f]? JossLynn / [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f]?
Some names are just too notorious. I dont think its useable.
I’m very surprised at people using this name, I can’t see any appeal unless they were also family names but given the association it is wholly bizarre that someone would name a baby this. Make up another masculine first name/ middle portmanteau for your character if that is what appeals? (Unless you are trying to paint a picture of the odd family who would use this name).
It’s very pretty
I think the name will always be strongly associated with [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m]. I wouldnt want to name a child or a character it, because the association itself is so tragic.
While you can name your characters whatever you want, if I was reading a book with a character named JonBenet, it would through the whole story off for me. I probably wouldnt pick up a book that had a character named that to begin with.
I do agree with other posters that maybe itd be better if you created your own name! (Or just used a different one!) Sorry!