So I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I love love love word names, [name_u]Ember[/name_u], [name_f]Clarity[/name_f], [name_u]River[/name_u], that kind of thing. My favorites are the ones with nice meanings that also sound like names, if that makes sense. [name_f]Clarity[/name_f] is a wonderful thing to wish on a child, and (I think) a pretty name for a little girl as well.
But there are also some words that I think would make cool names because of the sound or the spelling. Words like Listen, Finally or Threnody, but that’s only if you don’t take their meanings into account. A threnody is a song of mourning, which seems like a sad way to start a life. And to name a child Finally, well, the jokes write themselves.
And then there’s another side to this, too. Words with great meanings or images attached that just don’t seem like names. I have this problem with [name_u]Storm[/name_u]. I want it to be powerful and awe-inspiring and conjure images of great big summer thunderstorms, of light and energy and life. But the word itself is so…bland. If I were to use it, it could only ever be a middle name, at least for me.
So I guess I’m wondering if anyone else has thought of things like this too. What words do you love for the meaning but not the sound, or vice versa? If you have used a word name for your child, was it more for the meaning, or for the sound?
I would think off the bat that meaning is more important, but I’d love to hear your opinions too.
I don’t have children yet but I have plenty of word names on my list. I would say for me sound probably comes first as I wouldn’t even consider a name I didn’t like the sound of, but meaning is still extremely important for a word name. For instance, I love the name [name_f]Violet[/name_f] because it sounds pretty, but I also love the flower.
I love discussing these types of names! There are so many words that have a great sound, but would be truly cruel to bestow on a child. I actually think this about some of the old puritan virtue names-[name_f]Chastity[/name_f] has a great sound, but like…really? What about when [name_f]Chastity[/name_f] has children of her own? It’s a bit silly.
A few nice sounding words that would make bad names:
Requiem
Elegy
Remedy
[name_f]Every[/name_f]
Soften
Minnow
[name_m]Moor[/name_m]
I’ve always loved the idea of [name_f]Christen[/name_f] for a boy, but he’d just get called [name_f]Kristin[/name_f], so it would never work 
I have alot of word names on my list. For the ones I’d seriously consider, I’d say meaning and sound have equal importance to me. I’d never use a word name just for one reason or the other.
One exception I can think of is Courage. I have this on my long list, or maybe more of a guilty pleasure list, because I love the meaning and image of this name so much! The sound, tho, I don’t love the most, I prefer the sound of Brave or [name_m]Bravery[/name_m], so those would come above Courage.
I think it is more important to consider how wearable the word name is. [name_f]Valerie[/name_f], [name_u]Justice[/name_u], and [name_f]Violet[/name_f] are one thing…Nightengale, Lightening, and Riot, not so much. I worry that we all get caught up in ‘what sounds good’ and forget that future men and women will have to navigate this life with the names we bestow upon them.
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Perfectly said.
When word names are significant for their (positive) meaning, then I think it makes them more usable. I think that when words are used because they sound nice, or look cool, especially when their meaning is cold and stand-offish, it’s just strange.