We have narrowed our baby girl names down to [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] and [name_f]Elena[/name_f]. We really like the name [name_f]Elena[/name_f], but I just found out that will be the next Disney princess name for a new show on Disney [name_m]Junior[/name_m] in 2016, spinning off from [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] the First. I’m not sure how I feel about this, because it will increase the name’s popularity and I don’t want people asking if we named our daughter after the princess. If you were considering a name that you found out was going to be a Disney princess name, would you still go with it?
I think I would go ahead with the name, if I truly loved it. Disney [name_f]Princess[/name_f] names are not picked out of thin air, they are usually already popular, gaining attention, or overtly fluffy. [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] and [name_f]Anna[/name_f] were already popular when Frozen came out, maybe it gave the names a bit of mainstream push… I think this is even less so with [name_f]Elena[/name_f]. [name_f]Elena[/name_f] is a solid classic name that has been around for many a year. It is beautiful. And that is probably why it was selected as the next [name_f]Princess[/name_f] name.
When I was a kid, my best fried was named [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] (born +/- a few years from the premier of the movie) and she never had any problems with her name. Yes, some people mentioned it when meeting her for the first time… (it did not help that she also had red hair) but it really was not an issue.
I think [name_f]Elena[/name_f] (and [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]) are BEAUTIFUL names. This problem is similar to the “[name_f]Bella[/name_f]” situation. My sister-in-law named her daughter [name_f]Bella[/name_f] in honor of her heritage and because she and her husband thought the name was beautiful. Very few people ask if she was named after [name_f]Bella[/name_f] from Twilight. And it is usually awkward for the asker, not for my sister-in-law and her husband.
It’s cooler when it happens this way, you name your child THEN they make a film with a character of that name (though I know you know in advance). I would avoid naming your child a Disney name like [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] or [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] because movies with those characters have only recently been released and it would seem as if you are naming the child after one of these characters if you get what i mean.
Personally a Disney princess connection would be more of a reason for me to use a name. I love pretty much anything disney so a possible child of mine sharing a name with one of their princesses would be fabulous.
I don’t think the Disney [name_m]Junior[/name_m] Princesses will ever get huge. I work in childcare and apparently managed to miss the rise of [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Sophia[/name_f], until I saw merchandise from it at Target. Before that (and since, really), I have never heard a child aged birth-6 talk about a [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]. Granted, where we lived in the US people were usually hipsters that are too cool for Disney [name_m]Junior[/name_m] or hippies who believe TV is evil, but even so, if it’s that big I’m surprised I didn’t hear about it. My niece is 3 and watches TV and she doesn’t know [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] either.
I love the name [name_f]Elena[/name_f], it’s sweet, and [name_f]IMO[/name_f] a classic. No reason not to use a beautiful name because of a Disney [name_f]Princess[/name_f]. Plus, it’ll be cute to buy a little [name_f]Elena[/name_f] doll even if your daughter has no idea who she is.
[name_f]Sophia[/name_f] was at the top of the list prior to the TV show…[name_f]Elena[/name_f] has been firmly on the list (including variations such as [name_f]Alaina[/name_f]) for years. I say use it, it’s a beautiful name and quickly becoming one of my favorites!
It’s not like it’s a real Disney [name_f]Princess[/name_f]… so yeah, probably.
I’d never use anything current like [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] or [name_f]Merida[/name_f] though.
I have never heard of Disney [name_m]Junior[/name_m] shows, but I suppose they are not as huge as movies? Then I see no reason to care. Frozen came out last year, and I don’t see many baby Elsas around.
[name_f]Elena[/name_f] is incredibly beautiful. My sister has a very similar name and it keeps me from adding to my short list, but it is wonderful. I know a teenage [name_f]Elena[/name_f] who goes by [name_f]Lena[/name_f]. 
Not unless I REALLY loved the name ([name_f]Sophia[/name_f], yes; [name_f]Elena[/name_f], probably not).
Depends on the name and how Disney used it. A tv show aimed at very young kids won’t be the next Frozen. And a name like [name_f]Elena[/name_f] is so classic that it won’t become strictly a Disney name, much like I’d never think of Disney if a girl was named [name_f]Anna[/name_f]. I’d still use it.
I would, because really, what’s so horrifically negative about Disney? I always get asked if I was named [name_u]Haley[/name_u] after the comet, but it’s easy to answer yes or no to (no in my case). It’s never awkward or weird, it’s just natural, and you could get that with literally any name you choose. On my list, I could easily be asked:
“[name_f]Florence[/name_f]…like the city?”
“[name_f]Sybil[/name_f]…like off of Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u]?”
“[name_f]Marigold[/name_f]…like the flower?”
“[name_f]Doris[/name_f]…after [name_f]Doris[/name_f] [name_u]Day[/name_u]?”
It’s likely to happen with any name, and honestly, Disney [name_m]Junior[/name_m] would be the least likely - The Vampire Diaries is where most people will assume you plucked the name [name_f]Elena[/name_f] from, considering it’s more popular, it’s been around a lot longer, and it’s more relevant in society.
I don’t think [name_f]Elena[/name_f] is rare enough to be completely co-opted by any one association. That said, I vote for [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] anyway!