View Message

I quite like Dawn, and I think it would fit in pretty well with all the nature names which are around at the moment (Summer, Willow, Lily etc.)

---

I don't like Darla or Darlene at all and I feel that "ene" names are really trashy and unattractive. I fine the "een" sound quite whiny sounding and when I see most of those names (apart from Maureen) I think of the character "Lurleen" from the Simpsons and that's the image I get.

In my limited experience, Dawn is a name that was chosen 30-odd-yrs ago by the same stratum of parents now drawn to Jayden (etc.) type names. I've never known anyone named Darla--wasn't it recommended here just awhile ago for an author's fictional lunch acquaintance?

---

The others--Darlene, Arlene, Eileen, Maureen, and Janine are working class names from the 40's and 50's. Even the 30's. I think names with the same sounding ending have been in use for awhile, names like Justine and Maxine , but somehow these have a different, classier feel. Of this list, I think maybe only Eileen/Elaine could make a comeback anytime soon.

Personally, I like Dawn. I also think -een names are nice (particularly Arlene) and don't care much about the datedness factor. Perhaps because every woman I've ever known whose name ends in -een has been very pleasant. I think it'll be a while before these names begin to see use again with the general public (the 100-year cycle comes to mind). Of course, there'll be the oddball like me who'd name a daughter Arlette or Arlena.

---

Image depends quite a bit on the person who wears the name. If you know a Dawn who's at the local bar every night with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and chugging a couple of six-packs while flirting with every guy in the joint, then you'll probably see Dawn as a trashy name. :-D

I kind of hate Dawn. It reminds me of the dishwashing soap and it doesn't look at all feminine or elegant, no matter if it has a lovely association. I'm not a fan of Darla, Darlene, Arlene, and Maureen, either, although Eileen is quite nice.

I like the name Dawn. I think most nature names are pretty

---

Darla sounds out-dated to me, and Darlene sounds way too Southern for my taste (a lot of names ending in -leen or -lene do)

---

I like the names Eileen and Maureen. Not too keen on the others. If they do make a comeback it won't be any time soon.

I don't like Dawn. I feel like without the meaning it would sound like a masculine name (similar to Don or Shawn).

---

In the future -ene/-een names might get revived, but only once the people who perceive the names as stereotypical of a certain group of people die out (ex. once there are no more people who think Darlene is an "old lady" name).

---

Additionally, I've heard of a possibly modern variant of Darla/Darlene! Darley, which is also probably a nickname for Darla/Darlene.

I think Darla and Darlene are really ugly. Dawn I think deserves more attention.

Darla, Darlene, Dawn and Janine are nice... The others I'd be content to leave in the past, I think.

This message was edited 9/11/2011, 3:23 AM