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HelpWhat do you think of . . .
Meryl? It was the name my husband and I thought of many years ago if we ever had a daughter. We have since both sort of forgot about it and have a different top choice if we ever have a girl. I'm not sure what I think oc it now. Does it sound old lady? Does it matter that it's sort of a made up name?
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Meryl sounds very bland to me. It's way to plain in my opinion.
It doesn't sound old lady but it does sound dated.
It doesn't sound old lady but it does sound dated.
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I've always liked it (even though I am not a fan of Streep) and was really happy to see it borne by Davis, who gives it the kind of image it deserves. I think it's totally usable and isn't any more made-up than Ellia or Caylee or Alyssa. I think of it as more just a rare and slightly creative name, rather than a dated name.
I think the issue with dated names isn't important when a name is already a "grandma name" from the perspective of the parent generation. It's only a problem when the name was a fad and is a "mom name" - very popular about 15-25 years before the person's birth, but gone out of style at the time she was born. So that when she's a young adult, her own peers recognize the name as "middle aged." Like if you wanted to call her Chelsea, then datedness is more of a problem... that'd be like you being named Misty or Tonya (I'm assuming you're in your 20s).
Having a name that is an old-grandma name to your peers, is not a big negative IMO, it's more a curiosity, especially if the name's as rare as Meryl. It's like you being named, say, Aletha or Nova. Or, it might be like you being named Hazel ... Meryl could well be fashionable again n 25-30 years.
I think maybe the aging of Streep alone keeps it down, for now, because Meryl has been rare enough that it's probably a one-person name to a lot of folks. That, to me, is the biggest downside of Meryl. But it's not enough that it'd stop me from using the name for a daughter. And when the generation born today comes of age, Streep won't be an aging actress anymore but an ancient diva, or dead - to them she'll be more like Lauren Bacall is to us.
I think the issue with dated names isn't important when a name is already a "grandma name" from the perspective of the parent generation. It's only a problem when the name was a fad and is a "mom name" - very popular about 15-25 years before the person's birth, but gone out of style at the time she was born. So that when she's a young adult, her own peers recognize the name as "middle aged." Like if you wanted to call her Chelsea, then datedness is more of a problem... that'd be like you being named Misty or Tonya (I'm assuming you're in your 20s).
Having a name that is an old-grandma name to your peers, is not a big negative IMO, it's more a curiosity, especially if the name's as rare as Meryl. It's like you being named, say, Aletha or Nova. Or, it might be like you being named Hazel ... Meryl could well be fashionable again n 25-30 years.
I think maybe the aging of Streep alone keeps it down, for now, because Meryl has been rare enough that it's probably a one-person name to a lot of folks. That, to me, is the biggest downside of Meryl. But it's not enough that it'd stop me from using the name for a daughter. And when the generation born today comes of age, Streep won't be an aging actress anymore but an ancient diva, or dead - to them she'll be more like Lauren Bacall is to us.
This message was edited 1/10/2015, 1:40 PM
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Totally old-lady. But also almost-cool. And definitely gutsy. I don't love it myself, but it would sure be interesting to see it around.
Nickname could be Mery.
Nickname could be Mery.
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I love the sound of it, but I don't like the look of it. Or rather, it's more that the look of it doesn't jive with the sound for me. It sounds sweet and warm, but then it looks too cold when I see it. I like the similar name, Merel, better because of that.
I think as a full package it seems like a mature name, but not old-ladyish at least in a frumpy way. Plus there's that figure skater, Meryl Davis, for a non-older association.
I think as a full package it seems like a mature name, but not old-ladyish at least in a frumpy way. Plus there's that figure skater, Meryl Davis, for a non-older association.
This message was edited 1/10/2015, 7:12 AM
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As Mary derivatives go, it's not terrible, but I see no charm in it either, and it is so closely associated with Meryl Streep, who I'm not fond of.
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Okay, I have to ask: Why are you not fond of Meryl Streep? The only thing I know of her is that she's an acclaimed actress, and she's from Northern New Jersey, as I am. I'm not aware of anything she's done in her private life which would make her unlikable, although I personally have no opinion of her, as I am wont to do when it comes to celebrities.
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Ugly, and in my opinion, too associated with Streep.
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I think Meryl is a fine choice. It could suit any age, in my opinion.
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