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HelpDamaris
I talked to someone with this name recently and it got me to thinking about it. I think I like it, although I admit the probably meaning of "calf" or "heifer" is not good. Apparently it might also mean "girl" which is rather generic, lol.
What do you think of Damaris?
What do you think of Damaris?
This message was edited 3/16/2015, 8:37 PM
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Replies
I like it (said Da-MAR-iss), although I thought it meant 'Dominant Woman' which brought a lot of the appeal to be honest. I still think it would make a cool sounding, but unusual middle name or even first.
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I like it - probably not enough to use, but the sound and the look of it appeal.
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I read a book as a kid titled A Woman Named Damaris and I have liked the name ever since.
We know a family who used this name for a daughter a couple of years ago, so it never made our personal lists. But, when I was a teen, Damaris and Keturah were my top names.
I find it exotic enough to be interesting in most cultures, but the spelling and pronunciation is straightforward and easy. Maris, Mari and even Dame would be workable as nicknames... though I am not a fan of the last one.
The meaning IS rather generic, but that leaves room for a more personal or deep middle name imo.
Also - yeah... "heifer". But, Leah means "weak", Caleb means "dog", Cecelia means "blind", Blaise means "lisper", Portia means "pig" and Kennedy means "deformed head".... just to name a few. All of those are in wide use, though I personally would never use a name with a meaning like any of those!
I wonder how often parents even think about meanings when they name though? I do, but I'll bet a lot don't, unfortunately.
We know a family who used this name for a daughter a couple of years ago, so it never made our personal lists. But, when I was a teen, Damaris and Keturah were my top names.
I find it exotic enough to be interesting in most cultures, but the spelling and pronunciation is straightforward and easy. Maris, Mari and even Dame would be workable as nicknames... though I am not a fan of the last one.
The meaning IS rather generic, but that leaves room for a more personal or deep middle name imo.
Also - yeah... "heifer". But, Leah means "weak", Caleb means "dog", Cecelia means "blind", Blaise means "lisper", Portia means "pig" and Kennedy means "deformed head".... just to name a few. All of those are in wide use, though I personally would never use a name with a meaning like any of those!
I wonder how often parents even think about meanings when they name though? I do, but I'll bet a lot don't, unfortunately.
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Many names do seem to have less than appealing meanings. As a child, I was shocked when I discovered that Rachel meant "sheep" and James meant "supplanter." In defense of Portia, it could be derived from Latin portionem (nominative portio) "share, part, portion." Alternatively, Portia could also be derived from Latin porta "city gate, gate; door, entrance." I don't know why Behind the Name decided to go with the least flattering of all the possible meanings. Maybe they have something against "The Merchant of Venice."
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Ha, yeah.
I do notice that you need to really research meanings before you settle. BtN is the most reliable I have found... but even then you sometimes need to check.
For example... most sites lay heavily on the meaning "leader" for Clarice... while I prefer the more latinate meaning of "bright/clear".
I do notice that you need to really research meanings before you settle. BtN is the most reliable I have found... but even then you sometimes need to check.
For example... most sites lay heavily on the meaning "leader" for Clarice... while I prefer the more latinate meaning of "bright/clear".
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I used to like it, when I thought it was pronounced Da-MARE-Is. Not liked it a lot, but I did think it was pretty. Then I found out it was pronounced Dam-a-riss, and I stopped liking it. Then I met a man who, I don't know how his name was spelled, but it was pronounced Da-MAR-iss, so that finished it.
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Interesting that it was a guy - I have only thought of this as a girl's name.
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Again, I don't know how he spelled his name, it could have been DeMaurice or De-maris or something else.
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Still... it's fresh sound for a boy's name... though I suppose the spelling would dictate it's classiness.
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he went by just D
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I want to like Damaris. I love the way it looks and I don't even mind its meaning. The problem I have is with the pronunciation. If it's pronounced DAM-air-is, then I don't like the way the first syllable is stressed (reminds me of damn heiress). If it's pronounced duh-MARE-is, then it reminds me of demerits.
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I think I'll choose to buy the etymology that says it is influenced by 'damar' meaning wife. The calf meaning doesn't really bother me, at any rate.
Names with these letters are totally my THING. M,R, and D all together! But it's not a magic formula, because Damaris has that stressed DAM in the front. Not only giving me the vague sensation of condemning something, but also reminding me of the word 'dam' meaning 'mother' when applied to breeding animals.
So ... I think I would choose to pronounce it DAH-ma-rees instead, like in Spanish, with an accent on the first a. If I were going to like it. Why can't it just be da-MAHR-iss? Oh well.
Names with these letters are totally my THING. M,R, and D all together! But it's not a magic formula, because Damaris has that stressed DAM in the front. Not only giving me the vague sensation of condemning something, but also reminding me of the word 'dam' meaning 'mother' when applied to breeding animals.
So ... I think I would choose to pronounce it DAH-ma-rees instead, like in Spanish, with an accent on the first a. If I were going to like it. Why can't it just be da-MAHR-iss? Oh well.
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My husband had a secretary named Damaris.Although she was French-speaking, the pronounciation was much the same as you give for Spanish.
She's the only Damaris I've ever come across.
She's the only Damaris I've ever come across.
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The "Spanish" pronunciation is actually lovely. Even duh-MAHR-is is lovely. I just can't get on board with DAM-air-is or duh-MARE-is.
This message was edited 3/17/2015, 5:28 AM
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