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Paisley
I have been thinking about this name for a while, I think its a nice name for a girl but still a bit undecided to use it as a name for a story
Wondering
1: What are opinions of the name for a girl
2: What characteristics do you think are associated with this name. If any
3: Could it work in a modern day setting or more fantasy.
4: Any books or stories that have used the name Thanks Very Much. http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/151224

This message was edited 4/8/2015, 6:12 PM

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1: What are opinions of the name for a girl- I'm not a fan, but it could be worse.2: What characteristics do you think are associated with this name. If any- I don't have any traits that I associate with it.3: Could it work in a modern day setting or more fantasy.- Like someone said, a Harry Potter type fantasy, which has a foothold in the 'real' world, but it works in realistic fiction, too4: Any books or stories that have used the name- there was a girl Paisley on Disney's ANT Farm, who was an airhead cheerleader. But that character was such a stereotypical cheerleader that I didn't give any stereotype to the name.BTW- there's a country singer/ songwriter named Brad Paisley.
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1: I'm not sure about my opinion on Paisley for a girl. I know a child whose middle name is Paisley. Does it suit her? Absolutely. Would I use it? Not a chance. I can see the appeal in it's sound but it's just not a name I would want or want to use.2: I think I'd associate Paisley with someone who was ditzy. It just has that "not too bright" feeling. 3: I think it works more for a modern day setting. It seems suburban. I guess it could work for fantasy too in that sort of setting. Other types of fantasy like medieval and futuristic probably not.4: None come to mind.
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I really don't like Paisley. To begin with, I don't like the whole surname/placename as forename trand. It's also a pattern, it makes me think of that. And the sound of it is very whiny and unattractive.
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1. I like it fine, but it's not one of my favorites.
2. Bright, happy, but with a troubled side.
3. I think it works better in a modern day setting. I can't see a fantasy character named Paisley.
4. Not that I know of.
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1: What are opinions of the name for a girl
- It's nms, has a mealy feel in my mouth and I think after the fad for it passes, it'll be just an old fad name like Brittany, Amber, Kaylee - not very graceful on a grown woman, really. But I don't really disapprove of the name. I like some names that I think are worse, lol.2: What characteristics do you think are associated with this name. If any
It's a "popular" sort of name ... paisley fabric, surname name, imagey and kinda empty. It's a lot like the name Lindsay IMO. So I would expect a Paisley to be from a mediocre background, with parents creative and confident enough to use the name but shallow enough to choose a "novel" name mainly for its style. Which isn't all negative as far as I'm concerned, but I'm not sure I'd want such a name myself.3: Could it work in a modern day setting or more fantasy.
Well, I predict it'll reach the top 50 next year or the next. So it would work in modern day settings. In fantasy, it does not seem to belong. It's too mundane, what with the immediate image of the pattern that it brings to mind.4: Any books or stories that have used the name
Not that I know of.

This message was edited 4/8/2015, 8:51 PM

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That's very true, I never thought it was a bad name but it does immediately give the idea of a pattern or colour.
Though the meaning of it is apparently Scottish and may relate to the Latin for Church which is why a thought it could work as a fantasy name. But it would need a good surname.http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/151224 please vote.

This message was edited 4/8/2015, 11:23 PM

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*ahem*1. Secretly, there is a part of me that really, really likes Paisley - which is totally unlike me - and it seems to be the same part of me that loves Ainsley, Robyn, and Sailor for girls, too. I find them tomboy chic, for want of a better phrase, and I further attempt to justify my liking the four of them (to myself), by claiming that there's nothing that makes them overtly or rightfully masculine. But I'll stop before I ramble on too much. I, too, have pondered it for a particular fictional character I have in mind, or, rather, whenever I'm running through scenes and dialogues involving her in my mind, Paisley occasionally slips in there in place of the other name I have chosen for her, which ultimately makes more sense. Having said that, when I do see Paisley used in real life, I do think, "Well, the parents could have done better." 2. Because of the print, which I quite like, too, I think of it as a rather hippie-ish name. A carefree girl, or at least a girl with carefree parents. 3. Modern day, certainly. The Paisley I knew of that I most recall would be around 15 now, or so I'm guessing. As for fantasy, it depends; if it's a modern or futuristic fantasy rooted in our world - think Harry Potter - you could certainly use Paisley, but if you're creating an alternate world, with different languages and folklore - think The Hobbit - then I'd stay away from it. 4. I did a quick search, and all I could find was this, which is actually kind of interesting http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027908/bio

This message was edited 4/8/2015, 8:07 PM

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It sounds trendy sounding and weak. I think of parsley and spices for soups.
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Not a fanI'm not even sorry (hey, we all have our opinions) "Paisley" is honestly one of my most hated names. I find it ugly and repulsive and unnatractive as the pattern itself. To me, I will never gaurner any respect for it and it will never be a proper or formal name to me1: Already explained
2:Someone young and naive
3:None so far that I know of (knock on wood)There's better names out there. Even for characters!
Similar names: Paige\Saige\Sage\Payton\Peyton and so on (:
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