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HelpHorace etc
There's a vast difference in my reactions to Horace (yuck-makingly negative), Horatio (very gung-ho and Nelsonish, and good enough to use if one had the gumption) and Horatius (disconcertingly, both gung-ho Bridge-keeper and two whole millennia out of date).
And this seems less than convincing. They aren't so dissimilar! So, can anyone help out with opinions, associations and/or explanations that might clarify my mind?
And this seems less than convincing. They aren't so dissimilar! So, can anyone help out with opinions, associations and/or explanations that might clarify my mind?
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Horace - first makes me think of Horace Slughorn, oe of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter books and movies. Lovely man, one of the true Slytherin heroes, and a dedicated alchemist - he reminds me of how I play pretty much any rpg, always prioritizing gathering alchemy ingredients, especially rare ones. :) Then I think or Horace Bing from 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'. Extremely socially awkward, generally likable. My dad always called him "horse," though. :P
Horatio - I don't really have any strong associations for it, but it feels kind of silly to me for some reason. Like someone a bit pompous. Hamlet (of the play of the same name) had a friend named this, and I don't think he was either silly or pompous, so I'm not sure where that's coming from.
Horatius - pretty sure I've never even heard this one. It feels like a more Roman version of Horatio, and also feels even less serious for whatever reason. I feel it would fit in well in a sort of steampunk-type setting, not so much in a setting resembling modern day reality.
I don't consider any of the three to be usable on real people as first names.
Horatio - I don't really have any strong associations for it, but it feels kind of silly to me for some reason. Like someone a bit pompous. Hamlet (of the play of the same name) had a friend named this, and I don't think he was either silly or pompous, so I'm not sure where that's coming from.
Horatius - pretty sure I've never even heard this one. It feels like a more Roman version of Horatio, and also feels even less serious for whatever reason. I feel it would fit in well in a sort of steampunk-type setting, not so much in a setting resembling modern day reality.
I don't consider any of the three to be usable on real people as first names.
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I dislike all three but that's just me. I don't think it's odd that you feel toward them like you despite their similar sound. Horace reminds me of an old grouchy man I once knew and also the Egyptian deity. Horatio makes me think of math (ratio), my least favorite subject in school. Same with Horatius. To confound matters even more, the HOR sound at the beginning reminds me of a very unpleasant, derogatory word.
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It seems to me that Horace is a popular name for cartooney villains. I have that association, which makes the name seem negative right off.
However, I actually like Horace, so the "yuck" factor is difficult for me to relate to. I think it's clunky-cool.
Horatio is still used modernly, and often as the protagonist in a latin-romance (Italian or Spanish). I can just picture a Harlequin book cover with a de-clad Horatio staring off into the distance as some wispy-robed femme stands beside him.
Horatius has the ending that immediate bring the ancient to mind. -ius will do that to you.
However, I actually like Horace, so the "yuck" factor is difficult for me to relate to. I think it's clunky-cool.
Horatio is still used modernly, and often as the protagonist in a latin-romance (Italian or Spanish). I can just picture a Harlequin book cover with a de-clad Horatio staring off into the distance as some wispy-robed femme stands beside him.
Horatius has the ending that immediate bring the ancient to mind. -ius will do that to you.
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