Message: "Agree (m)" - Behind the Name

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Agree (m)

by Indy (Likeyeahwhatev)

4/24/2017, 10:55 AM

For example, I often see people refer to Diamond as a trashy name but never Ruby or Pearl. These are all gemstone names but Diamond is much more common among African-Americans.

http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/87410

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- RDNZL

4/24/2017, 3:33 PM

I like Diamond. I never considered it trashy. And it has a much better sound like Ruby or Pearl, IMO.

This message was edited 4/24/2017, 3:33 PM

- Raven Briar (Constant)

4/24/2017, 12:33 PM

For the record, both Diamond and Ruby strike me as equally stripperish. Pearl reminds me of "The Scarlet Letter" and Puritans, which is a mixed bag of associations.

- Perrine (Destry) +7

4/24/2017, 10:59 AM

This is why I started this thread because as someone from outside of the US this is so odd to me and I would like to know the background behind it.

I never knew that Diamond is more common among African Americans. I always put it in a group with Jade, Ruby, Pearl - a usable gemstone name. I always liked the Italian variant Diamante a lot.

- Isis (Amaryllis Isis)

4/27/2017, 7:29 AM

I work with a girl whose name is Deimante and honest, I find it, in German terribly 'hochgeschissen'. Like, it's not even regular diamond, nooo, it's fancy diamond with a faux french accent.,

Just me though

- noel (glaucous)

4/25/2017, 9:32 PM

I didn't know it was more common among African Americans either. I've only ever heard Diamond as a surname; it sounds weirdly cold and formal to me.

Also, although I like most of them, I'd say gemstone names as a group are considered a bit tacky, but they've all got different vibes (for example, Pearl has a redneck vibe to me, and Topaz has a hippie/flaky vibe)...and most people I know with gemstone names (except for Jade, actually) are white.

This message was edited 4/25/2017, 9:48 PM

- LiaMaria (LMS)

4/24/2017, 7:41 PM

I don't think that's the reason why its "trashy." I think it is because its a common stripper name alongside Crystal and Jade, whereas I have never heard of a stripper named Ruby or Pearl.

- Joiya +3

4/24/2017, 11:03 AM

Diamond gets lots of eye-brow raises in the U.S.

In fact Jade and Jasmine would be considered less classy than Ruby or Pearl.

Opal, Amethyst and Beryl would be in the "uncommon" and "slightly weird" category (even though I like them).

- Perrine (Destry) +2

4/24/2017, 11:07 AM

Jasmine is another favorite of mine :P Do you think it might be of all the different ways to spell it (Jazzmin, Jazmine etc.)? Opal is growing on me a lot, I wish it wouldn't make me think of the car. I love Jade!

- Joiya +1

4/24/2017, 11:11 AM

The spelling thing might affect Jasmine. I know a bunch of girls named variation like Jazzmyn.

DH really, really loves this name. I just couldn't bring myself to consider it because it does have that tacky vibe.

We ran into the same problem with Tiffany :(

I don't know the car / Opal association. I think most people have just forgotten about Opal really. No idea why it didn't hit the hipster crowd along with Ruby. I am guessing people have relegated it to middle name status.

- Perrine (Destry)

4/24/2017, 11:13 AM

I love it too, the flowers are so beautiful and they smell amazing. It has such a nice image for me :) Tiffany has a bit of a cheerleader vibe to me but I also think of Breakfast at Tiffany's and Audrey Hepburn which is nice and a good image.

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