Message: "Saskia" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Saskia

by Malin (nilamalin)

9/5/2012, 3:34 PM

I love Saskia, but I just realized it might not work very well with the first syllable of my surname. Does Saskia Ax... sound awful, or do you think it works?

#Saskia

Replies

- RoxStar

9/5/2012, 3:55 PM

I think it can be a mouthful.

- Bear +2

9/5/2012, 4:22 PM

Being a namenerd, I now that Saskia is from the word Saxon, a group of people who got there name from the axe / hatchet / knife they used. "Axe Ax-" is not a pretty way to frame a girl. But being a snob, I adore the name Saskia, which I associate with Rembrandt's wife and Holland in general. What to do, what to do? Ooh, I know. I'll ignore my knowledge of the meaning of the name so that I can luxuriate in the glory that is Saskia. I have no qualms about tossing meanings out the window when they interfere with wonderful associations*. :-P

Or perhaps you're concerned about the "sk"/"ks" sounds so close together. Now there you have me at more of a disadvantage. My ears are pretty picky about sounds. But I so rarely get asked about Saskia. Not fair. Aha. It's simple. You've got to change your surname. No? You won't? Man, this is tough.

I suppose it would depend on what the alternatives are. The sound of "Saskia Ax-" isn't euphonic. But if the alternative was some trendy-fly-by-night then I could persuade my ears that "Saskia Ax-" wasn't that bad after all.

So it doesn't look as though I'm much help here, sorry. I'm really struggling with this one because Saskia is so terrific, but yes, the sound is pretty . . . . distracting. :-/

* By wonderful associations I mean Rembrandt's wife and Holland, not knives.

This message was edited 9/5/2012, 4:23 PM

- Malin (nilamalin) +1

9/5/2012, 5:19 PM

Heh, I only thought of the sound clash, didn't consider the meaning at all. ;) "Ax" in Swedish doesn't mean the same thing as in English, but "ear (of wheat/corn/etc)" or the key part of a key, and in the case of my surname it originally had something to do with oaks, so that is of absolutely no concern. :)

I'm just theorizing a little, so there aren't really any "alternatives" as such, but it's fighting Tullia and Irmelin for a place in my top 3 ...

- Bear

9/5/2012, 5:27 PM

Oh, good. So no knife / axe problem. :-) (. . . as if that would stop anyone who really loved a name -- it's a silly naval gazing.)

Ooooooo -- Tullia is delightful. "Tullia Ax-" has a great ring to it. :-) Irmelin is quirky and fun.

This message was edited 9/5/2012, 5:27 PM

- Alcyone

9/5/2012, 7:40 PM

Saskia Ax- is a tongue twister, but I do like Saskia, so I can see why you would want to use it.

- Caprice

9/6/2012, 11:41 AM

I LOVE Saskia! But Saskia Ax does sound a bit...guttural. Sorry!

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