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HelpNames that don't "fit"
Recently I went back to my hometown and ran into this girl that I had known as a tiny baby. I hadn't seen her in 14 years-- now she is really tall, way into sports, has super short hair and is very chunky (I'm not dissing on chunky tomboys, I happen to be something of one myself). I thought she was a boy when I saw her. She had some illness that caused brain damage when she was a baby, and possibly as a result she is now in special ed classes and often gets in trouble for violence. I mention this because her name is... Beatrice.
It's just weird because I always picture Beatrices as feminine, serene, bookish waifs and this Beatrice is the exact opposite, and it just seemed like a crazily ill-fitting name.
Do you ever meet people whose names just don't seem to fit? Should one factor this in when naming kids? (i.e., name the future tomboy as well as the bookish waif) and if so, are there any names that fit every type? I think people have a tendency to unconsciously picture their future children as being like them and pick a name suitable for that lifestyle... or maybe just namenerds overthink these things!
It's just weird because I always picture Beatrices as feminine, serene, bookish waifs and this Beatrice is the exact opposite, and it just seemed like a crazily ill-fitting name.
Do you ever meet people whose names just don't seem to fit? Should one factor this in when naming kids? (i.e., name the future tomboy as well as the bookish waif) and if so, are there any names that fit every type? I think people have a tendency to unconsciously picture their future children as being like them and pick a name suitable for that lifestyle... or maybe just namenerds overthink these things!
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I don't think names have to fit. I know a lot of examples.
Two of the three girls named Juliana that I know are into sports. One only does more mild sports, but the other is a soccer star who plays quite rough - she did with me in my gym class! They do have girls' hairstyles, but the second Juliana is not that into fashion unless it's athletic. And even the third Juliana, the one who's not into sports, isn't exceptionally frilly.
I also know a Billie (real name, no nickname) who is a real fashionista. And she looks completely feminine. And she hates pretty much every sport. There's no denying this girl being a girly girl.
I know a guy named Bradley who isn't a jock in the least. He does like sports, but he's average. Usually, I see Bradley as a jock name.
One of my friends is named Jayden. Yes, Jayden. His older sister is Autumn. His family is not lower-class at all - his parents both went to college, and they were about 30 when they had him (in contrast to what one would expect). I admit they're very into pop culture, and they didn't exactly go to the best colleges, but they're not trashy. And a lot of people may associate the name with Britney Spears' son, who is blond, but my friend is darker than I am. On the other extreme, I know an Alice who really fits the "bogan" stereotype.
Age also affects it too. I know a woman who is close to 100 whose name is Amanda. I do realise that Amanda is a very old name, but most of us would probably associate it with people born in the 80s and 90s. I also know a 16 year old guy named Walter and a 21 year old woman named Virginia.
It happens with ethnic names too. I have a relative named Jamal who has very light skin. A lot of people see Jamal as an exclusively black name.
Two of the three girls named Juliana that I know are into sports. One only does more mild sports, but the other is a soccer star who plays quite rough - she did with me in my gym class! They do have girls' hairstyles, but the second Juliana is not that into fashion unless it's athletic. And even the third Juliana, the one who's not into sports, isn't exceptionally frilly.
I also know a Billie (real name, no nickname) who is a real fashionista. And she looks completely feminine. And she hates pretty much every sport. There's no denying this girl being a girly girl.
I know a guy named Bradley who isn't a jock in the least. He does like sports, but he's average. Usually, I see Bradley as a jock name.
One of my friends is named Jayden. Yes, Jayden. His older sister is Autumn. His family is not lower-class at all - his parents both went to college, and they were about 30 when they had him (in contrast to what one would expect). I admit they're very into pop culture, and they didn't exactly go to the best colleges, but they're not trashy. And a lot of people may associate the name with Britney Spears' son, who is blond, but my friend is darker than I am. On the other extreme, I know an Alice who really fits the "bogan" stereotype.
Age also affects it too. I know a woman who is close to 100 whose name is Amanda. I do realise that Amanda is a very old name, but most of us would probably associate it with people born in the 80s and 90s. I also know a 16 year old guy named Walter and a 21 year old woman named Virginia.
It happens with ethnic names too. I have a relative named Jamal who has very light skin. A lot of people see Jamal as an exclusively black name.
This message was edited 10/8/2012, 2:53 PM
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What does Britney Spears' son being blond have to do with anything? Do you consider Jadyen a "blond" name?
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Well, I think that parents name their children names that they love, obviously. However the kid turns out, a name is just a name. As much as we name nerds like to think otherwise, names are only for ease of vocal recognition.
I do understand the sentiment though. I met a middle-aged, tall, bald man named Tracy. A young teenage boy with long, flippy hair named Norman.
That's all I can think of at the moment! I don't get too perturbed usually.
I do understand the sentiment though. I met a middle-aged, tall, bald man named Tracy. A young teenage boy with long, flippy hair named Norman.
That's all I can think of at the moment! I don't get too perturbed usually.
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I used to know a girl named Delilah who was a major tomboy. She didn't seem like a Delilah to me.
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I always thought of Priscilla as a super prissy, frilly type of person but in the last few years I have met three Priscillas who have totally changed that. They are all really loud and rambunctious and tomboy-ish.
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Hmm come to think of it, my best friend's fiance Darrell's name doesn't seem to fit him very well. He is originally from a small town in Kansas and has his master's degree in college administration from Harvard.
My ex boyfriend has a really good friend named Xerxes who was super dorky. I think Xerxes was way too cool of a name for him.
My ex boyfriend has a really good friend named Xerxes who was super dorky. I think Xerxes was way too cool of a name for him.
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Well, seeing as how you cannot predict how any given child will turn out at the time you name it, and at the age of naming they really don't have anything much in the way of individuality yet, I'd say you're overthinking it a little bit.
Now, nicknames that come later on can turn out not to be very fitting. I know somebody named Patricia, nicknamed Patsy. I picture a Patsy as being obese, sloppy, and not very bright. This Patsy is very attractive, well-educated and well-traveled. She's definitely a Patricia rather than a Patsy.
Now, nicknames that come later on can turn out not to be very fitting. I know somebody named Patricia, nicknamed Patsy. I picture a Patsy as being obese, sloppy, and not very bright. This Patsy is very attractive, well-educated and well-traveled. She's definitely a Patricia rather than a Patsy.
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I never really thought about Patsy, but I picture Patsy Cline when I think of the name. She wasn't obese, sloppy (at least not in public), and must have been bright to get to where she was before she died.
I agree that you can't predict what will happen to your child. My sister and brother in law never imagined that thier daughter would have aplastic anaemia, and this Beatrice's parents probably never imagined that their daughter would have whatever it was that caused her problems.
I suppose a trouble maker name Jesus or an Athena having trouble academically isn't what you were imagining.
I agree that you can't predict what will happen to your child. My sister and brother in law never imagined that thier daughter would have aplastic anaemia, and this Beatrice's parents probably never imagined that their daughter would have whatever it was that caused her problems.
I suppose a trouble maker name Jesus or an Athena having trouble academically isn't what you were imagining.
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yes, I was...
I meant that little Jesus's parents, when they named him, never thought he'd turn into a little thug, and Athena's parents really hoped she wouldn't be a dim bulb. I meant that you really can't pin all your hopes for your child on its name. You can't say "We named her Miracle Heaven because she is going to be such a joy" because her being named Miracle Heaven doesn't have anything to do with whether people find her a joy to be around.
Miracle Heaven is actually the name of a child in a friend's class, easily the most obnoxious student he has ever had to deal with. She is unattractive, not bright, disobedient, disrespectful and very defiant. She'd be the same way if her name was anything else.
I meant that little Jesus's parents, when they named him, never thought he'd turn into a little thug, and Athena's parents really hoped she wouldn't be a dim bulb. I meant that you really can't pin all your hopes for your child on its name. You can't say "We named her Miracle Heaven because she is going to be such a joy" because her being named Miracle Heaven doesn't have anything to do with whether people find her a joy to be around.
Miracle Heaven is actually the name of a child in a friend's class, easily the most obnoxious student he has ever had to deal with. She is unattractive, not bright, disobedient, disrespectful and very defiant. She'd be the same way if her name was anything else.
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It's a running joke between me and all of my pediatrician friends that children named Miracle, Heaven, Nevaeh, etc. always fare poorly. If you admit a child by one of these names you can much guarantee she will be a medical trainwreck.
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Yep.
My name is Haven and I'm not serene, nor are my parents hippies. You just don't know what your child will be like, nor do you really know how people are going to view a name.
My name is Haven and I'm not serene, nor are my parents hippies. You just don't know what your child will be like, nor do you really know how people are going to view a name.
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