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HelpNames you don't understand the appeal of
There are many names I don't like but I can understand what draws people to them (Max and Beau for example, I don't like them but I get that they're short and can be seen as 'spunky'). But then there are names I just don't understand the appeal of at all, like Darren, Darryl, Gavin, Douglas and Dwayne.
Are there any names like this for you? Maybe if you do like a name that's mentioned on this thread, you could provide the person with an explanation of why you like it.
=)
Are there any names like this for you? Maybe if you do like a name that's mentioned on this thread, you could provide the person with an explanation of why you like it.
=)
This message was edited 2/18/2015, 10:40 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I don't get why people like
Arthur
Arnold
Alexander
Benjamin
Christian
Carl
David
Daniel
Dominic
George
Hugo
Jason
Jeremy
Llewellyn
Michael
Oliver
Oscar
Patrick
Steven
Thomas
Victor
Walter
Zachary
Anna
Agnes
Astrid
Bailey
Blair
Beatrice
Chloe
Christina
Danielle
Emma
Elizabeth
Eileen
Gwen
Georgina
Heather
Isobel
Iris
Jasmin
Jessica
Maria
Petra
Nicole
Nadine
Susanne
Rebecca
Theresa
Victoria
Arthur
Arnold
Alexander
Benjamin
Christian
Carl
David
Daniel
Dominic
George
Hugo
Jason
Jeremy
Llewellyn
Michael
Oliver
Oscar
Patrick
Steven
Thomas
Victor
Walter
Zachary
Anna
Agnes
Astrid
Bailey
Blair
Beatrice
Chloe
Christina
Danielle
Emma
Elizabeth
Eileen
Gwen
Georgina
Heather
Isobel
Iris
Jasmin
Jessica
Maria
Petra
Nicole
Nadine
Susanne
Rebecca
Theresa
Victoria
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As much as I despise you (and trust me I really do hate you). I'll have the courage to agree with you on Daniel. I. FUCKING. LOATHE. DANIEL. It may be a good name in the way it praises the Lord, but it's so unattractive sounding and rabidly overused that it's practically become the naming equivalent of a tumor.
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Darren, Darryl, Douglas and Dwayne have gone way out of fashion, and I think that might be why you can't see the appeal. It's like trying to see the appeal of a tangerine and hot pink swirl print muumuu, or plaid blouses with shoulderpads, or dayglo plastic bead necklaces and bangles.
Names I don't get the appeal of:
Alfie, Arthur, Theodore, Felix, Walter, Ryder, Levi, Otis, Ashton, Abram, Cohen, Walker, Paxton / Braxton
Peyton, Lucy, Alice, Adeline / Adalynn / Addison / Adelaide, Jocelyn, Alexia, Tatum, Greer, Everly, Bristol, Bailey, Kendall, Josephine
Names I don't get the appeal of:
Alfie, Arthur, Theodore, Felix, Walter, Ryder, Levi, Otis, Ashton, Abram, Cohen, Walker, Paxton / Braxton
Peyton, Lucy, Alice, Adeline / Adalynn / Addison / Adelaide, Jocelyn, Alexia, Tatum, Greer, Everly, Bristol, Bailey, Kendall, Josephine
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Other than masculine names being used on females, I honestly can't understand the appeal of the name Jude.
From your list, I totally love the name Douglas; it's actually one of my top favorite boy names! I just love everything about it: the way it sounds, the way it looks and the meaning. I'm not a fan of nicknames in general, so I don't blame you if you hate the nickname Doug. It's my theory that people may not really despise a name, but its nickname(s). I say if you plan on covering a name with a nickname, just name the child the nickname! I digress...
From your list, I totally love the name Douglas; it's actually one of my top favorite boy names! I just love everything about it: the way it sounds, the way it looks and the meaning. I'm not a fan of nicknames in general, so I don't blame you if you hate the nickname Doug. It's my theory that people may not really despise a name, but its nickname(s). I say if you plan on covering a name with a nickname, just name the child the nickname! I digress...
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Greer. It makes me shudder. Also, any surname names on babies, especially on girls. And in general any male names on girls.
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Agree, agree and agree =)
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I agree. I just don't get it!
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In the list of names you gave, I happen to like Gavin (though I prefer similar-sounding Kevin, even if it is dated). And Daryl was at one point in my top 10 boys' names, but only that spelling. I'm not a huge fan of it anymore, but I don't hate it.
While Aidan is a decent name with a lot of history (though I prefer Adrian), I cannot get behind the -ayden name craze. Brayden, Cayden, Jayden... Zayden! do these parents realize what they're doing to a generation of boys? Maybe in other parts of the world this trend isn't so prevalent, but speaking as someone in the Midwestern United States, it's rampant.
For girls... I really don't understand "alcohol as a name." So I have never, ever understood the appeal of Brandy, and I'm even more puzzled by its spelling variants. Also, whenever I hear Bailey, I think of the whiskey product (also... pets).
There's also the whole Kinley / Tinley / Tenley thing... which just baffles me. As do girls' names that end in -son.
While Aidan is a decent name with a lot of history (though I prefer Adrian), I cannot get behind the -ayden name craze. Brayden, Cayden, Jayden... Zayden! do these parents realize what they're doing to a generation of boys? Maybe in other parts of the world this trend isn't so prevalent, but speaking as someone in the Midwestern United States, it's rampant.
For girls... I really don't understand "alcohol as a name." So I have never, ever understood the appeal of Brandy, and I'm even more puzzled by its spelling variants. Also, whenever I hear Bailey, I think of the whiskey product (also... pets).
There's also the whole Kinley / Tinley / Tenley thing... which just baffles me. As do girls' names that end in -son.
This message was edited 2/19/2015, 12:27 PM
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I agree, also with names like Bailey it seems more of a last name and I am not a complete fan of last names as first names.
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Brandy's appeal has faded because the beverage brandy is now associated with a different part of culture and the name is associated with the demographic that used it rather than being new and imagey. A lot of its popularity might be attributed to the 1972 song. Attitudes about alcohol were different in 1970 (far less baggage about addiction, date rape, drunk driving etc) and it was probably seen as a romantic/hippy styled word-name and a color-name, like Amber, Sherry, Dawn, Misty. Also it was a trendier sound (Candy, Mandy, Mindy, Sandy, Brenda etc) that has gone out of style.
This message was edited 2/19/2015, 3:08 PM
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Logan and Zachary. A couple of years ago almost everybody I know who had a boy was called either Logan or Zachary. Child after child was called it and it got to the point were you thought are these the only names in the world? Also this is my opinion but I find them a bit well standard. It may just be because of the over use though.
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Camden. Camden, Camden, Camden. Honestly, this name just kind of grosses me out. I'm not entirely sure why, but it's definitely not my cup of tea. And for the life of me, I cannot understand the appeal. It sounds clunky and...I dunno, cold? Like, it seems lifeless and...sterile. Probably not making much sense here, but, yeah. Every time I see it, I can't help but cringe. And due to its popularity, I cringe a lot.
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I have to agree =)
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Felix. I just don't get it at all!
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I'll happily defend it. It's uncommon here in the US, it has a cool sound (particularly the "-lix" part), and has a nice meaning.
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I know two of them and they're great kids, and I still just think of cat food.
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Ezra. God, it's awful.- I'm not a fan either but I guess it's different and a legitimate name
Joshua. All I see is "flushing", don't ask me why.- I don't like Joshua either!
Jordan- I really do like the sound of Jordan and "Jordy" is quite cute
Madison- For those who don't care about popularity, I can understand the appeal of Madison
Zeke- Agree
Zoe- I like the sound of Zoe, the simplicity, the spunk of it and that it suits a girl or a woman
Joshua. All I see is "flushing", don't ask me why.- I don't like Joshua either!
Jordan- I really do like the sound of Jordan and "Jordy" is quite cute
Madison- For those who don't care about popularity, I can understand the appeal of Madison
Zeke- Agree
Zoe- I like the sound of Zoe, the simplicity, the spunk of it and that it suits a girl or a woman
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Emily- Agree
Amelia- It's classic and cute is the appeal there
Penelope- Agree
Pippa- Better than some P names but still not great
Genesis- I guess, for some, it's "cool"
Khloe- Agree but I did know a Khloe spelled this way and it just suited her...
Aglaia- Say what?!?
Ebba- Agree
Carla / Karla- Pretty much agree though I don't mind Kara
masculine and surnamey names on girls, especially- Agree
Harlow- Not my style either
Asa- I'm not the biggest fan but it's short, kind of cool and Biblical, I guess that's what draws some to it
Liam- I don't love it either but I guess it's kind of classic (William) but also modern and spunky
Micah- I really love the way Micah sounds, I love that it's less common than Michael but still has a similar significance
Amelia- It's classic and cute is the appeal there
Penelope- Agree
Pippa- Better than some P names but still not great
Genesis- I guess, for some, it's "cool"
Khloe- Agree but I did know a Khloe spelled this way and it just suited her...
Aglaia- Say what?!?
Ebba- Agree
Carla / Karla- Pretty much agree though I don't mind Kara
masculine and surnamey names on girls, especially- Agree
Harlow- Not my style either
Asa- I'm not the biggest fan but it's short, kind of cool and Biblical, I guess that's what draws some to it
Liam- I don't love it either but I guess it's kind of classic (William) but also modern and spunky
Micah- I really love the way Micah sounds, I love that it's less common than Michael but still has a similar significance
This message was edited 2/19/2015, 7:16 PM
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The only name I can think of off the top of my head is Imogen. I hear posters saying how much they love it all the time (though not as many as 3 or 4 years ago). I just don't see the appeal in the aesthetic or sound. It's just not namey to me.
Of your list, I really do like Beau. I adore Isabeau as well. Not sure why, but I think that the spelling might be the key. It's just pretty to look at.
Of your list, I really do like Beau. I adore Isabeau as well. Not sure why, but I think that the spelling might be the key. It's just pretty to look at.
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Dashiell! I love this name!
Actually, I had no idea it was trendy. I sincerely thought it was a dusty old moniker I was about to unearth when I put it on my list a year ago. But, sad to say it's one of those hipster names apparently.
This doesn't damper the smooth coolness of the name to me though. The sound is simple and flows well, and it just seems sophisticated to me. I also happen to think Dash is adorable.
The meaning is my only flaw - but I love that it is related to French!
Actually, I had no idea it was trendy. I sincerely thought it was a dusty old moniker I was about to unearth when I put it on my list a year ago. But, sad to say it's one of those hipster names apparently.
This doesn't damper the smooth coolness of the name to me though. The sound is simple and flows well, and it just seems sophisticated to me. I also happen to think Dash is adorable.
The meaning is my only flaw - but I love that it is related to French!
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Isabella and Heather are beautiful to me.
Isabella is beyond pretty, but it's so popular now that it's almost annoying to hear the name. However, if I step back and remember my child-self... I will be reminded how much I loved the sound of this name way back when no one else considered it.
Heather and Heath are just so soft and comforting to me. I know the sterotypes from the 80s and 90s have almost ruined Heather... but, again, I focus on the sound and have to say I just really really like it.
(feel the same way about Jasmine and Amber though - beautiful names ruined by society, sigh)
Isabella is beyond pretty, but it's so popular now that it's almost annoying to hear the name. However, if I step back and remember my child-self... I will be reminded how much I loved the sound of this name way back when no one else considered it.
Heather and Heath are just so soft and comforting to me. I know the sterotypes from the 80s and 90s have almost ruined Heather... but, again, I focus on the sound and have to say I just really really like it.
(feel the same way about Jasmine and Amber though - beautiful names ruined by society, sigh)
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I love Beau! Although to be honest I never used to understand the appeal until after I read The Thief Lord, where one of the character's (adorable little boy with a lot of spirit) is called Bo (though it's a nn for Boniface). I completely fell in love with it from then (and his brother's name; Prosper), but I prefer the Beau spelling since it seems less of a nickname, and more masculine I guess. It's not one of those harsh one syllable names either, I like that it's more soft and gentle. Sorry, I didn't intend for that to be so long. Some names I just can't understand (I can ramble for ages with some of these but I won't):
Penelope
Piper (for a girl)
Avery (for a girl)
Harlow/Marlow (again, for a girl, but Harlow I just dislike in general)
Emilia
Grace
Darcy (for a girl, love for a boy though)
Stella (There's just something off about the sound that I just can't place- love the meanings though)
Estelle (See above)
Celeste (See above, except a I think with this it's the closeness to molest :()
Killian
Quinn (girl or boy)
Gus (reminds of guts)
Augustus (2 bad character associations vs. 1 good one, plus prominent Gus sound)
Nicholas (All I hear is knicker-less when I say it)
Ezra
Elijah
Penelope
Piper (for a girl)
Avery (for a girl)
Harlow/Marlow (again, for a girl, but Harlow I just dislike in general)
Emilia
Grace
Darcy (for a girl, love for a boy though)
Stella (There's just something off about the sound that I just can't place- love the meanings though)
Estelle (See above)
Celeste (See above, except a I think with this it's the closeness to molest :()
Killian
Quinn (girl or boy)
Gus (reminds of guts)
Augustus (2 bad character associations vs. 1 good one, plus prominent Gus sound)
Nicholas (All I hear is knicker-less when I say it)
Ezra
Elijah
This message was edited 2/19/2015, 2:00 AM
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Darcy seems like an original surname-name-on-a-girl that was never a boy name first, and just got used as a girlname because it sounds like it could be one. It matches Marcy, only it has a modern edge. It has an appeal similar to Harper for girls, only it sounds less harsh and surnamey.
I agree with you about Stella and Estelle.
Grace is an earthy name, not trying to be pretty, just meaningful. It's like Clare - the harshness just makes it seem real and unpretentious.
I agree with you about Stella and Estelle.
Grace is an earthy name, not trying to be pretty, just meaningful. It's like Clare - the harshness just makes it seem real and unpretentious.
This message was edited 2/19/2015, 11:35 AM
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I adore Celeste! I have never heard it linked to "molest" before, but even reading that now doesn't make a strong association for me. I guess I just like the imagery behind the name, and love how the spelling is so grounded in cosonants, yet made more delicate by the vowels. The sound is quite pretty to me - though I have a thing for those celestial starry names.
I mostly agree with your boys list.
I mostly agree with your boys list.
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Penelope- I don't like it either but you have to admit, it's kind of fun to say
Piper (for a girl)- It does sound off to me but I kind of get the appeal
Avery (for a girl)- Same as above
Harlow/Marlow (again, for a girl, but Harlow I just dislike in general)- I really like names ending in -o/ow. These aren't my favourites by any stretch of the imagination but I can see why they're liked
Emilia- Agree
Grace- Agree
Darcy (for a girl, love for a boy though)- Agree
Stella (There's just something off about the sound that I just can't place- love the meanings though)- I don't like it at all but I understand that it's spunky and yet classic (never thought I'd say anything in defense of Stella!)
Estelle (See above)- Same as above basically
Celeste (See above, except a I think with this it's the closeness to molest :()- I kind of like the way Celeste sounds (hadn't thought about the molest thing before!), Celeste just sounds so gentile, like she wouldn't hurt a fly
Killian- Absolutely agree
Quinn (girl or boy)- As I said to CruelPumps, I don't like it but I can see that, to some, it might sound nice
Gus (reminds of guts)- Agree
Augustus (2 bad character associations vs. 1 good one, plus prominent Gus sound)- I agree, although strangely, I love August!
Nicholas (All I hear is knicker-less when I say it)- Lol! What can you say to that?!
Ezra- I don't like it but I get that it's different, Biblical and has some spunk to it
Elijah- Elijah I will happily defend. I love the soft "j", I love the meaning "My God is Yahweh/Jehovah", I love that it's masculine but still soft, I love that it can work on any age, etc, etc, etc =)
Piper (for a girl)- It does sound off to me but I kind of get the appeal
Avery (for a girl)- Same as above
Harlow/Marlow (again, for a girl, but Harlow I just dislike in general)- I really like names ending in -o/ow. These aren't my favourites by any stretch of the imagination but I can see why they're liked
Emilia- Agree
Grace- Agree
Darcy (for a girl, love for a boy though)- Agree
Stella (There's just something off about the sound that I just can't place- love the meanings though)- I don't like it at all but I understand that it's spunky and yet classic (never thought I'd say anything in defense of Stella!)
Estelle (See above)- Same as above basically
Celeste (See above, except a I think with this it's the closeness to molest :()- I kind of like the way Celeste sounds (hadn't thought about the molest thing before!), Celeste just sounds so gentile, like she wouldn't hurt a fly
Killian- Absolutely agree
Quinn (girl or boy)- As I said to CruelPumps, I don't like it but I can see that, to some, it might sound nice
Gus (reminds of guts)- Agree
Augustus (2 bad character associations vs. 1 good one, plus prominent Gus sound)- I agree, although strangely, I love August!
Nicholas (All I hear is knicker-less when I say it)- Lol! What can you say to that?!
Ezra- I don't like it but I get that it's different, Biblical and has some spunk to it
Elijah- Elijah I will happily defend. I love the soft "j", I love the meaning "My God is Yahweh/Jehovah", I love that it's masculine but still soft, I love that it can work on any age, etc, etc, etc =)
This message was edited 2/19/2015, 3:27 AM
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While Penelope's not on my list I do find myself leaning towards her a lot in name games. I love her with the nickname Nell. I find Penelope to be elegant and classy, if not a little porcelain faced; but the spunky Nell offsets this I find.
Quinn and Elijah have both been on my boys list for ages, Elijah since the start I think. I started liking Elijah from a character in the Vampire Diaries and Quinn I came across on this board I think and loved the sound of it.
:-)
Quinn and Elijah have both been on my boys list for ages, Elijah since the start I think. I started liking Elijah from a character in the Vampire Diaries and Quinn I came across on this board I think and loved the sound of it.
:-)
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I love Maxwell, but I'm sort of stymied to explain why. Maybe because it seems to me to be a cross between nerdiness and handsomeness.
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I actually quite like Joyce. I happen to appreciate all names that end in the -yce (i.e. Royce) and I also have a think for joy-names. This will always just be incredibly pretty to me, with far more personality than the simple name Joy. I would use it myself honestly.
I do like Christopher that you mentioned too, though it is incredibly over-used. I have a brother with a Chris-name and two brother-in-laws with chris-names and that is just the tip of the Chrises I know,. I will say that I far prefer Christoph, but Christopher is lovely as well.
Finally - Hope. I mean, there is so much meaning and imagery packed into such a simple and sweet sound. I will always think this is a great choice.
I do like Christopher that you mentioned too, though it is incredibly over-used. I have a brother with a Chris-name and two brother-in-laws with chris-names and that is just the tip of the Chrises I know,. I will say that I far prefer Christoph, but Christopher is lovely as well.
Finally - Hope. I mean, there is so much meaning and imagery packed into such a simple and sweet sound. I will always think this is a great choice.
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Grace- Agree
Hope- I don't love it but I can see that it's short and cute
Madison- For ppl who don't look into popularity, I can understand liking it
Lindsay- Agree
Kate- I actually really like Kate and always have. I guess because it's classic and simple but also modern
Joyce- Agree
Quinn- I don't like it but I can see that, to some, it might sound nice
Maxwell (although I do like Max)- Agree
Liam- I'm not the biggest fan but it does have appeal in that it's not made up but has a new feel to it. Also, it could work on either a boy or a man.
Brandon- I really like the sound of Brandon, I don't know why
Jesse- I love Jesse because I feel that it's underused, especially for a Bible name
Christopher - Sort of agree with you there
Hope- I don't love it but I can see that it's short and cute
Madison- For ppl who don't look into popularity, I can understand liking it
Lindsay- Agree
Kate- I actually really like Kate and always have. I guess because it's classic and simple but also modern
Joyce- Agree
Quinn- I don't like it but I can see that, to some, it might sound nice
Maxwell (although I do like Max)- Agree
Liam- I'm not the biggest fan but it does have appeal in that it's not made up but has a new feel to it. Also, it could work on either a boy or a man.
Brandon- I really like the sound of Brandon, I don't know why
Jesse- I love Jesse because I feel that it's underused, especially for a Bible name
Christopher - Sort of agree with you there
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I like Kate :-)
I like it because she's short and sweet but sassy. I feel that Kate can be used as a name in her own right and is much stronger than Katie, and more spunky than Katherine.
I also see the appeal of Grace and Hope but I only really like Hope, I think it's sweet if not a little trendy in the middle name spot to instil the message of hopefulness and determination in your child.
I like it because she's short and sweet but sassy. I feel that Kate can be used as a name in her own right and is much stronger than Katie, and more spunky than Katherine.
I also see the appeal of Grace and Hope but I only really like Hope, I think it's sweet if not a little trendy in the middle name spot to instil the message of hopefulness and determination in your child.
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