What's with everyone hating Myrtle?
I honestly think that Myrtle is a really pretty name, and I don't get why so many people dislike it. It's really not the worst name.
Replies
I love Myrtle in theory, but would never actually use it (at least not as a fn). I know a lot of people point out it rhymes this turtle. Other than that, I agree, it’s 100% not the worst name.
This message was edited 9/22/2018, 7:01 PM
The Mrr part is the only okay thing, M usually works well with R, like Myrna.
But the rest of the name is urtle (which verges on urdle). I don't get why anyone would think Myrtle is a "really pretty name." Even without the dated obtuse busybody image that makes it kind of a joke, even without the ugly letters - just the sound of the rt'l ending alone, makes it one of those names that can only be appealing because it's *not* "really pretty." I can see how someone might like it in a hipster way, because it's clunky - but I can't see how it's pretty.
I knew the name Myrtle before I knew of the trees. When I encountered crepe myrtles, which are pretty, I made no connection to the name Myrtle. I think the reason is because, even if I'd never heard the name at all, the word would not seem any more namey to me than, say, beech or dogwood or sweetgum or sumac or kumquat or teak or mangrove ... it just seems too ugly a word to consider as a name IMO.
But the rest of the name is urtle (which verges on urdle). I don't get why anyone would think Myrtle is a "really pretty name." Even without the dated obtuse busybody image that makes it kind of a joke, even without the ugly letters - just the sound of the rt'l ending alone, makes it one of those names that can only be appealing because it's *not* "really pretty." I can see how someone might like it in a hipster way, because it's clunky - but I can't see how it's pretty.
I knew the name Myrtle before I knew of the trees. When I encountered crepe myrtles, which are pretty, I made no connection to the name Myrtle. I think the reason is because, even if I'd never heard the name at all, the word would not seem any more namey to me than, say, beech or dogwood or sweetgum or sumac or kumquat or teak or mangrove ... it just seems too ugly a word to consider as a name IMO.
Its far from the worst name ever, but I don’t like it because it has an unpleasant sound.
I like it and am surprised that it's not becoming popular.
I think Myrtle is close to objectively hideous. (I'm being hyperbolic, but reallly I see it as similar to Bertha in terms of hideousness.)
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The sound is just awful.
Plus Steve Erkel had a nerdy cousin named Myrtle, didn't he? And there's Myrtle Beach, which is not a nice place. Bad associations.
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The sound is just awful.
Plus Steve Erkel had a nerdy cousin named Myrtle, didn't he? And there's Myrtle Beach, which is not a nice place. Bad associations.
This message was edited 9/21/2018, 3:34 AM
mostly agree ...
Somebody on "Saved By the Bell" had a pet turtle called Myrtle too. That's really the only thing Myrtle is fit for; it makes a great, but not very original, turtle name.
I think Myrtle sounds like an annoying laugh. Chortling and smirking and myrtling.
Somebody on "Saved By the Bell" had a pet turtle called Myrtle too. That's really the only thing Myrtle is fit for; it makes a great, but not very original, turtle name.
I think Myrtle sounds like an annoying laugh. Chortling and smirking and myrtling.
Wasn't Jessie Spano's middle name Myrtle? I recall her being called "Jessica Myrtle" on an episode of SBTB.
I like the plant, and the only Myrtle I currently know is delightful.
What bugs me is the vowel. I don't enjoy Bertha, Merle, Pearl, Bert, Mervyn, Percy and all their friends either. I'd never use any of them in my right mind - maybe Bert is the least dreadful, but I'd try to stick to Albert or Bertram.
What bugs me is the vowel. I don't enjoy Bertha, Merle, Pearl, Bert, Mervyn, Percy and all their friends either. I'd never use any of them in my right mind - maybe Bert is the least dreadful, but I'd try to stick to Albert or Bertram.
This exactly. It's the "urr" thing that makes it sound bad. I do like some names with that sound, but it doesn't work in Myrtle. Murky turtle, curdle, etc...
I've always pronouced it mear-tle.
This message was edited 9/22/2018, 11:53 AM
Ditto
and mirth has that ugly "urr" sound, too!
and mirth has that ugly "urr" sound, too!
Interesting description of the "urr" sound. The letter /y/ actually seems absent - almost allowing for the letter /r/ to resound of its own sonority.
Like Debra / Debrah / Deborah: some Deborah's may pronounce Deborah, elongating the letter /o/ before closing it with the letter /r/; others may not pronounce the letter /o/ at all: the same would be true for Margaret - as with my own name.
Is there any reason why the letter /y/ cannot use more of a long /e/ sound as in the words 'dear', 'fear', 'near', or 'shear', if one shoot for an alternate pronunciation?
Like Debra / Debrah / Deborah: some Deborah's may pronounce Deborah, elongating the letter /o/ before closing it with the letter /r/; others may not pronounce the letter /o/ at all: the same would be true for Margaret - as with my own name.
Is there any reason why the letter /y/ cannot use more of a long /e/ sound as in the words 'dear', 'fear', 'near', or 'shear', if one shoot for an alternate pronunciation?
This message was edited 9/21/2018, 3:39 AM
I know a Deborah who says that when anyone pronounces her name with all three syllables, she knows she's in trouble!
I don't mind the name but I would never use it.
I agree. I've always thought Myrtle was so pretty, but no one else thought so!
I'm glad I'm not the only one.