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HelpNames that give "mean girl energy"
This post is inspired by a name nerd thread I saw on another site. In it, someone mentioned that Olivia was a name they'd always found pretty but now has "mean girl energy" (which may or may not be related to popularity), and a lot of other comments agreed. Thinking about it, I suppose Olivia does have kind of a glamorous yet mean aura à la "soap opera villain."
I'm mainly asking for writing purposes, but what other names give "mean girl energy" to you? They could be from any era. This is my own list:
Susan (particularly the nickname "Sue")
Deborah / Debra (particularly the nickname "Debbie" / "Debi")
Linda
Hilary / Hillary
Courtney
Nicole
Hayley (specifically this spelling)
Monica
Olivia
Mia
Chloe
***
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I'm mainly asking for writing purposes, but what other names give "mean girl energy" to you? They could be from any era. This is my own list:
Susan (particularly the nickname "Sue")
Deborah / Debra (particularly the nickname "Debbie" / "Debi")
Linda
Hilary / Hillary
Courtney
Nicole
Hayley (specifically this spelling)
Monica
Olivia
Mia
Chloe
***
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
1
Replies
Heather
Trixie
Amanda
Jessica
Queenie
Tiffany
Stephanie
Cassidy
Veronica
Trixie
Amanda
Jessica
Queenie
Tiffany
Stephanie
Cassidy
Veronica
1
Pretty much any name that was popular 3 or more decades ago, for the most part anyway.
Names such as:
Ashley
Courtney
Veronica (Although I love it)
Victoria/Vickie/Vicky (This one especially!)
Jessica
Chloe
Celeste (The fact that it sounds so stuck-up and unwelcoming is one of the reasons why I hate it)
Nicole (Also fond of this one)
Amanda/Mandy
Heather
Brianna/Briana
Chelsea/Chelsie/Chelsey
Valerie (Also never met one I liked)
Janice
Tammy
Rachel/Rachael, mostly Rachel since its far more common.
Rebecca (mostly for Becky)
Names such as:
Ashley
Courtney
Veronica (Although I love it)
Victoria/Vickie/Vicky (This one especially!)
Jessica
Chloe
Celeste (The fact that it sounds so stuck-up and unwelcoming is one of the reasons why I hate it)
Nicole (Also fond of this one)
Amanda/Mandy
Heather
Brianna/Briana
Chelsea/Chelsie/Chelsey
Valerie (Also never met one I liked)
Janice
Tammy
Rachel/Rachael, mostly Rachel since its far more common.
Rebecca (mostly for Becky)
This message was edited 9/24/2023, 3:55 PM
1
None.
There aren't any names that give me "mean girl" energy, because the term too vague and completely sexist, and I don't use it.
It's in the same vein as "basic". "She's so basic", "She gives mean girl energy"...just a bunch of crap to help keep women and girls in their place and make them feel bad for living their lives. I've heard both terms used for literally NO reason, and it's ridiculous. Men and boys are never described this way, are they?
Yes, I know I'm not answering your question, yes, I know I will get replies telling me I'm taking it too seriously, but whatever, I'm not going to read them. I just had to say this, because I'm sick to death of hearing this term, and I want it to die a firey death. Thanks.
There aren't any names that give me "mean girl" energy, because the term too vague and completely sexist, and I don't use it.
It's in the same vein as "basic". "She's so basic", "She gives mean girl energy"...just a bunch of crap to help keep women and girls in their place and make them feel bad for living their lives. I've heard both terms used for literally NO reason, and it's ridiculous. Men and boys are never described this way, are they?
Yes, I know I'm not answering your question, yes, I know I will get replies telling me I'm taking it too seriously, but whatever, I'm not going to read them. I just had to say this, because I'm sick to death of hearing this term, and I want it to die a firey death. Thanks.
This message was edited 9/23/2023, 6:57 AM
4
If we're talking characters...
Something double barrelled, like Sarah-Jessica. And if someone calls her Sarah, she's like - NO, it's SARAH-JESSICA. By the way, I don't find either of those names to feel like that alone - but together, and when used in this way, I think it fits the vibe. (Yes, I did pinch this from S-J Parker).
Something long and that ends with an 'a' - Aubriana, Daniella, Arianna, Brianna - and if someone calls her (for example) Bree-anna, she's like - NO, it's Bree-arh-nah. It's the pronunciation for me that gives the mean girl vibe. You might be able do similar with names leaning more Victorian as well, such as Arabella or Araminta.
Meghan (pronounced as written, not Megan - Megan seems friendlier to me. Think along the lines of Megan Markle). I think Danielle and Brittney could work, too. Oh, and I agree with something like McKenzie or McKenna - used in full. The other characters could call her McK/Mac or something she would loathe behind her back.
Something double barrelled, like Sarah-Jessica. And if someone calls her Sarah, she's like - NO, it's SARAH-JESSICA. By the way, I don't find either of those names to feel like that alone - but together, and when used in this way, I think it fits the vibe. (Yes, I did pinch this from S-J Parker).
Something long and that ends with an 'a' - Aubriana, Daniella, Arianna, Brianna - and if someone calls her (for example) Bree-anna, she's like - NO, it's Bree-arh-nah. It's the pronunciation for me that gives the mean girl vibe. You might be able do similar with names leaning more Victorian as well, such as Arabella or Araminta.
Meghan (pronounced as written, not Megan - Megan seems friendlier to me. Think along the lines of Megan Markle). I think Danielle and Brittney could work, too. Oh, and I agree with something like McKenzie or McKenna - used in full. The other characters could call her McK/Mac or something she would loathe behind her back.
1
Obviously this is subjective and no name indicates anything about the person's personality.. buttt...
- Chloe
- Vicky as well as Tori - but not Victoria!
- Debbie
- Sherry
- Brianna
- MacKenzie
- McKenna
- a *lot* of popular -ley names. Wrenley, Kinsley, Brinley, Oakley, et cetera
(I'm not calling out these specific spellings. The spelling of these names doesn't change the vibe to me. I just used the ones that came to my head first.)
- Chloe
- Vicky as well as Tori - but not Victoria!
- Debbie
- Sherry
- Brianna
- MacKenzie
- McKenna
- a *lot* of popular -ley names. Wrenley, Kinsley, Brinley, Oakley, et cetera
(I'm not calling out these specific spellings. The spelling of these names doesn't change the vibe to me. I just used the ones that came to my head first.)
1
haha I realize these are subjective but to me -
Heather
Brittany
Karen
Madison/Maddy
Allison/ Ally
and in my experience Ashleys are the best and the worst. lol
Heather
Brittany
Karen
Madison/Maddy
Allison/ Ally
and in my experience Ashleys are the best and the worst. lol
1
Nikki seems like a stereotypical 80s "mean girl" name based on movies/TV, but I don't get that vibe from it myself; similar for Veronica but that's maybe in the 70s. And the last thread like this everyone seemed to agree on Victoria, which is my name, and I have never really known any others, although Vikki used to sound unpleasant to me (it's mostly the prominent ick sound)...and lots of people mentioned Jessica, but Jessicas have been laidback and/or chipper people in my experience (would say the same for Olivia, am scratching my head about how it sounds villainous or soap opera-like, but I don't know any young ones). I think Linda and Chloe sound almost too "nice" which I guess I could interpret as passive aggressive or fake or privileged but don't.
I would say Amber and Donna for sure. Becky (though not Rebecca), Courtney, Lacey, Heather, Allison, Stephanie, Emily, Kimberly, Erin, Janelle, Brie, Joy, Vivian, Lorraine, Bonnie, Connie, Renee, maybe. But I've known nice people named some of those and any popular name has the potential to sound mean-popular.
From currently very popular ones, Harper sounds like harpy so is easy to imagine as mean, plus Ava and Mia sound the most likely to be "mean" type-A people to me. Maybe Avery, Mila, Emily, Riley, Grace. But I'm not basing that on anything really (well, except Riley and Grace; the young ones I've met have all been annoying and usually I didn't like their parents).
I would say Amber and Donna for sure. Becky (though not Rebecca), Courtney, Lacey, Heather, Allison, Stephanie, Emily, Kimberly, Erin, Janelle, Brie, Joy, Vivian, Lorraine, Bonnie, Connie, Renee, maybe. But I've known nice people named some of those and any popular name has the potential to sound mean-popular.
From currently very popular ones, Harper sounds like harpy so is easy to imagine as mean, plus Ava and Mia sound the most likely to be "mean" type-A people to me. Maybe Avery, Mila, Emily, Riley, Grace. But I'm not basing that on anything really (well, except Riley and Grace; the young ones I've met have all been annoying and usually I didn't like their parents).
This message was edited 9/22/2023, 12:38 PM
3
I've had similar experiences with Jessicas. I wouldn't call them chipper exactly, but I've known some nice and laidback ones.
Victoria sounds regal but not mean. Maybe all the stereotypical Vicki/Vikkis in teen dramas give it a bad name?
Victoria sounds regal but not mean. Maybe all the stereotypical Vicki/Vikkis in teen dramas give it a bad name?
This message was edited 9/22/2023, 1:18 PM
1
Yeah, I do remember Vicky being an evil stepmother character in Parent Trap, and media is part of it. But considering Jessica, Veronica, Nicole get mentioned a lot, I do think people are partially reacting to the ICK sound; also I notice some people think V names are spiky/severe/cold sounding in general. It's implicitly competitive, similar to Victor. People associate primness, imperialism, and moralizing with Victorians. And my mom did use Victoria because it was a queen's name (seems kind of pretentious, if we're gonna call names pretentious).
So...I can see it, just don't relate.
So...I can see it, just don't relate.
This message was edited 9/22/2023, 3:10 PM
1
If I had to pick the "mean girl" from the top ten, it'd be Ava, all the way!
Olivia comes off chilly to me, but not mean.
I think mean-girl is too specific to really be a vibe of a name. But there are some patterns in my own experience.
IME: Susans and Sues aren't mean, but they seem to be in charge a lot. Debbies and Lindas are nice. Courtneys are colorful characters, maybe misunderstood sometimes, but not mean. Nicoles and Monicas are sometimes handmaidens to mean girls, but they're not mean. I don't feel like Hayley, Mia, and Chloe seem mean.
My mean girl list would be
Danielle
Janet
Lisa
... I've met multiple gals with these names, and the mean girl shoe fit them all. Apologies to anyone named them who isn't a mean girl.
Sometimes mean girls -
Megan
Victoria
Michelle
Olivia comes off chilly to me, but not mean.
I think mean-girl is too specific to really be a vibe of a name. But there are some patterns in my own experience.
IME: Susans and Sues aren't mean, but they seem to be in charge a lot. Debbies and Lindas are nice. Courtneys are colorful characters, maybe misunderstood sometimes, but not mean. Nicoles and Monicas are sometimes handmaidens to mean girls, but they're not mean. I don't feel like Hayley, Mia, and Chloe seem mean.
My mean girl list would be
Danielle
Janet
Lisa
... I've met multiple gals with these names, and the mean girl shoe fit them all. Apologies to anyone named them who isn't a mean girl.
Sometimes mean girls -
Megan
Victoria
Michelle
2
How did I forget Danielle and Megan? Honestly, they should be near the top of my list, lol.
1
I agree most with Debbie
Jessica; Chelsea; Stephanie; Becky; Vickie; Ashley; Rhea; Jade; Diane; Denise
Not female, but there's just been such a high concentration of Zack's who have been bullies, that sometimes when names is brought up between me and other people irl, its commented on. I feel I have to mention him
Jessica; Chelsea; Stephanie; Becky; Vickie; Ashley; Rhea; Jade; Diane; Denise
Not female, but there's just been such a high concentration of Zack's who have been bullies, that sometimes when names is brought up between me and other people irl, its commented on. I feel I have to mention him
2
Megan tops my list, all spellings.
Sarah (this spelling) has the potential too.
I can see Olivia too.
Nikki
Mallory
Meredith
Hillary
Fallon
Chelsea
Mackenzie
Chloe and Zoe
Charlotte
Victoria
Tammy
Sharon
Brenda
Bianca
Evelyn
Sarah (this spelling) has the potential too.
I can see Olivia too.
Nikki
Mallory
Meredith
Hillary
Fallon
Chelsea
Mackenzie
Chloe and Zoe
Charlotte
Victoria
Tammy
Sharon
Brenda
Bianca
Evelyn
2