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HelpRe: Names that give "mean girl energy"
in reply to a message by erb816
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).
There's names I would maybe call "scrappy" or resilient or jaded/brassy sounding, but I wouldn't call them mean. A lot of them are Br* names. And some that other people mentioned that I can see fitting in this group are Denise, plus maybe Danielle, Evelyn, Zoe, Nicole. Some others with vaguely that vibe are Nevaeh, Scarlett, Maeve, Wanda, Ebony, Simone, Sabrina, Gina / Regina, Peggy, Lou, Delilah, Waverly, Oaklynn, Nova, Gertrude, Edwige, Ethel, Poppy, Desiree... Bonnie, Joy, Kimberly, Renee, Vivian seem like they could be in that group, too, but I've had unpleasant experiences with people named them.
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).
There's names I would maybe call "scrappy" or resilient or jaded/brassy sounding, but I wouldn't call them mean. A lot of them are Br* names. And some that other people mentioned that I can see fitting in this group are Denise, plus maybe Danielle, Evelyn, Zoe, Nicole. Some others with vaguely that vibe are Nevaeh, Scarlett, Maeve, Wanda, Ebony, Simone, Sabrina, Gina / Regina, Peggy, Lou, Delilah, Waverly, Oaklynn, Nova, Gertrude, Edwige, Ethel, Poppy, Desiree... Bonnie, Joy, Kimberly, Renee, Vivian seem like they could be in that group, too, but I've had unpleasant experiences with people named them.
This message was edited 9/22/2023, 12:38 PM
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Replies
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
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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
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