I've loved the name
Hermione for years. I first heard it on two British actresses in old movies,
Hermione Gingold (grandmother in
Gigi) and
Hermione Baddeley.
I've never read the HP books. But I'm glad they have put several of my favorite names back on the map, like
Hermione,
Fleur,
Minerva, and
Ginnie. The down-side is the one you voice, i.e., that people will associate them so closely with the books and won't use them. But first people have to know that the names even exist, so it's a risk I'm glad to take.
Personally, I wouldn't let the HP books stop me from using a name if I loved it above all others. To emphasize the Shakespearean or Trojan connection to the name, you could pair it with another, like:
Hermione ImogenHermione MirandaLeda HermioneHermione Cassandra
Bottom line:
Hermione is still usable, to me.
This message was edited 10/31/2007, 12:58 PM