I went through all this a few years ago when I was pregnant with Alexzander, but I figure there are lots of new people here with new opinions Now I won't say the name right now (and if you know, please don't share yet), but I want to ask if you would use a name with a stigma attached to it? Would you use the name, Adolf, for example?
A stigma is "an attribute, behavior, or reputation which is socially discrediting in a particular way: it causes an individual to be mentally classified by others in an undesirable, rejected stereotype rather than in an accepted, normal one." So what about a famous name, like Elvis or Ringo? Would you use those? Are they different to ones with a stigma?
What names would you reject on the basis of their fame?
I have a very specific name I like and Aaron isn't so keen on it. This person is very well known in Australia by my generation & those older, I'm not so sure how much younger people know....
I guess it depends on the name - I personally wouldn't use Adolf though. My name is Jody, which everyone used to say was after Jodie Foster, but my mum can't STAND her, which is why I have the different spelling.
I would love to call our future daughter Myffanwe, as DH's family is Welsh - but the only time I've ever heard it used is on Little Britain. I have friends who would giggle every time they heard it, because of the character, but I love the name so much that I don't care what anyone thinks, KWIM?
I wouldnt use a name like Adolf, or any really well know murder... thats said I dont think I would use names of Pop stars that I dont like either ie Paris... But then again I like names that not many people have so I would never use a popular name anyhow...
Now I am trying to rack my blonde brain to work out what name you are thinking of...
See in Australia I don't think Adolf would be used, because there is only one Adolf that comes to mind, but in Germany it is still a very common name. Take Charles / Charlie for example, it's used quite often, but no-one ever thinks of Charles Manson or Prince Charles do they? It's a common enough name for it not to be a problem IYKWIM. This is the problem with the name that I like, as far as I know there has only ever been one.....
PS: I will share the name after I get a few responses
I was named after Samantha from Bewitched. Not much stigma there though.
I guess it depends on why you want to use the name Do you like the meaning behind it? Are there others with the name you can refer to if you cop flack?
Yeah I think it would depend on the name itself & how it is remembered. Or is it just how you remember it IYKWIM. And how you approach it also, ie: if someone brings up the other ?? & you don't like it you let them know.
Not a stigma as such but I had Sadee on the top of our list if #2 had been a girl....lucky for DH we are having another boy. He just would not come to the party & my Mum just laughed. Why because someone famous had a song....so what, it's still a name!
I also get a little annoyed when some great TV show I love starts using a name I like, then all of a sudden you get "oh that's from....."
I also love the name Banjo & am getting mixed responses on that too.
But in regards to a "stigma" depends how bad & how often it's rememberd I guess. Like your example with Adolf, it's not a common Australian name so it does carry a lot of stigma with it.
But if you love the name & it works for you.....pffffftttt to what anyone else says, unless you think it's going to be a real prob for your child.
Who's Myf Warhurst? Is that the chick from Spicks'n'Specks? I didn't know that her name had been shortened!
LOL Lulu
I was also thinking that, maybe there'd be a BIT of shock when you first come out with the name, but kids have a way of making the name their own, KWIM? And pretty soon no-one would connect the name with the famous one, only with the boy/girl, if that makes sense
I really like the name Farrah, but every time I tell someone that it's a possible name for our possible future daughter, they say "oh, you mean like Farrah Fawcett?"
It's not a negative thing to be named after Farrah Fawcett, but that wouldn't be why I would choose it - I don't like naming my child 'after' someone. I just like the name Farrah. But I'm afraid my future daughter would have to suffer those sorts of comments, so I probably won't use it.
I dunno... it depends on the stigma. Everyone assumes they know where we got Matilda's name from... but its not from the obvious ones. Also Jovie, everyone assumes it has to do with Bon Jovi... but it doesn't it never even entered our minds.
I don't think I'd name a girl Brittany, but I'd name one Pixie, Paris or Ruby.
I agree with some of the other posters about Adolf having big stigma here in Aus as it's not a common name here.
I think if you like the name then go for it, I honestly can't think of a name of a well known Aussie that would be negative... apart from maybe Chopper, as Jazzahmum said. That said I do have terrible baby brain atm thinking isn't my biggest attribute lately
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