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Would you choose a name even if you don't like the meaning?

23 replies

soppypreggyloon · 02/01/2011 09:39

We like Mara but it means bitter. Would that put you off?

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gorionine · 02/01/2011 09:42

Mara also means "from the sea" or some such I think.

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montysorry · 02/01/2011 09:44

I thought it meant from the sea/water too.

Tbh, I couldn't tell you the meaning od 99% of names of people I know/meet so it will just be whether you can accept it.

Oh and when she's here, it will just mean her! Smile

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SlartyBartFast · 02/01/2011 09:51

absolutely - my dd's name does not have a particularly good meaning. slight misgivings - but chose to ignore the meaning.

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JojoMags · 02/01/2011 16:43

I think Cecelia is a beautiful name, but would never use it because it means 'blind', so no, I wouldn't give a baby a name if I was uncomfortable with the meaning.

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NewYearNewPants · 02/01/2011 16:44

My Ds;s name has some sort of God-related meaning - 'gift from God' or summat. I am anatheist. Grin

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thumbwitch · 02/01/2011 16:50

Yes. Because most people won't know the meaning and most people aren't going to look it up afterwards.

Mary has a bitter meaning too (one meaning is "sea of bitterness") - as does Maureen - think how many Marys there are in Ireland!

But both of them also mean star of the sea, Maureen also means "dark" - so taking one meaning too literally is probably over-thinking it, I think.

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Nightstar · 02/01/2011 16:53

I wouldnt name my child a name that has a bad meaning if i knew it. I like looking up the meanings of names, I think it's important.

But it is whether it is important to you?

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zozzle · 03/01/2011 22:06

Meanings are v. important IMO. However if it was a family name I really, really liked I might overlook a bad meaning - but only if it was a family name.

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Rhubarbgarden · 03/01/2011 22:30

Yes. I don't really care about the meaning.

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Komondor · 04/01/2011 12:13

Dont care about the meaning.

I dont even know what my own names means.

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rachel1970 · 04/01/2011 13:00

It would matter to me, but it would depend on the name and meaning. Some names have very literate unfortunate meanings that I can't disassociate from the name, e.g. Claudia = lame, Cecilia = blind, Hector = bully. Perhaps I studied too much latin at school Smile.

Isn't Mara the Hindu goddess of Death?

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LetThereBeRock · 04/01/2011 14:01

Unless the name meant something like 'hellspawn of Satan', it wouldn't really bother me.

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LetThereBeRock · 04/01/2011 14:04

And Mara is a lovely name. I'd use it.

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GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 04/01/2011 14:40

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GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 04/01/2011 14:40

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evamummy · 04/01/2011 15:25

"you certainly don't spend the whole time thinking CATFOODCATFOODCATFOOD when they're talking"

But with some names the meaning is so accociated with the name that I do think of that meaning whenever my brain hears the name.

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Rockbird · 04/01/2011 15:34

If someone asks you what it means, make up something nice. They certainly won't look it up when they get home and probably won't even remember!

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BreastmilkDoesAFabEggnogLatte · 04/01/2011 16:38

Meanings bother me. I couldn't use a name that meant something I didn't like/agree with/identify with.

That said, a kind soul did point out an obscure language in which DD's name sounds slightly similar to the term for, ahem, phallus. And it didn't put us off...

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Hulababy · 04/01/2011 18:24

I didn't look at the meaning of DD's name. It wasn't something that was important to be. Assosciations of names mean more to be then where the name derives from.

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Hulababy · 04/01/2011 18:28

DD's name is Mollie btw, so samemeaning as Mara, and also Mary and other derivities from Mary.

Noone has ever commented on the name meaning in 8 years, and DD is definitely nothing like the meaning of her name at all!

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veryberry21 · 05/01/2011 19:28

Most people dont even know this so i don't think they'd really mind at all!

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A1980 · 06/01/2011 00:21

My name means Defender of Men.

Shite meaning but I don't care. I like my name.

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Imarriedafrog · 06/01/2011 00:25

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