Do you associate some names with certain hair/eye colours?

[Lightbulbon]

I don't like to pick a name for a DC until they are born and I know what their colouring is like.

For me some names I like would suit a darker haired DC and vice versa.

I mentioned this to a friend who thinks it's weird for me to think like that.

Do other people wait and see what a DC looks like to pick a name or do you decide in utero and stick with it?

[SmugairleRoin]

I think Ebony would be a strange name on a white child, or at least one who didn't have black hair.

[sashh]

I have a friend who was going to be Benjamin until he was born and then didn't look like one.

I think due to teaching I do associate certain names with certain features. I was surprised when I first came across a blonde Ebony, I had only ever encountered black students with the name before.

I don't think it would even register now.

Jessicas are usually blond, Lucy is dark haired.

But then for me days of the week have a colour.

[Artandco]

Yes, but mainly nationality. Ie a very Indian name or African on a Caucasian or Chinese looking child might be strange. Also I would name a ginger haired child ginger or autumn for example

However remember babies hair colour changes. Both dss here were born with dark hair, but it lightened hugely and by 3 months both had white blonde hair

[mrsnec]

I gave dd a name which to me is very blonde yet most of the famous ones I can think of are dark. There was a fairly good chance she was going to be blonde though. After her 4d scan though she looked a bit fairy like and ethereal and I was considering names along those lines and I'm glad I didn't because she's tall and not particularly delicate.

My mum changed her mind on my db's name when he was born because of his coloring his looks represent the meaning of his name but again none of the famous ones do.

I did decide on dd's name before she was born because I didn't like the idea of her not having a name quickly. I have a friend who took weeks to name hers and ended up getting family to do it because she couldn't decide. I didn't want that happening to me.

It's definitely something some people take into consideration.

[RuffWearer]

Only if the name itself implies or specifies the colouring of the person. I know a black-haired, dark-skinned, dark-eyed Fionn (which means 'white'/'fair-haired'). And it's not that he was fair at birth and darkened later. Plus his Dad is Nigerian, and his mother a brunette, so he was always quite likely to have dark colouring.

[DandyDan]

Aware that childhood hair can darken or change through adulthood, I have always known blonde Jessicas, blond Peters and brown-hair Paul's. I can't imagine them any other way. Like colours for days of the week, I think I associate the letter "e" with blond(e) hair.

[CakeRattleandRoll]

Sometimes a fictional character can influence how you see a name. For example, I would always think of Alice as blonde, due to Alice in Wonderland. Hard to imagine a dark haired Alice.

[Bumpingalong84]

I completely agree with you, I'm dark haired and eyes and DH blonde and blue eyed. We won't be making a 100% decision until our baby is born to see what she looks like! there are names I associate with a fair haired child like Olivia, I think maya would be dark. So I know what you mean

[PallasCat]

I've always associated Olivia with darker, olive complexions. Partly because of the etymology, but also because I knew several dark haired, olive-skinned Olivias growing up.

[merlottime]

If I had waited for either of my DCs to grow hair before naming them they would have been nearly 18months old!

[turdfairynomore]

We had chosen Francesca for a girl. When DD was born with a full head of dark hair it seemed "right" to me as the name is Italian, and while we have no Italian connections my family would have dark hair/dark eyes/swarthy skin and are often asked if we have Mediterranean links. Her best friend from the age of 8......a Francesca who is blonde, fair skinned and blue eyed. As Scandinavian looking as my DD is Italian looking! And they both look like Francescas! (Though one is usually Fran and the other Frankie!)

[Doublebubblebubble]

Hmmm...is this like some kind of synesthesia??

I'm a bit like merlottime my DDS hair --

[Candycandle]

turdfairynomore - that is my name. I have always hated that I am nothing like the stereotypical 'francesca' so I go by something else. On paper, I feel like people expect this dark haired, Italian looking girl and then they get me.

I do agree that certain names evoke an image of a stereotype and I too agree that kids should be seen first before named :)

[froggyjump]

There are names like Rufus, Aiden etc that have meanings related to colouring, and some like Willow imply a 'type'.

A colleague called his DD Grace, when both he and his DW were chunky, stocky, short people - I wondered whether she would have lived up to her name

[cocobean2805]

I know two blonde haired, blue eyed little girls called Ebony.

[TheNewStatesman]

I have synesthesia, so "A" names (for example) seem more like names for blonde-haired people.

That said, a dark-haired Anne wouldn't actually be wrong or jarring for me.

[SueGeneris]

I have synaesthesia (I think) and knew our children would probably be blonde/blue eyes as both DH and I were (now dark blonde as adults) and I definitely wanted to choose names that suited fair haired children. Interestingly A is also blonde for me. All three of my DC have either two As or A and an 'A' sound in their names. I also chose names with N in as those are probably my two favourite letters.

So yes I gave this a lot of thought! I could never have chosen eg Henry as that name is overwhelmingly reddy brown and also a bit warm smelling; George is very white and a bit 'crunchy'. But I'm aware that sounds a bit weird and verging on pretentious. DH suggested Iain for one of our DS - far too metallic!

[DoloresLandingham]

I can't imagine a blonde Hazel.

[BitOutOfPractice]

Names which sound Scandinavian to me, I'd imagine as blond(e) if you know what I mean. eg I'd think of an Astrid as blonde

Victorias and Elizabeths are dark haired in my mind

But I didn't realise that until I read this thread!

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

A bit of a weird one but I always have trouble picturing a blonde haired blue eyed Natalia, Natalie or Natasha. It might be because all the ones I've known have all had dark hair, dark eyes and often a tanned or olive complexion.

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

Wasn't Alice in Alice in Wonderland originally a brunette? I think it's only in the Disney version that she's blonde.

That said, I'm an Alice who happens to be blonde and when I was growing up I lost count of the number of times people brought up Alice in Wonderland to me.

[crapfatbanana]

I can understand that. In our minds we visualise our future DCs and link names to appearance. It might not make any logical sense - unless it is a name that clearly relates to colour or darkness or light - but we still make connections, mentally.

It wasn't ever really an issue for me as both me and my husband are mousy and fair skinned.

[TheDowagerCuntess]

I have synaesthesia, although not all names conjure up colouring for me.

Jane, for me, is definitely a blonde name. I knew a brunette Jane once, and just couldn't get my head around it. Jessica is also a blonde name. Also Alice. Victoria is dark-haired.

[Onedirectionarestillloved]

I see Jane as brown haired. Same with Victoria.
Amber is a red head and Ebony is dark.
My Elizabeth is blonde.

[CherylTunt]

Alice and Amy are blonde to me. Martha is dark with big Brown eyes. Louise blonde.

This is interesting, never thought about it before!