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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Aravis as a girls name?

32 replies

Dogzeyes · 07/12/2015 13:10

Honestly is it cute or odd?

It's from the horse and his boy by C.S Lewis. She was one of my favourite characters growing up and I always liked the name. But it turns out it isn't actually a real name C.S Lewis made it up. This is slightly putting me off. What do people think?

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LouisaRose31 · 07/12/2015 13:12

Not a fan, sorry

aoife24 · 07/12/2015 13:13

I don't like it much either. It sounds like some kind of 'healthy' spread.

SuckingEggs · 07/12/2015 13:15

Too close to Avarice.

spankhurst · 07/12/2015 13:17

What Sucking said.

FinglesMcStingles · 07/12/2015 13:17

Recognised it straight off and I'm not sure - it sounds a bit Calormene and as a people they were not exactly painted in the best light. 'Harsh' and 'cruel' are the adjectives that spring to mind. That could just be my inner six year old having totally swallowed CS Lewis's not very subtle racism though. Aren't there any nice Narnian names you could use? What do non-fans of Narnia think would be the key question.

Didactylos · 07/12/2015 13:18

well she will be a rara avis!

BertrandRussell · 07/12/2015 13:19

Go for Lucy.

Or Susan. None of them round nowadays!

Maevetherave1980 · 07/12/2015 13:34

Sounds like a car dealership, sorry

Dogzeyes · 07/12/2015 13:37

Maybe it's a bit 'out there' ha well it shows it's good to ask before you saddle your kid with a dodgy name for life. Maybe I'll use it as a middle name instead.

I found a lot of heroines in children's books really tedious when I was younger (including Lucy and Susan and don't get me started on Enid Blyton) but I really identified with Aravis as she was a bit more plucky and a survivor. I liked the fact she was confident and knew her own mind and wasn't stereotypically passive/meek/bookish/all she wanted to do was cook and clean/wear make-up etc/want to be a boy.

I didn't pick up on any racism (I haven't read the book since childhood so it probably went over my head at the time)

She was also a good storyteller and had lots of traits which I identified with as a kid. Was generally the most interesting female character I had come across.

Ah well

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Maevetherave1980 · 07/12/2015 13:43

Its really hard isn't it when you liked a character. I don't remember the book so only hearing it for the first time and without context it sounds harsh on the ear.

I was considering Elowen but now people are telling me it's some character in a Game of Thrones type thing spelt Elowyn and I'm not sure

toffeeboffin · 07/12/2015 13:43

Not keen on the connotation, sorry.

IoraRua · 07/12/2015 14:10

I recognised it right away - I loved Aravis and I like it as a name. Am with you on not liking Lucy and Susan. Aravis had more personality.

Dogzeyes · 07/12/2015 14:14

I'm so glad it's not just me loraRua!

Lucy and Susan were so dull, Aravis was a breathe of fresh air in comparison.

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expatinscotland · 07/12/2015 14:16

Sorry, it sounds ridiculous.

IoraRua · 07/12/2015 14:17

She really was - she had a bit of fire about her

I really like it as a name, but that's because I love the character I suppose. Definite potential as a middle name though - it's no madder than plenty of suggestions om Baby Names.

girlandboy · 07/12/2015 14:22

Not keen I'm afraid :( Sorry. I think she'll be spending her whole life having to spell it out to people, which gets tedious.

It sounds too much like avarice or the aftershave Aramis to me.

However if you really like it, give it to her as a middle name.

KoalaDownUnder · 07/12/2015 14:26

Mmm, no. Sounds like a product name of some sort. Or 'avarice' mispronounced.

CakeRattleandRoll · 07/12/2015 14:41

I thought of avarice, too.

Has Game of Thrones really taken Elowen?! One of my favourite names. It already made me rule out my first choice girl's name of Tirion. Grrrr. And I've never even watched it.

SushiAndTheBanshees · 07/12/2015 14:44

I thought of arriviste immediately when I read it. Sorry.

But I like the idea of naming after a character in a book you admire. Maybe just not this one.

Snoopadoop · 07/12/2015 14:48

It sounds like a car sorry. I can picture the advert. "The new Vauxhall Aravis" - I don't know why it sounds Vauxhall as opposed to Audi.

keely79 · 07/12/2015 14:59

If looking for a similarly plucky female character, how about Alanna from the Tamora Pierce Song of the Lionness series? I loved her as a young girl and if hadn't been for the fact that it really didn't go with our surname, and my DH wasn't keen, would have loved to have given DD that name.

Holstein · 07/12/2015 15:01

Jadis also had a bit about her...

Sheharezade was a good storyteller too.

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MackerelOfFact · 07/12/2015 15:03

I completely disagree with Snoopadoop.... I think it sounds like a Toyota!

"Test drive the new Toyota Aravis today. Available on interest free credit for 16 months. APR 28.8% thereafter."

Focusfocus · 07/12/2015 15:07

Gotbotallynconfused with Aragog, the giant spider from Harry potter. But yeah, no.

Dogzeyes · 07/12/2015 15:39

keely79 I really like Alanna but a friend got their first unfortunately.

My other favourite (more conventional) name has also been used by a friend.

I really like Marian from the women in white but I fear that everyone will think of Robin Hood so that's out. I also like the character of Katniss from the hunger games but I don't like the name at all.

Trying to think of great childhood book heroines with names which are nice.

Sadly, for me, although probably not my daughter after this thread I think Aravis might have to be scrapped.

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