Thoughts on Xena

[Babybrain85]

I heard this name on tv at the weekend and I think I quite like it. What is the general consensus? Nice or not?

[Bitchfromhell]

I like it but you'll get all the warrior princess jokes.

[HopefullyDothButterNoParsnips]

First thought - warrior princess.

Not a fan tbh. Sorry

[Babybrain85]

I didn't know of the warrior princess connection

[InDubiousBattle]

Maybe it's an age thing? I'm 38 and my first thought was 'warrior princess'.

[PicaPauAmarelo]

How about Xara, Zara, Zena, Xenab, Zainab or Xana to avoid warrior princess jokes. I'm not keen on names beginning with X, too much room for misprounciations. But Xena is nice.

[MacarenaFerreiro]

Warrior princess. But my kids probably wouldn't make the connection. Zena, maybe?

[MikeUniformMike]

Warrior princess, but I like the name.

[EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans]

Oh God, OP, you missed out on Xena WP??? She was incredible.

[Babybrain85]

Yep, totally missed out on that one to be fair, it doesn't sound like the worst association in the world! Lol x

[Babybrain85]

Did not mean to do a kiss there

[EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans]

Terrific association. There is talk of a remake though, so while kids may not make the connection now they might in a year or two.

[MrsNuckyThompson]

Warrior princess.

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

Immediately thought warrior princess too, but agree that it probably won't be relevant for the next generation.

I'm trying to decide if I like it as a name, disregarding the warrior princess association and I think I do. It's a bit like Mina, Zara or Xanthe, all of which I really like.

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

Oh just saw pp comment about possible remake. Hmmm I might avoid, depending on what the remake is like / if it even happens. I don't really agree that it's a good association - the old program I mean. It was a really cheap, low brow program as I remember, though maybe I'm misremembering? I wouldn't like to be named after it, if it's how I remember it.

[GirlcalledJames]

Xena is a great role model. Am looking forward to watching it (and Buffy) with my daughter when she's older. The remake sounds promising; I've the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle is going to be cannon rather than just heavily implied so another plus point.

[EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans]

It was a really cheap, low brow program as I remember, though maybe I'm misremembering? I wouldn't like to be named after it, if it's how I remember it.

It was cheesy on occasion, yes. But look at how excited people are getting about Wonder Woman being a movie with an amazing heroine - even though once she leaves Themyscira all her comrades are men.

Now imagine Wonder Woman with a female sidekick & imagine both of them as strong, rounded, independent characters whose primary relationships are with each other, who have each other's backs in every sense.

That's what they did on Xena 20-odd years ago.

[CabernetSauvignyoni]

One of my old teachers used Zina or Zena (can't remember which one!) try try and circumvent the WP connotations (but she's amazing so there are worse connotations to make!)

[snoopypoodle]

The warrior princess !!! I still remember her "battle cry" and trying to recreate it when I was a LOT younger

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

It does sound pretty good when you say it like that... I'll have to watch the remake, if it happens.

I definitely remember the cheesiness and the outfits looking really cheap. Think that's all I remember. I was probably quite young when it was on.

[EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans]

I was in my early 20s & had just come out as lesbian. It could be very hit & miss depending on who wrote the episode but in general it felt revolutionary, just like Buffy which was also on then.

If anything it sometimes feels as if TV's going backwards. Little girls could have Xena, her sidekick Gabrielle & Buffy as role models & instead they're being fed a load of vacuous crap about pink brains.

[Sophronia]

I prefer Zina or Xenia

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

Oh sweet Jesus, what are pink brains ? My DD is still at the Ben and Holly stage.

I did love Buffy when I was younger, but it could be cringily cheesy. Still very watchable though.

[Justanothersingledoutnumber]

It was a really cheap, low brow program as I remember, though maybe I'm misremembering?
It was a spin off from 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' which had the same low budget.

There were quit a few strong women characters in the 90's, wasn't there.... things sort of took a step backwards in the 2000's.

[EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans]

I think it's about putting up with the cheesiness to get to the feminism.

Girls have pink brains & boys have blue brains, according to this CBBC programme

www.transgendertrend.com/uk-cbbc-childrens-tv-i-am-leo/

and this exhibit from the Science Museum last year.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/14/science-museum-under-fire-exhibit-brains-pink-blue-gender-stereotypes]]

[KoalaDownUnder]

A kind-of similar name that I love (but which if consider unusable in Australia, but maybe not in the U.K.?) is Azaria.