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Baby names

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Original poster

Would you use a name with a 'bad' meaning?

36 replies

Natnat29 · 07/09/2012 12:19

Hi me and OH like Jonah and although it means Dove there are some bad connatations to the name- see Wiki post:

A long-established expression among sailors uses the term "a Jonah" as meaning a person (either a sailor or a passenger) whose presence on board brings bad luck and endangers the ship.[17] Later on, this meaning was extended to "a Jonah" referring to "a person who carries a jinx, one who will bring bad luck to any enterprise

think this might be a well known expression dont want people to instantly think of bad luck when they think of his name?!

Has anyone heard this? Or picked a name for their child even thought they didnt like the meaning?
Thanks :)

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HerRoyalNotness · 07/09/2012 17:34

I like the name. And remember, the Jonah story ended well! The storm stopped, the fish spat him out, alive and whole, and on his merry way he continued.

WithACherryOnTop · 07/09/2012 17:31

I'd use it.I wouldn't hesitate to do so.It's a fantastic name.

isambardo · 07/09/2012 15:02

I'm having exactly the same struggle. DH has chosen Persephone as his one and only name choice (big reader of classical mythology) but between the general attitude I've seen towards the name on here, and her being 'queen of the underworld' I just worry about using it!
Am trying to suggest alternatives but he's pretty clear its the only option!

wigglesrock · 07/09/2012 14:18

I would, wouldn't bother me at all. I know someone that got weird about Damian. I would also use Joseph, Claudia etc, Satan might be a stretch too far though Grin

hatsybatsy · 07/09/2012 13:11

have good friend who decided not to call her ds this once her parents pointed it out to her.

Persdonally think it doesn't matter - surely no one is really aware of this these days? I know a lovely little Jonah -the name really suits him and no one sees him as a harbinger of doom Grin

hellokitty123 · 07/09/2012 13:02

Most meanings are not mumbo-jumbo - they are based on actual latin or greek words or, in this case, have evolved over time as an expression:

A long-established expression among sailors uses the term "a Jonah" as meaning a person (either a sailor or a passenger) whose presence on board brings bad luck and endangers the ship.[17] Later on, this meaning was extended to "a Jonah" referring to "a person who carries a jinx, one who will bring bad luck to any enterprise."[18] An example of a so-called "Jonah" would be that of the sailor in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, who was cursed to be lost at sea after he killed an albatross.

severinofinn34 · 07/09/2012 12:55

'Meanings' of names are bullshit and usually founded on some Biblical mumbo-jumbo. It's 2012, if you like it, go with it.

Badgerina · 07/09/2012 12:54

I'm quite irrational about these things and wouldn't use it based on a meaning like that. It's a lovely name, but for me, a name I choose needs to tick all the boxes: unusual, sounds nice, looks good written down, goes with surnames and middle names, goes with sibling names, and has either a good meaning or at the very least not a bad one.

hellokitty123 · 07/09/2012 12:52

I wouldn't. There are SO many other lovely names to choose from. Why chose one which means 'bringer of bad luck'?!

CleoSmackYa · 07/09/2012 12:33

Yes. Use it.

kdiddy · 07/09/2012 12:28

I had this exact discussion with DH and would have been tempted to use Jonah as I think it's a lovely name, and I couldn't give a stuff about the association. FIL, however, used to be a sailor and I think it's rubbed off on DH as he totally refused. I don't think most people would know though and the actual meaning is lovely.

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