Is Reeva ok to use?

I thought this was clear, but obviously not....I'm not comparing Reeva Steenkamp to Hitler! I'm comparing Hitler to Stalin, reasonably similar; one name is fine, one name not. It's the same with victims; Jamie/Madeline/Holly/Jessica fine, Reeva maybe less so.

The issue is how strongly a name can be tied to one specific person. The more common the name, the weaker the association. Unusual name = stronger associations.

I think it's a lovely name, if I met someone today who had just called their newborn Reeva I wouldn't think, murder victim, I would just think pretty and unusual name.

It's just occurred to me that someone in our family shares the name Oscar and I've never made that connection before.

Massive difference between adolf hitler and reeva steenkamp, I'm sure her family would appreciate the comparison ffs!

Adolf, visions of death camps and mass murder

Reeva, visions of a beautiful girl inside and out, sad connotations but lovely all the same

I think it's ok to use, tbh I wouldn't even have thought about the link other than a passing notion, which will stop even a year from now.

The comparisons with Holly, Jessica, Oscar and Jamie are pointless. Those are all very common names and so the association between the name and any one person is weakened. Reeva is an unusual name and so the majority of people will connect it to Reeva Steenkamp.

I doubt anyone thinks 'Stalin' when they meet a Joseph, but what would be your first thought when I introduce my new son Adolf?

It's not a made up name my amazing consultant who's looking after DS2 is called Reeva, and it NEVER occurred to me to link to the Pistorius trial even though I've followed it on and off.

If you love it go for it

Ok, having seen update, I revise my opinion slightly.

I would see the spelling Riva as making it different enough perhaps, and with a family connection to explain your use of it then I think it might be ok. The timing is unfortunate though still. What about as a middle name? It would make a lovely unusual middle name, being a short name beginning with R that's not Rose!

Reeva is such an unusual name that it can only be connected to Reeva S at the moment. That's not the case for other names like Oscar, Jamie etc which have many other associations.

If Riva was the family name then use that, but don't spell it Reeva. Everyone will think of the murder case now and your DD will think she's named after a murder victim. Give your DD the nicest name you can - as well as sound that includes history and meaning.

Are you still thinking of Link for a boy?

Reeva is a gorgeous name but I also link it with the tragedy of death of beautiful Reeva Steinkamp.

Although its because its very current I guess.

Is it a name you have always loved?

I know I little girl called Reva, she is 7 and her parents are from Latvia. Would this spelling be an ok alternative? Fwiw all her teachers used to write her name as 'Riva', then have to change it. I did it once in a birthday card!

It's not to my personal taste but of you love the name then use it :)

Some people appear to have no imagination. Must be very strange living like that....,,,,,

When I saw the thread title, my first thought was that 'Riva' would be better.

I think it is well-known enough that people won't say 'river'. The worst thing I can think of with 'Riva' is the potential for Lada jokes from old people.

I wouldn't, personally. There is a difference when the name is associated very much with one person and although Reeva Steenkamp did nothing wrong and sounds like she was a lovely person, her name has become irrevocably linked with tragedy, bloodshed and a high-profile murder trial. If there were or had been other well-known Reevas, or it was already a top 100 name it would be different, I think, but it's similar to calling a child Myra or Adolf. I appreciate the last two were the perpetrators of horror not the victims, but the effect of a name being instrincally connected to one notorious/tragic figure so that people make the automatic mental leap to that one person on hearing the name is the same.

In time perhaps, when the immediacy of the court case has faded, it might be different but I definitely wouldn't use it now. It would seem like a slightly odd, inappropriate tribute.

Depends why and when you chose it. What would you want your daughter to say when asked about where her name comes from?

How weird. Use the name you like.

I'd spell it Riva if you really want to use it. I think it's a bit macabre to use Reeva as a) it will be easy to work out that the Pistorius trial was running while you were pregnant, and b) there are no other well-known Reevas you can point to, and naming a baby for a high-profile murder victim just looks weird.

I just think it's weird not to mind what will pass through everyone's mind when you introduce your glorious, wonderful beautiful baby. Just plain weird

I think it's okay, lovely name as well.

For a few years people will remember RS though but by the times she's in school most will have forgotten, by the times she's an adult, nobody will remember.

The only thing is I'm guessing you only know the name from RS? That's the only time I've ever heard it. This means she would be named after a murder victim.

Of course you can use it.

It might raise an eyebrow if you are in Sth Africa I suppose. Or if you knew the family or something.

But tbh, even yesterday, on the UK news channel I was watching, the verdict was only the 3rd item of news.

Are people not using Oscar anymore in case people think it's after Pistorius?

Exactly.

Use it .. I like it
I prefer the look of Riva on paper though

The timing's a bit weird.
I have a cousin called Carrie.
She was born the year the horror flick came out.
Her parents saw it and 'liked the name'
It's a lovely name, as is Reeva / Riva.
But I wonder if they ever said that to her, and how she felt?

Of course, this is a bit different.
But, still, I don't know if I would?
I'd certainly change the spelling.

Poor Reeva Steenkamp. RIP.

If you like it use it. The name doesn't become obsolete because something horrible once happened to someone named it. Personally I wouldn't automatically make the association either and I doubt most people will by the time the baby is born. I don't see why it would be morbid.

I know a Riva, I think it's a lovely name, and I don't think it will be associated with the OP case for long enough to impact on people's opinions. (sadly).