Baby name dilemma

"Parents have been naming their daughters Juliet for centuries without worrying at all about the association with that Shakespearean character's questionable mental health and suicide, so why worry about Ophelia?"

Because there aren't any other Ophelias. There are a ton of Juliets.

And Shakespeare didn't invent the name Juliet for the character- he did invent Ophelia.

I tried out Ophelia Friend out on my incredibly polite, respectful, mature 16 year old son. When he stopped laughing he said that he would be able to be straight faced if introduced to her, but could not vouch for his classmates.

I love the name, but I wouldn't use it with your surname.

However, I wouldn't worry at all about the Shakespeare association. Parents have been naming their daughters Juliet for centuries without worrying at all about the association with that Shakespearean character's questionable mental health and suicide, so why worry about Ophelia?

I love the name Ophelia. We couldn't decide between Freya and Ophelia so went with Freya-Ophelia. Freya day to day as it's quiet a mouthful. I never heard anything negative about the name

OP, you might want to read Ophelia Friend out loud a few times and then think of what it sounds like

@Popskipiekin Aurelia is a nice name but personally I'd steer clear with names starting with "A" as the initials will become Ms A. Friend and if OP does go onto having a boy, maybe also avoid names starting with E as well as you'd end up with Mr E. Friend .

Names can be a minefield but having a noun as a surname is pretty cool but you'd have to bear in mind the potential problems with the initials. So you will need the write out the initials and read out the full name a few times so you can hear the full effect of what the name sounds like. For instance, I know an Iona Rose. Now, what does that sound like to you?

Dominant on MN. Not in the real World.

Well, it would also be dominant in my 'real world'.

No, the most important thing is that it sounds nice! Which Ophelia does.

Fair enough. After all, we all know that the single most important thing about a baby's name is that it shout be what the mother wants.....

Right. I'm sure 15 year olds will really care.

They still do Shakespeare at school, you know.

And kids do google their names. But who cares? "If ya luv it, hun, you use it"

Dominant on MN. Not in the real World.

Little Lexi-Mae: Oh Ophelia. I simply can not believe you are named after that wretched woman offa Shakespeare

I think Portia's a name that should be more popular.

I think the Shakespeare association is so dominant that it is difficult to get away from. Henry's different. There have been, probably literally, hundreds of well-known Henrys. I personally wouldn't be able to get past the association. How about a more positively connotated Shakespearean name, such as Miranda?

well, if i was introduced to an Ophelia, my first thought WOULD be the going mad/suicide thing and I don't think I'm that unusual- like PP said, there aren't many other famous Ophelias are there, - so not like Henry at all.

Sorry, I've just clicked your surname. Again, I didn't click straight away. So I'm on the fence. Sorry, not helpful.

I teach an Ophelia (and have for 6 years- secondary) and never once have I heard that said to/about/near her.

Sorry, I don't think it works with your surname

How about Octavia or Seraphina?

Little girl opposite is called Aurelie, Auri ("Orri") for short. Could you have Aurelia? Same kind of feel?

Love the name Ophelia, but we specifically ruled it out as it sounded rude with our surname.

I'd personally give Ophelia Friend a miss too. Sorry!

As your surname is Friend, I wouldn't do it. I really loved a name but because of similar circumstances I had to forego it too. So frustrating. :-(

No, with your surname it just doesn't work. Sorry

"If you love it use it!"

Well, if you love it, change your own name to it. If you have doubts don't give it to someone else not in a position to object.

^ Or Cecilia?

Hmm...am divided on this:

On the one hand, Ophelia is a beautiful name (was good enough for Roald Dahl's daughter, too!), is now being used more, and I kind of think why not reclaim it from any stigma.

At the end of the day, Shakespeare's Ophelia was fictional, and MH/ suicide issues with a name aren't like the RL connotations a baby named, say, "Myra" in the UK might once have faced. (Or even still faces? Are there any under 50ish?).

On hearing a small girl's name "Ophelia Friend", I wouldn't have even made the connection with a-feel-o/ I-feel ya friend.
Having had it mentioned, though, I'm now thinking teen years might prove difficult.
Or not at all.

Cosima?
Raphaela/ Raphaella?

Not with your surname.