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Baby names

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

Original poster

'Serpent' - Do name meanings matter?

67 replies

MiniEdwards · 20/08/2019 15:20

I have fallen in love with a name, but the meaning of it isn't great... it
means 'serpent' Confused.

What do people think about choosing a baby name which doesn't mean something wonderful, glorious, and perfect etc!?

Does anyone in life really actually care what your name means?

Or would I be jinxing them from birth?!

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ScrambledSmegs · 20/08/2019 15:45

Well Draco for one. Presumably Drake too. I think also Tanith and possibly Linda or Belinda.

Crunchymum · 20/08/2019 15:44

Yes, what is the name.

KatharinaRosalie · 20/08/2019 15:44

What do you mean by meaning? Is it a literal translation in a commonly spoken language, or one of those name site 'Jessica means God beholds' type of meanings?

SimonJT · 20/08/2019 15:43

My original name (I changed it a few years ago) basically means someone who fathers lots of children in Urdu. I will never ever father a child.

The meaning of a name really doesn’t matter.

LarkDescending · 20/08/2019 15:38

What name is there that means "serpent"?

OrangeSwoosh · 20/08/2019 15:35

What's the name?.

I googled our name (first, middle and surname in various combos) just to make sure there wasn't a prolific serial killer or porn star with the same name.

StockTakeFucks · 20/08/2019 15:33

It depends how obvious the link is.

But I'd say go for it if you love it. Name meanings are a bit irrelevant in my eyes.

notso · 20/08/2019 15:33

I don't really think meanings matter. I certainly don't live up to the meaning of mine!

Original poster
MiniEdwards · 20/08/2019 15:33

Ha ha! The name is not serpent Blush, and sounds beautiful (to me!) but the meaning of serpent... a snake.. not so beautiful!!
I think I won't be letting it put me off... Smile

OP posts:
AudacityOfHope · 20/08/2019 15:30

I've never looked at the meaning of my own kids names, never mind anyone else's!

MmeBufo · 20/08/2019 15:29

I loved the name Cecily for DD but didn't use it because it means blind and it felt like I'd be tempting fate to blind herHmm. If I hadn't been pregnant I'd probably not have been so over sensitive about it, but it really did bother me. I actually like it more than the name DD ended up with but I'm also glad I didn't use it.

If the meaning bothers you it's best to choose something else.

bloodywhitecat · 20/08/2019 15:28

I am not sure I have ever looked up the meaning of the name of any of the hundreds of children I have worked with over the years so I think meanings escape most people.

tabbycat985 · 20/08/2019 15:28

I think it's all a bit of a nonsense, if you like the name just go for it!
My own name means Christmas baby or winter or something ridiculous & I'm born in MayHmm

RHTawneyonabus · 20/08/2019 15:26

I rejected a name for DS3. I loved it but it meant ‘he who follows’ as someone with two older brothers whose names both translate as something like ‘strong leader’ it seemed a bit unfair.

99bb · 20/08/2019 15:25

I don’t think they matter at all.

Our kids’ names have nice/fitting meanings, but we found that out after we’d chosen them. It’s a nice little bonus, but if they’d had horrible meanings, I’m sure we’d have just laughed

WitsEnding · 20/08/2019 15:23

Jinx. Many of us are fascinated by words and their origins and would wonder what you had brought into your little garden of Eden!

Dizzywizz · 20/08/2019 15:21

I thought you meant Serpent as a name!! I’m not sure if people look into what a name means, unless it’s really obvious??

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