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Baby names

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

Do You Care About the Meaning??

31 replies

Jossina · 28/09/2019 04:59

When you named your child did you care about the meaning or did you just like the name?

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Clownfish123 · 28/09/2019 07:38

I'm not overly concerned but I wouldnt choose a name with a negative meaning, for example Claudia as mentioned by PP. I couldn't use it for that reason.
Also we are fair haired and I wouldn't use Ciaran or Keira for the reason they mean 'dark haired' and I picture them on dark haired children.
Generally though I don't worry too much, although it can push me towards using a name if the meaning is lovely.

Pippilsngstrumpfi · 28/09/2019 07:35

It depends on

  1. how obvious the meaning is -eg derived from a l(Latin or Greek) word
  2. whether the meaning is negative
DonEmmanuelsDingleberries · 28/09/2019 07:29

No. I love the name Claudia and seriously considered it for our daughter, even though I knew it meant lame/crippled. Most people in real life aren't going to know about name meanings, much less care tbh.

I care more about negative namesakes. For example, I also like the name Myra, but wouldn't use it because I wouldn't want Hindley being the first association people make when they hear my daughter's name.

FartnissEverbeans · 28/09/2019 05:47

Names don’t really ‘mean’ anything - they just refer to the person in question.

I find the etymology of names really interesting though. My son’s name has an interesting etymology and that’s one of the reasons I like it, but I think I would have chosen it anyway. I’ve been put off names by their unfortunate ‘meanings’ before though. So, I suppose it’s one factor but rarely the deciding one.

Starrynights86 · 28/09/2019 05:22

I didn’t think about it really, my daughters name means merciful pearl.

OldAndWornOut · 28/09/2019 05:09

I cared about the meaning; I wouldn't have chosen a name if I didn't like its meaning.

I'm quite fascinated about names though, and what they mean.