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Baby names

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Original poster

Is this a terrible name?

141 replies

RedPandaFluff · 04/03/2023 17:26

DH and I have just had a huge (lighthearted!) barney about what to call DD, due in summer. I love the name Ophelia and I know she's a tragic Shakespearean character but still love it and would happily use it (although obviously we won't use it as we won't both be in agreement!)

DH is adamant that it's a terrible name and doesn't think that anyone else would feel like me (ie make the connection but still think it's a beautiful name).

Naturally, the only thing for it is to throw it open to mumsnetters Grin

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LightHousePanda · 06/03/2023 13:49

You're not wrong as people do like it and use it. It's not to my preference. Juliet is a tragic character too and no one ever brings that up on threads as much as it's brought up on Ophelia.

ririca · 06/03/2023 12:06

Maybe it's a cultural thing (I'm not English)... But, while people in my culture are aware of Shakespeare, they're unlikely to be deeply invested in it or really care about the Shakespearean connotations of a name. So perhaps it depends on where you live and your community.

17caterpillars1mouse · 06/03/2023 10:05

Sorry I've just checked it's 116 so just outside the top 100 but definitely on the up. Over 400 baby girls were given the name in 2021

17caterpillars1mouse · 06/03/2023 10:03

I know a 4 year old Ophelia. I wasn't sure when her birth was first announced, but I like it now.

I think I saw that Ophelia is in the top 100 so plenty of people definitely agree with you. It's not 'out there' if it's in the top 100

SomePeopleAreJustBloodyStupid · 05/03/2023 18:38

It depends on your surname. Ophelia O'Tolle would be awful, as would Ophelia Smith, for example.

FatGirlSwim · 05/03/2023 18:36

I like it and I know an Ophelia. She’s about five.

Twazique · 05/03/2023 18:30

How about Delphine?

What else is on your list OP?

RosesAndHellebores · 05/03/2023 14:16

Yes I agree, not least because Lizzie Siddal was addicted to laudanum, and Rossetti had her interred after her burial to retrieve some poems he had buried with her.

daisypond · 05/03/2023 12:05

ThanksItHasPockets · 05/03/2023 11:39

Lizzie Siddal’s story is desperately sad and certainly does nothing to rehabilitate the case for Ophelia Sad

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I agree. That painting, and the story behind it, doesn’t do the name any favours.

ThanksItHasPockets · 05/03/2023 11:39

anunlikelyseahorse · 05/03/2023 11:31

The name always brings to mind Millais' painting, and the story of his model Elizabeth Siddle catching a severe cold after the oil lamps went out leading to a very cold bath.

Lizzie Siddal’s story is desperately sad and certainly does nothing to rehabilitate the case for Ophelia Sad

anunlikelyseahorse · 05/03/2023 11:31

The name always brings to mind Millais' painting, and the story of his model Elizabeth Siddle catching a severe cold after the oil lamps went out leading to a very cold bath.

ThanksItHasPockets · 05/03/2023 09:43

daisypond · 05/03/2023 09:31

Ophelia isn’t tragic at all - a tragic figure has to be brought down by something of their own making. Ophelia is unfortunate, a victim to awful people and circumstances, but she’s not tragic.

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In a strictly Aristotelian sense, yes, but I don't think most people are that precise in their use of the adjective. I was quoting @RosesAndHellebores who described her as having tragic associations.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 05/03/2023 09:36

daisypond · 05/03/2023 08:54

With Cordelia, it’s very different. She has courage, boldness, autonomy, moral rectitude in the face of danger, is killed, etc. Ophelia is the opposite. She’s a pawn, weak, a victim, does what she’s told, goes insane, kills herself.

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That's getting in to her character rather than her fate, which wasn't the original statement, but I do take your point.

There are plenty of weak pawns amongst Shakespeare's women whose names are used regularly because they are given a 'happy' ending. I have always thought Hero's fate is one of the saddest in Shakespeare, forced to marry the man who was so quick to think the worst of her and shame her publicly. I worry about what is in store for Miranda back in Naples, too.

It looks like poor Ophelia is in the same category as Lavinia and Desdemona - a tragic fate and little personality to redeem her. That being said, Emilia's popularity hasn't been affected by being in that club. I suppose it goes to show there isn't much logic to the connotations that names accrue over 450ish years.

daisypond · 05/03/2023 09:31

ThanksItHasPockets · 05/03/2023 08:55

It’s noticeable that a lot of people consider Ophelia to be more tragic than other heroines who arguably meet worse fates. I suspect it’s linked to the taboo / stigma associated with suicide.

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Ophelia isn’t tragic at all - a tragic figure has to be brought down by something of their own making. Ophelia is unfortunate, a victim to awful people and circumstances, but she’s not tragic.

daisypond · 05/03/2023 09:27

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 05/03/2023 09:00

I think you might be on to something there - and taboos around madness are probably also relevant.

Juliet seems to get a pass because her suicide is romantic Hmm

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Not just that, but because she has autonomy. She chooses, she thinks, she acts, she tries to control her destiny, she has courage etc.

wheelywheelynice · 05/03/2023 09:21

I like it but wouldn't use it, she'd be the butt of too many jokes

BlinkinggLightt · 05/03/2023 09:10

Pretentious.

fajitaaaa · 05/03/2023 09:01

I like it but your DH trumps mumsnet!

RosesAndHellebores · 05/03/2023 09:01

Thank you @daisypond. Daphne was a minor Greek figure and also has much more positive associations too.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 05/03/2023 09:00

ThanksItHasPockets · 05/03/2023 08:55

It’s noticeable that a lot of people consider Ophelia to be more tragic than other heroines who arguably meet worse fates. I suspect it’s linked to the taboo / stigma associated with suicide.

Show quote history

I think you might be on to something there - and taboos around madness are probably also relevant.

Juliet seems to get a pass because her suicide is romantic Hmm

ShillyShallySherbet · 05/03/2023 08:56

I think it’s a lovely name OP.

It’s like a mixture of Olivia and Amelia, a bit like Sophia.

ThanksItHasPockets · 05/03/2023 08:55

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 05/03/2023 08:46

Daphne - turned into a tree to avoid rape by Apollo
Cordelia - hanged in prison

How are these associations any less tragic than Ophelia?

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It’s noticeable that a lot of people consider Ophelia to be more tragic than other heroines who arguably meet worse fates. I suspect it’s linked to the taboo / stigma associated with suicide.

daisypond · 05/03/2023 08:54

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 05/03/2023 08:46

Daphne - turned into a tree to avoid rape by Apollo
Cordelia - hanged in prison

How are these associations any less tragic than Ophelia?

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With Cordelia, it’s very different. She has courage, boldness, autonomy, moral rectitude in the face of danger, is killed, etc. Ophelia is the opposite. She’s a pawn, weak, a victim, does what she’s told, goes insane, kills herself.

Original poster
RedPandaFluff · 05/03/2023 08:52

@Enko - no, DH seems to think his role is solely to veto my suggestions . . . Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
RedPandaFluff · 05/03/2023 08:51

The "feel-ya" gags hadn't even occurred to us Grin

As mentioned in the original post, we won't be using it (of course we both have to agree on the name!) - I was just curious to know whether DH's assertion is correct, which is, that nobody in their right mind would ever use or like the name Ophelia due to the Shakespeare association.

Interestingly, I think I might pronounce it differently to many people here - I would say Oh-fee-lee-ya rather than Oh-feel-ya!

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