To not understand why people call their baby...

[smellfunny]

Not to be goady, but I don't understand why people give their babies names with negative connotations or meanings. Examples from the top of my head being:

Cain (murdered his brother in Old Testament)
Hector (hector also being a synonym for bullying someone)
Tristan (this one is a bit contentious because it can either mean 'tumult' or correspond to 'sadness')

Is it just that people don't think about the meanings behind the names? Feel free to add more names to the list...

Bonus name: 'Claudia' coming from the Latin word for 'lame'. I gave this one a pass because it's so established and the connotation is generally unknown...

I never understood the liking for Jade. Yes, it's a green stone, but it's also a broken down horse or a woman of loose morals (prostitute). Jaded. Tired and worn out. Poor child

Lola is also the short form of a number of Yoruba (Nigerian tribe) names such a Lolade, Funmilola. It's pronounced differently though.

Battleax, well I can just never get past Frasier's wife in Cheers, but then I may be showing my age there

Damn was the film Legends of the Fall??
My son also on the list. Just love the name!

I think that’s why I like the name Lilith as I loved Frasier’s wife.

That's right, Barbarian.
Only if you have a medical background are you likely to know that meaning.
Candida is another one, and I've even heard people thinking of calling their child Chlamydia because it's "such a nice sounding name".

In the end, most people will choose a name they like the sound of regardless of what the connotations are, or what it "means".

I like Ophelia even though I'm familiar with Hamlet. It never occurred to me that it could be a reason not to give your child the same name. Is this a superstitious thing, like you believe the child is designed for the same fate? Ophelia was a tragic character, but babies are named all the time for real people who have passed away.

I like Cordelia as well. I remember thinking that it was a pretty name when studying the play.

Might get flamed for this, but I love it when parents give their kids names that are 99% likely to end up being ironic, such as 'Chastity'. I mean, chances are in this day and age your daughter is not going to stay 'chaste' until marriage.

Then again, calling your child after a value is always going to end up with some short-fall. Like a child called 'Joy' who is sullen, or a 'Prudence' who ends up being materialistic and gluttonous.

In my work I have come across a 'Clamydia' (their spelling) and Candida. Why would you do that????

Battleax, well I can just never get past Frasier's wife in Cheers, but then I may be showing my age there

That was entirely deliberate wasn't it? They might as well have named the character "she devil". That's how subtle it was.

My name means prophet of doom. Yes, my parents knew what it meant but loved the name.

DD was almost Antigone or Persephone but we went with another Greek one.

Tragic Greek names are the best imo. Really interesting talking points. No one really looks at me and thinks i prophecies doom, but lots of people ask what my names means and when i tell them say how interesting it is.

I think it would be worse for me to have a name like Grace and be as clumsy as i am. At least i'm prepared with this name!

Oh yes, I'm sure it was deliberate. She was cool though

But then there's nominative determinism - the theory that people's names can shape their character/choice of profession

Llyra for me those 2 names would always mainly have those connotations more than anything else

MonumentalAlabaster

I don't ascribe fully to nominative determinism. But I do think a person's name can shape the way people treat them to some extent. I have a very unusual, foreign first name and whenever I introduce myself with that name I get a wholly different response to when I introduce myself with my English name.

Likewise, if you have a name that is generally understood to correspond to a certain value I think people may subconsciously register that meaning. Even if it is tongue-in-cheek.

Almost named my son Lucifer because i love that name - and im catholic too. Only didnt name him Lucifer because mum pointed out a family members cat was the same name and i didnt want the link to the cat

Why would you even think of doing that to a child? That name is actually banned in Oz. You would think certain names shouldn't have to be banned by governments but this just goes to show that it is unfortunately necessary, for the sake of the children.

Lilith was cool!

I remember hearing about a Severus. The parents were huge Harry Potter fans.

Oh yes, I'm sure it was deliberate. She was cool though

Do you know how long ago Frasier was?! I've just looked it up

The only Chastity I have heard of was in a TV soap opera. I wonder when last a baby was called Prudence, and naming your child Joy is most likely to be due to the joy of becoming parents rather than any sort of judgement on the child's character or personality. There may be better examples of your point OP.

It was around 7 years ago or so

The other day, I realize someone born in 1990 would be 27/28

The only 'Joy' I have met was the most grumpy, depressing person :-) I guess that counts op as one of your ironic names!

Battleax, I absolutely refuse to look up how old Frasier was, let alone Cheers!

I only agree at the strongest end of the spectrum, so I agree about Cain, because it is so rarely found in history and the original connotation therefore remains undiluted in its negativity, however I too think of the classical Hector and not the verb, not that it’s a name I’m keen on. Claudia doesn’t carry associations of lameness to most English speakers, I think OP is illustrating one of the perils of baby name books with their attachment to giving origin. Sometimes I think they make them up where there isn’t an established etymology!
Names I perceive as too negative are: Cain, Salome, Adolph (but not Joseph - because the popularity of Joseph over the centuries dilutes association with the delightful “Uncle”), Lucifer, Hannibal , Jezebel (pretty name though), Myra, Herod, Lot.
Jonah is on the edge for me, it would be tempting just for the hilarity when they are 3 and 4 and again in their teens, and the propensity for epic sulks is at its zenith.
Calling a girl Chastity is a twat’s trick, Cher - I’m looking at you!

The other day, I realize someone born in 1990 would be 27/28

STOP it!