Would you use a name with a 'bad' meaning?

[Natnat29]

Hi me and OH like Jonah and although it means Dove there are some bad connatations to the name- see Wiki post:

A long-established expression among sailors uses the term "a Jonah" as meaning a person (either a sailor or a passenger) whose presence on board brings bad luck and endangers the ship.[17] Later on, this meaning was extended to "a Jonah" referring to "a person who carries a jinx, one who will bring bad luck to any enterprise

think this might be a well known expression dont want people to instantly think of bad luck when they think of his name?!

Has anyone heard this? Or picked a name for their child even thought they didnt like the meaning?
Thanks :)

I had this exact discussion with DH and would have been tempted to use Jonah as I think it's a lovely name, and I couldn't give a stuff about the association. FIL, however, used to be a sailor and I think it's rubbed off on DH as he totally refused. I don't think most people would know though and the actual meaning is lovely.

Yes. Use it.

I wouldn't. There are SO many other lovely names to choose from. Why chose one which means 'bringer of bad luck'?!

I'm quite irrational about these things and wouldn't use it based on a meaning like that. It's a lovely name, but for me, a name I choose needs to tick all the boxes: unusual, sounds nice, looks good written down, goes with surnames and middle names, goes with sibling names, and has either a good meaning or at the very least not a bad one.

'Meanings' of names are bullshit and usually founded on some Biblical mumbo-jumbo. It's 2012, if you like it, go with it.

Most meanings are not mumbo-jumbo - they are based on actual latin or greek words or, in this case, have evolved over time as an expression:

A long-established expression among sailors uses the term "a Jonah" as meaning a person (either a sailor or a passenger) whose presence on board brings bad luck and endangers the ship.[17] Later on, this meaning was extended to "a Jonah" referring to "a person who carries a jinx, one who will bring bad luck to any enterprise."[18] An example of a so-called "Jonah" would be that of the sailor in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, who was cursed to be lost at sea after he killed an albatross.

have good friend who decided not to call her ds this once her parents pointed it out to her.

Persdonally think it doesn't matter - surely no one is really aware of this these days? I know a lovely little Jonah -the name really suits him and no one sees him as a harbinger of doom

I would, wouldn't bother me at all. I know someone that got weird about Damian. I would also use Joseph, Claudia etc, Satan might be a stretch too far though

I'm having exactly the same struggle. DH has chosen Persephone as his one and only name choice (big reader of classical mythology) but between the general attitude I've seen towards the name on here, and her being 'queen of the underworld' I just worry about using it!
Am trying to suggest alternatives but he's pretty clear its the only option!

I'd use it.I wouldn't hesitate to do so.It's a fantastic name.

I like the name. And remember, the Jonah story ended well! The storm stopped, the fish spat him out, alive and whole, and on his merry way he continued.

I'd use Jonah, as it's just superstition attached to the name and not the actual name meaning itself... and as HerRoyalNotness says, the story turns out fine for Jonah himself. That said, I really like Tristan but vetoed that as it means sorrowful.

Jonah being associated with bad luck would put me off.

I actively avoided names that had negative associations / meanings, such as Jonah, Cain, Hector when choosing a name for DS.

Oh my. I like it, but i also like judas but i cant use that for obvious reasons.

I would not use that, so many other names you will like but now you have seen it. Its put you off a bit?

To me, meaning is very important, regardless of whether others know what the name means or not. The only exception to this is when you're honouring family members or other people.

In the case of Jonah, if you are happy with the biblical connection, then it's fine. If he's likely to come into contact with lots of sailors, it might be less suitable, but otherwise I think you could probably get away without comment.

Yes I would, Claudia for instance.

It wouldn't put me off.

I have heard that "Tristan" comes from the word "triste" which means sad. We named our son that anyway. Everyone who knows him says he is the happiest child they know. A child isn't a name - a name is only part of who they are, and become.

This may reassure you, joinscotland. Triste does mean sad in Spanish, but I have a friend who lives in spain with her Spanish husband and their son is named Tristan, and no one thinks negatively about it.

Nope. It's the surest way to cut down a huge list of possible names - take out all the ones with bad or odd meanings and see what's left!

Having said that, I like Jonah and have never heard of the bad-luck associations before. 'Dove' is not a bad meaning - I would associate that with a peaceful child.

The sailor / ship association is from the Bible, Jonah was swallowed by a whale and that's what I would think. And I'm a confirmed atheist.

My immediate thought on hearing Jonah is bad luck, but I was brought up in quite a religious family.

I'm not particularly concerned with the etymological meaning of names, but some have very very strong associations that I'd find it hard not to think of. I wouldn't chose Pandora or Jezebel for example.

I think Jonah is a great name and the superstition around it wouldn't bother me. If you like it then go for it

Names don't apply their meaning to the bearer!

I have a friend called Claudia who cycles 20 miles to work each way and mountain bikes at weekends - anything but lame!

My name means 'noble and trustworthy' . I'd like to think that I am, but to do with mu upbringing, which would not have been different if I'd another name.

And I know a very ungraceful Grace!

Jonah is a nice name, I'd use it if I were you. I heard one in the playground yesterday, with brothers Moses and Noah!

No I wouldn't use it. Its a nice name and I didn't know, but other people obviously do so no I wouldn;t saddle him with that.