Claudia - love, love, love - but stuck on meaning...

[lifesobeautiful]

Claudia is the only girl's name that I truly love. There are others I like, but none as much as Claudia. HOWEVER, it means 'lame' in Latin. I'd like to know how many of you would be put off by this. If anyone named their DD Claudia and they're now at an age where they hate the meaning. Would love your opinions.

There was an Emperor Claudius. What parents would name a child destined to be an emperor something lame?

I like the name. I wouldn't worry too much about the meaning.

It also means 'persevering'

If you like the name don't let the 'lame' thing put you off

I loved it but discounted it for the same reason. It's a gorgeous name though.

It's a great name, dont let the apparent meaning put you off.

I would not be put off by meaning at all. Most people wouldn't have a clue and nobody would care.

You can always load up your middle name(s) with fab meanings, and still use a first name you adore.

I hate the meaning, but love the name too.

Which is why DD has a completely different name.

The reason i never could use Cecily (blind).

Thanks so much everyone. I read the positive ones saying I should go for it and I WILL myself to get past it...but still struggling. Vacillate between being fine with it and then thinking no way (perils of indecisiveness in pregnancy!) Going to try and relax about it and see what happens. And continue to read your thoughts! Fergus also love Cecilia but couldn't get past the blind!

I have a Claudia.

It is beautiful, especially when pronounced by southern Europeans, CLOUD-IA.

Funnily enough, she was looking up name meanings tonight and was disappointed to find it meant lame. She's 11. If that is all that has troubled her in in 11 years of having the name then I think that's pretty good.

We call her Claud or Clauds. We've not come across another her age until recently, and even then, it was an older teen. I think it's been my best name choice of my 3 DCs in that it is not "popular" but it's not so unusual that nobody knows it.

Go for it, we've been very happy with it.

Well, it hasn't done Claudia Schiffer any harm, nor the scores of German girls and women with the name.

Put it this way - what do you actually think the meaning is going to do? Come true? Well, exactly, of course it's not.

It's a beautiful name. My name means 'devoted to God', or 'consecrated to...' depending on which name book you read. Well, hardly...! I mean, it's not as if, having been bestowed the name, I was destined for a nunnery!

The first time I learnt the meaning, as a young teenager probably, I laughed at the incongruity of it, much like DowntonTrout's DD. :)

No big deal. And yes, I say this as someone who is aware of the meaning but probably just because I'm a name geek. The loveliness of the name Claudia far outweighs any negative associations that might come with the meaning - which most people won't be aware of - or if they are, won't give more than a passing thought, if that.

The emperor Claudius was lame.

Claudia is a lovely name. I am expecting DC2 in a few weeks and am deciding between Claudia and Francesca (if its a girl!). Don't be put off by the lame meaning, as gugglebum says, you can have a middle name with a bright, positive meaning to balance it out.

I say go for it!

Well.... I love it but rejected it for the same reason. Meanings of names are important to me in a sort of naming your child/pronouncing something over them sort of way - so I'd say no. Irrational but I am fairly open to siritual stuff, so I guess that's why.

Couple of misconceptions: Claudius wasn't 'destined' to become emperor - he was kept out of public life because of his various mild disabilities until the murder of his nephew Caligula. He also wasn't called Claudius because of his lameness - it was his family name.

Agree with Midnight: Claudia's a lovely name, despite its meaning, which almost no one would be aware of.

It wouldn't put me off at all. A beautiful name, a possible middle name if I have a girl along with Greta or Margot. I know the meaning but it doesn't put me off.

I used to have a book of names when I was little, and was fascinated with the origins and meanings. But I just want to give my children names I love, the meaning doesn't come into it for me, though I appreciate some people pick names based on meaning.

If it is the name you truly love, I wouldn't let anything put you off. You may always regret not using it.

If DS1 had been a girl, we would have called him Amelia, despite the fact that it means 'no limbs'. I think that the child themselves becomes the biggest meaning of that name for you, and that surpasses any other meanings attached to the name.

I wouldn't be bothered. Language changes with the times. Husband no longer means someone who tends the animals! Why let the archaic meaning of something which is well out of most people's awareness stop you using a name you love?

I love Claudia.

Thanks everybody!! Today it's back at the top of the list - and I'm going to try not to give the meaning another thought. You've all really really helped.

PS - ClareHK Francesca is also on our list, such beautiful name.

DowntonTrout Just being nosey, as I love Claudia - what are your other DCs called?

Love love love this name. Completely understand what you mean OP.

Don't let it put you off....

Thanks farmersdaughter! oh yes please DowntonTrout - do tell - or just one or two if you're worried it'll out you! I've now got three on my girls list: Claudia, Annabel and Jemima. And boys are sorted with William, Edward and Samual. My first DS is Charles (known as Charlie)