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

50 replies

lifesobeautiful · 02/02/2013 21:32

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.

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rachel234 · 08/02/2013 11:36

Perhaps I've studied too much Latin, but I can't see past the claudus = crippled association when I hear Claudia or Claudio. So I'm afraid it would put me off. Most names don't have any meanings, but some, like Claudia, are directly derived from a latin word.

There are so many names to choose from that I personally would choose another, but if you love Claudia despite the meaning, then I think you should use it.

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MrsHBaby3 · 08/02/2013 10:43

Sorry probably not much help but yes it would put me off, Id prob try to find a variation or use a dif baby name bk that said it meant something different!

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JumpingJackSprat · 07/02/2013 22:25

wow must be something about claudia and francesca as if i had a girl they would be the two names at the top of my list. i absolutely adore claudia, the meaning put me off a little but my name means bitter but i still love it.

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MidnightMasquerader · 07/02/2013 20:55

Good for you, life.

Don't forget that names, more than anything really, are so much greater than the sum of their parts. Your daughter will be Claudia - your daughter; not Claudia - random meaning from history / a baby name book.

Individuals overtake any previous preconceptions and become the name, IYKWIM. Once your baby is a few months old, and certainly once she's an interacting little person, you'll wonder what you ever worried. Your Claudia associations and meanings will begin and end with her, and the same for everyone who knows and loves her. :)

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lifesobeautiful · 07/02/2013 18:54

I can't tell you how THRILLED I am that most of you are encouraging me to use it. Thank you!

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BikeRunSki · 07/02/2013 18:45

Do people other than pg women really think about the meanings of names, particularly if they are from unfamiliar languages.


I must say, no one has ever said the me "God has heard, to send you DS" or "What a beloved little French girl your DD is". Although I would like to think that I am noble and trustworthy. I really don't think names bestow their meaning on the holder. FWIW, my adult friend Claudia is the sportiest person I know - she cycles 25 miles each way for work and then some.

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ElephantsAndMiasmas · 07/02/2013 18:19

My brother's name means twin and he certainly isn't one. No-one can even really work out what mine means and, quite honestly, the only person who's ever been interested in what it means is me Blush :o

I don't know what most names mean, even common ones like John and Anne and William and Dave and I'm a right one for knowing names. Suspect the only people who will know are other Claudias (who will be pleased there is a little one) and expectant parents!

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farmersdaugther · 07/02/2013 18:08

It's strong, elegant, intelligent-sounding, ageless and completely beautiful. Please use it.

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bigbadbarry · 07/02/2013 18:05

My DD's name means twin and she isn't one :) Claudia is a beautiful name and I think that matters more. You wouldn't use a name you disliked just because it meant something good, would you

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cantpooinpeace · 07/02/2013 17:58

I have a Claudia Grin so obvs love the name. The meaning never bothered us at all and no one's ever asked!

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lifesobeautiful · 07/02/2013 17:37

I adore both pronunciations actually, but I'm going for the Claw-dia one, as I feel like that's probably the more commonly used version in the UK, and I don't want her having to correct people constantly. Cloud-ia's stunning too though!

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lljkk · 07/02/2013 17:34

I like Claudia a lot. I thought it meant something like "mourning" in Latin, whereas James means Lame.

No one every worries about the meaning of James. Or that Joshua = English for Jesus.

And anyway, it's Latin ffs, nobody speaks Latin for real.

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WhichIsBest · 07/02/2013 17:29

I love it and I know a beautiful (inside and out) Claudia too, she is Cloud-ia incidentally. :)

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Bue · 07/02/2013 17:22

I am always surprised that people care about meanings - I couldn't give two hoots about something like this! People won't know the meaning of the name unless you point it out to them, it's not like this is common knowledge. It's a great name - go for it!

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Trills · 07/02/2013 17:07

Would you be going for
Claw-dja
or
Cloud-ia

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Trills · 07/02/2013 17:06

I say "meh". If you like the sound, go for it. It's not like you're calling her Chlamydia.

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lifesobeautiful · 07/02/2013 17:05

I've given it a lot of thought now - and digested all your opinions, including those who advised against it. THANK YOU everybody. Anyway, I've decided that if she looks and feels like a Claudia when she's born, I will name her that. I decided that a) most people don't know or can't remember the meaning of their name. If you talk about it, it's once in a blue moon. And b) if I was called Claudia - I think I'd actually find the meaning quite funny and joke about it if I was with friends. One of the reasons I love the name, apart from just loving the actual sound of it (I always have since I first heard it at school), is that every girl I know called Claudia, famous and non-famous, I find beautiful. So I'll tell her that's why I named her that, because she was beautiful. And, as people have suggested, I'll give her a middle name which means strong or beautiful.

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hellokitty123 · 07/02/2013 09:04

Some names have more obvious meanings than others. Some have no meanings. But Claudia happens to be derived directly from the latin claudus meaning disabled/lame/crippled. I'd choose another name as I would not want my daughter to grow up wondering why we didn't give her a name with a nicer meaning. But this may not bother you. But you did ask for our (honest) opinions.

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Gurraun · 07/02/2013 09:01

It is a gorgeous name use it. If current pg is a dd I would use it in a heartbeat (except dh has said he hates it - along with every other name I like) :-(

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lifesobeautiful · 06/02/2013 08:38

Eskarina, I don't suppose you'd tell me what your first DD's name is? As we obviously have similar taste! But totally understand if you're worried it'll out you!

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lifesobeautiful · 05/02/2013 20:43

How gorgeous to have twin girls called Claudia and Jemima Eskarina! Well, I really want my mum's name, which is Mary, which, though a bit old-fashioned, I love. However, it doesn't flow THAT well, so may use her second name Elizabeth. In a way I wish I could be a bit freer with the middle name, but really would love to honour my mum that way. What about you?

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Eskarina · 05/02/2013 18:54

OP I love your top 3 girls names. Secretly hoping that both my twins are girls so I can use both claudia and Jemima! The meaning doesn't bother me - I love dd1s name, haven't the faintest idea what it means!
What middle names would you put with your girls names?

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shoobidoo · 04/02/2013 11:18

Given that there are SO many lovely names out there, I'd personally not choose a name that is derived from the latin claudus meaning crippled/lame. Some names have more 'obvious' meanings, mainly from latin words and Claudia (and Cecilia) happen to be examples of obvious negative meanings. Shame really, as they sound nice otherwise.

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lifesobeautiful · 04/02/2013 10:54

Joshua's a beautiful name - sadly we can't use it as there's already one in the family. I don't mind popularity that much funnily, as long as it's a classic name, as opposed to one that's faddish!

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DowntonTrout · 03/02/2013 21:00

Well my eldest, who is in his mid 20s now is a Josh(ua). However it became horribly popular a few years later.

It suits him though and is, I think a good solid name. His GF is a children's nurse and she comes home and tells us all the current names, some of them are horrors!

My middle child also suffered the same fate and her name became a top ten a few years later.

I am hoping we escape that with Claudia so DON'T CALL YOUR DDs Claudia please!! Grin

If I were to name a child again, which I won't, I would scrap anything in the top 50. But not go so unusual that people can't spell it. I have a hankering for the name Sidonie for a girl at the moment after my Grandad Sydney.

Funny how your tastes change over the years. Good luck with the names.

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