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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Will people think of Buffy?!

53 replies

VikingLady · 15/02/2015 11:03

We're at 34w pg now, and the need for a girl's name is getting desperate! We're both picky but liking different names, but I thought we had finally decided on Cordelia.

But I told a friend who immediately thought Buffy. DH then said that was what someone in his office said as well. Will everyone think that? Is it still popular? I just thought Shakespeare, but I freely admit I'm pretty put of touch!

Help! I don't want to have to find another name!

OP posts:

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BabyNeedsChocolate · 15/02/2015 12:09

I love it (always have because of Shakespeare and Anne of Green Gables, as well as a distant family connection) and it would have been on our current shortlist if the bump had turned out to be a girl.

DH also managed to sneak Faith and Anya onto our list of girls' names, and (Ale)Xander onto the boys' list, so I think his reasons for liking it might be a bit more Buffy-related than mine!

But it is a beautiful name and has lots of history and associations beyond the TV show. Also, as people have said, Buffy was out years ago so not everyone will pick up on it, and those that do won't necessarily have negative associations. It isn't like giving your child a Game of Thrones name.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 15/02/2015 12:19

I love Cordelia . I was a huge Buffy fa back in the day but it would still only be a fleeting thought for me. Don't think it will be an association for most people.

OatcakeCravings · 15/02/2015 12:51

I would immediately think of Buffy, but it's not a bad thing IMO

BlueStarsAtNight · 15/02/2015 12:55

I would instantly think of Buffy/Angel, but I don't see why that's a bad thing. It wouldn't put me off using the name. I know a few Willow's and the first time I heard it I thought of Buffy too, but now it's just their name, I'm sure it will be just the same am with Cordelia.

seaoflove · 15/02/2015 12:58

I never watched Buffy, so it's a no from me.

It's also pretty dated, as cultural references go, so I don't think you need to worry.

sticklebrickstickle · 15/02/2015 13:15

It would definitely make me think of Buffy (I'm in my 20s and was a big fan from the beginning) but not in a negative way. I think the TV show ended long enough ago (over 10 years!) for it not to really matter. It's definitely not current even if it is still repeated on cable and doesn't have a large base of new watchers. It was a cult TV-show and one which picked up a lot of hardcore fans so there will certainly be people, especially those in their 20s/30s now, who remember the characters. But they will probably be the minority - at it's peak Buffy's viewing figures were still under 1 million so the vast majority of people will have either never watched Buffy or not liked it enough to remember the characters.

Your DD's peer-group won't be old enough to watch Buffy for at least another 10 years by which time it will probably be really out-dated and is unlikely to gain popularity among them so I certainly wouldn't worry about her peers thinking of Buffy.

It's a lovely name so if you like it I would go for it and definitely not worry about the Buffy link.

Alisvolatpropiis · 15/02/2015 13:17

I'm in my 20's, plenty of fans of Buffy under 30.

Back to the point - as I said originally op, it is a lovely name. If in doubt just teach her to say "no, it's from King Lear actually" from a very young age

Sophronia · 15/02/2015 13:31

I didn't know the Buffy connection. I think of Shakespeare. It's a lovely name.

Original poster

VikingLady · 15/02/2015 13:37

Then I think we've decided! Thank you all!

Wow, 34 replies in half a day - I've never had such a response to a thread!

OP posts:

Lj8893 · 15/02/2015 13:40

Yes i would think of Buffy but the name doesn't make me think of the bad personality traits she had in the show. Its a lovely name.

TheCowThatLaughs · 15/02/2015 13:59

I thought of brideshead revisited

skylark2 · 15/02/2015 14:12

I would think of Buffy, but not in an "it's obvious the parent is a fan" way.

I'd be more worried about potential nicknames, because I think Cordy is hideous and Delia is dreadfully pretentious.

IsadoraQuagmire · 15/02/2015 14:22

TheCowThatLaughs Oh yes, I forgot about Cordelia Flyte. I've never taken to her!

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 15/02/2015 14:25

The Cordelia I know is nicknamed Dee.

TheCowThatLaughs · 15/02/2015 14:43

I like her, she's very capable and self aware

phoenixrose314 · 15/02/2015 14:46

The child will grow into their own name, and become a personality in their own right - they are certainly not going to turn into Queen B!tch just because you gave her a name that some people would associate with a totally awesome 90s cult TV show.

Credit to you for thinking outside the box!

EeB00 · 15/02/2015 15:35

I think Anne of GG too, which is a lovely association.

DefinitelyMaybeBaby · 15/02/2015 15:39

I saw bits of Buffy when it was on but wasn't an avid watcher and I wouldn't have remembered that she was called Cordelia. It kind makes me think of diluting juice, but I like it :)
I always used to think of Buffy when "Willow" started becoming popular but there are a lot of them about now.
I think these name connections are only relevant the first time people hear a name - after a couple of months baby's name will just be baby's name and make people think of your DC.

WhoWasThatMaskedWoman · 15/02/2015 15:50

I would think of Buffy but I'm a massive nerd. Watching Pointless every day has taught me many things, including the names of every African nation and the whole of the period table, but the one thing that has really stuck is that any show that was on a minority channel (ie not BBC 1 or ITV 1) is really not well known. With the exception of Friends, no US show since Dallas has made the kind of impact that you think it has, no matter how many columns there have been discussing it in the Guardian. Even on MN, which skews geeky, I'd guess that 90% of the members will not have clicked on this thread because they only vaguely register that Buffy was a vampire show with a silly name, and they won't make the leap to a minor supporting character at all.

Takver · 15/02/2015 15:53

I love Buffy, but like others say, my first thought would absolutely be Shakespeare / Lear, it kind of overwhelms other uses, I'd say. I think it's a great name.

Original poster

VikingLady · 15/02/2015 18:03

Yes Definitely Williw always makes me think of Buffy! But then I was quite a fan as a student

OP posts:

squoosh · 15/02/2015 18:07

Reminds me of Anne of Green Gables too. I've probably only ever seen one episode of Buffy so definitely wouldn't have made that connection.

rockinrobintweet · 15/02/2015 23:08

didn't make the link. and I don't think things should put you off.

dd1 is Scarlett and anyone around my moms age linked this to a really old book (names gone out of my head) and made that comment 100 times but I didn't mind!

they soon become their own version of that name anyway x

Jackieharris · 16/02/2015 16:41

Scarlett came to be popular after gone with the wind.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 16/02/2015 16:43

I have never watched Buffy and it wouldn't make me think that. It's lovely OP, use it!

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