Would you let the meaning of the name put you off the name itself?

[dollydaydream84]

We quite like the name Mallory. I looked up the meaning and found it meant "unfortunate and luckless".

DH thinks I'm mad for letting the meaning put me off but it has definitely planted a seed of doubt (though I still like the name!) - I feel like I'm cursing the child to be unfortunate and luckless before it's even born.

So the question is, would you or have you let the meaning of a name put you off the name itself?

I really, really like Leah. But two of the meanings are 'weary' and 'worthy cow' which sadly nixed it for us.

My daughters first name means "pledged to god"
Her middle name means "word of God! "
We're not religious at all she is not even baptised
I did look at meanings when I was deciding on names and I honestly think if it was a sad meaning I would disregard said name

For what it's worth I really hated that my name had a god related meaning and my sister's name had a "cool" meaning.

Wouldn't bother mg in the slightest. If i ever had a girl there's a good chance she will be claudia. Claudia didn't originally mean lame it took on that connotation because of emporer claudius. The original claudia was a pretty heroic vestal virgin it i recall correctly.

No, unless the word meant something today (eg one of my son's has a name which means something in current parlance). The derivations are just historical chance. They're not relevant because, if you see what I mean, the names don't really mean that. Actually a lot of the meanings online are completely spurious.

Yes

For me, meanings are an important part of choosing a name. Even aside from choosing babies' names, I often think about what people's names mean. (Probably because I'm a linguist.) So yes, it would put me off.

Of course. After all, its not your name, its the one your dc will have to live with/explain all their life. If it doesn't fit, choose another!

At some point your dc will ask 'why am i called this?' and you will have to tell the story. If your story is 'well... We liked Mallory but it turns out it means disaster... Then we chose Germoline, it means healing, hope you like it, good luck'

Mallory is cool. Meanings are internet crap.

FastWindow - I was interested in names' meanings long before I'd even heard of the Internet! (I don't deny that I am a geek though.)

jul (christmas?) me too.

Yes. I meant any type of research, and as i posted that, i realised that 'internet' was a little bit too contemporary

My own name whilst sounding a bit unusual, still flipping well references the big JC. Like loads of others. I'm not that special.

missing from end of last post!

Julfin, if you like etymology, you'll like the poser.

Yes, it would put me off. Also because of Mallory and mallice sounding similar or having mal in the name, probably coming from the Latin mal meaning bad, ill or wrong.

If you are over 35 you'll be familiar with Mallory Towers, quite the boarding school to attend. They had midnight feasts and dreadfully dangerous sea-fed swimming pools.

Loved those books. I persuaded my Dd to read them when she was about 11. She took the mickey at first and then got totally addicted and read the lot in one go. So they still work.

There are books of baby names with meanings. We have one and this existed pre Internet.

I would no choose a name shared by a person I have had bad experiences with or know of something bad. For example if there was a Claudia that picked fights a lot or James who was a bit lazy.

Oh yes, it would defiantly put me off. With a name I research the whole thing, the whole package and once I know all I then get the feeling (or not) that it's 'the name'.

When we were looking for a name for DD, DH kept saying he like the name Delilah.....I come from a religious family, so there's no way I could give my DD a name associated with a Biblical tart

Interesting to see so many different opinions! We do have other options!