Names with strong cultural references

[dayonara]

Where would you draw the line about using a name with a strong cultural reference? My girls list has lots of names on it that I feel are strongly associated with one celebrity, film etc and I'm struggling to decide whether I should steer clear or whether I'm overthinking it. We tend to favour more common names for boys so our boys list doesn't have the same issue.

Celine (Dion)
Elsa (Frozen, or Born Free depending on the generation)
Lyra (Philip Pullman)
Adele (singer)
Juliet (& Romeo)
Delia (chef)
Miranda (comedian)

I feel like at this rate I'm going to talk my self out of every single name at this rate but feel I'd get irritated if when I introduced my child people were constantly saying " oh, like the singer" etc. But I do really love the names. Do you think the above are usable or best avoided and has anyone else had this issue?

We also have a Lyra (hi to all the other Lyra parents!). I've had many more people assume it's Lila than I have ask if she's named after the books. There's a bbc series of his dark materials due out next year so might become more well known/popular then

I have an Edward and have been asked numerous times if it's because of Twilight (which it wasn't. It never even occurred to me until the first person asked!).

If someone has a particular association with a name they'll make that connection and assume you have too, even if it's an otherwise common/traditional name. Like a PP said; any name could suddenly become ubiquitous with something or someone six months after baby is born...

Heath Ledger’s name was actually Heathcliff which is a terrible name for a baby. You would have to struggle not to ask his parents “have you actually read the book?”

Selene is lovely, as is Adele (Adela?)

Not keen on Lyra, sounds like Liar

Love Juliet (Julia?)
Love Elsa (Elsie?)

Not keen on Delia (the step mum from Beetlejuice

I had a horrible boss called Miranda so that puts me off

Lyra: lyre!

Elsa was popular 100 years ago (my great grandmother's name) and there are children in our family named after her before the film came out. I don't think it's exclusively linked to the film, but I don't particularly like it.

I love Priscilla though. Wish I'd named dd that.

Heath Ledger’s name was actually Heathcliff which is a terrible name for a baby. You would have to struggle not to ask his parents “have you actually read the book?”

Where'd you get this from?

OMG reddwarves, I’ve just checked and indeed he was christened Heath. I read somewhere at the time of his death that it was Heathcliff and just believed it but I’ve been wrong all these years. My apologies to his parents for judging them harshly.

It's so annoying when you like a name but it has connotations.
I have a Jude, and she's spent her life getting "Hey Jude" sung at her (used to make her cry when she was little) or people going "what like Jude Law? But that's a boys name?" (actually it's unisex arghhh) and we're often asked "oh are you Beatles fans".

No, none of them, just loved the name.

I think nearly all of these stand on their own and don't have specific/exclusive connotations of one person.

But for me Lyra immediately conjures up His Dark Materials, which isn't a bad thing per se but I do know what you mean.

Elsa is a bit 'tagged' to Frozen at the moment, I suppose, but time is moving on quickly and that film is already receding into the future; I wouldn't think people will tie it exclusively to the film for long.

None of your child’s generation will have heard of Miranda the ‘comedian’. From your list I like Dalia and Lyra.

While I don’t like all of them, Elsa is the only one that I think would make people think - frozen - especially as there is a frozen 2 coming out soon.
The others are just names that famous people happen to have (in my opinion) & the connection wouldn’t be made. Juliet does make people think ‘romeo’ but I don’t think would say ‘oh like Romeo and juliet’ the way they would say ‘oh like from frozen’
Of all of your names - absolutely love Lyra - beautiful name - go for it.