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Baby names

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

'Serpent' - Do name meanings matter?

67 replies

MiniEdwards · 20/08/2019 15:20

I have fallen in love with a name, but the meaning of it isn't great... it
means 'serpent' Confused.

What do people think about choosing a baby name which doesn't mean something wonderful, glorious, and perfect etc!?

Does anyone in life really actually care what your name means?

Or would I be jinxing them from birth?!

OP posts:
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Dizzywizz · 20/08/2019 15:21

I thought you meant Serpent as a name!! I’m not sure if people look into what a name means, unless it’s really obvious??

WitsEnding · 20/08/2019 15:23

Jinx. Many of us are fascinated by words and their origins and would wonder what you had brought into your little garden of Eden!

99bb · 20/08/2019 15:25

I don’t think they matter at all.

Our kids’ names have nice/fitting meanings, but we found that out after we’d chosen them. It’s a nice little bonus, but if they’d had horrible meanings, I’m sure we’d have just laughed

RHTawneyonabus · 20/08/2019 15:26

I rejected a name for DS3. I loved it but it meant ‘he who follows’ as someone with two older brothers whose names both translate as something like ‘strong leader’ it seemed a bit unfair.

tabbycat985 · 20/08/2019 15:28

I think it's all a bit of a nonsense, if you like the name just go for it!
My own name means Christmas baby or winter or something ridiculous & I'm born in MayHmm

bloodywhitecat · 20/08/2019 15:28

I am not sure I have ever looked up the meaning of the name of any of the hundreds of children I have worked with over the years so I think meanings escape most people.

MmeBufo · 20/08/2019 15:29

I loved the name Cecily for DD but didn't use it because it means blind and it felt like I'd be tempting fate to blind herHmm. If I hadn't been pregnant I'd probably not have been so over sensitive about it, but it really did bother me. I actually like it more than the name DD ended up with but I'm also glad I didn't use it.

If the meaning bothers you it's best to choose something else.

AudacityOfHope · 20/08/2019 15:30

I've never looked at the meaning of my own kids names, never mind anyone else's!

MiniEdwards · 20/08/2019 15:33

Ha ha! The name is not serpent Blush, and sounds beautiful (to me!) but the meaning of serpent... a snake.. not so beautiful!!
I think I won't be letting it put me off... Smile

OP posts:
notso · 20/08/2019 15:33

I don't really think meanings matter. I certainly don't live up to the meaning of mine!

StockTakeFucks · 20/08/2019 15:33

It depends how obvious the link is.

But I'd say go for it if you love it. Name meanings are a bit irrelevant in my eyes.

OrangeSwoosh · 20/08/2019 15:35

What's the name?.

I googled our name (first, middle and surname in various combos) just to make sure there wasn't a prolific serial killer or porn star with the same name.

LarkDescending · 20/08/2019 15:38

What name is there that means "serpent"?

SimonJT · 20/08/2019 15:43

My original name (I changed it a few years ago) basically means someone who fathers lots of children in Urdu. I will never ever father a child.

The meaning of a name really doesn’t matter.

KatharinaRosalie · 20/08/2019 15:44

What do you mean by meaning? Is it a literal translation in a commonly spoken language, or one of those name site 'Jessica means God beholds' type of meanings?

Crunchymum · 20/08/2019 15:44

Yes, what is the name.

ScrambledSmegs · 20/08/2019 15:45

Well Draco for one. Presumably Drake too. I think also Tanith and possibly Linda or Belinda.

PastTippingPoint · 20/08/2019 15:48

I really liked a name for our DD but one of the meanings on Hebrew was "bitter" and it put me off. Like PP said, now I'm not pg it seems silly but at the time I just didn't think it was a nice meaning.

LarkDescending · 20/08/2019 15:48

Drake means "male duck" in English, which I imagine people are far more likely to think of than the Old Norse "dragon" or the Latin/Ancient Greek roots ("dragon/serpent") of that.

If this is the sort of territory we are in then I don't think you need to worry about the serpent aspect.

MiniEdwards · 20/08/2019 15:51

Thanks for your thoughts everyone, really helpful! xx

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 20/08/2019 15:58

Phew. I thought you were calling your baby SerpentGrin. Unless it’s very unusual I don’t think anyone is going to google the meaning.
My dd is Molly which apparently means bitter.

bellinisurge · 20/08/2019 16:04

Guthrie?

Aquamarine1029 · 20/08/2019 16:07

What's wrong with snakes? I love them. The world would be a nightmare without them and they're beautiful. Sounds like you've picked a great name to me!

CheckingOutTheQuantocks · 20/08/2019 16:27

Yes, I love snakes. I would actually like a name more if I found out it meant 'serpent'.

Shplot · 20/08/2019 16:30

I love name meanings but I know I’m in the minority. I know a Bear, Tiger and Wolfie so a name meaning serpent is ok I think!