Why are some names acceptable but others aren’t?

[Soubriquet]

For example

Violet and Emerald is ok but Navy or Blue isn’t.

Willow and Ash are ok but Acorn or Oak isn’t

Summer and Autumn is ok but Spring and occasionally Winter isn’t

Rose and Daisy is ok but Tulip or Daffodil isn’t

When does a name become socially acceptable?

What makes it ideal for a name?

Blu is used quite a lot.

I think once more than a few middle or upper class people have used a name, it becomes more socially acceptable.

Names are a very class based issue.

Violet and Emerald are beautiful objects as well as colours.

There is a Labour MP called Tulip, I believe.

Any name that gets used often enough becomes accepted as a 'normal' name. There will be a few early trendsetters.

I can imagine some hippy sorts naming a boy 'Oak'. Quite like it, in a 'wouldn't use it myself' kind of way

I’ve met children called oak, winter, and blue

I think it only takes a few people to use the name and eventually it becomes classed as normal. I can remember hearing baby names for the first time years ago such as Maddison, Fenton, Fern, Cressida, and I was like wow that's unusual but now they are run of the mill names.

Violet is a flower Emerald is a gem.

Navy is a colour and a military organisation.

Oakley is not uncommon.

Winter is used as much as Summer and Autumn.

Blu was a name my exDP put on the shortlist that I vetoed. I felt it'd be pronounced 'Bleugh' far too often. My mum had a friend called Daffodil (born 80yrs ago), she said she'd never met anyone who carry off the name less 😳 She went by 'Effie' instead I believe. I'd say for the most part just because you can use a word as a name doesn't migate that you should? We could all start using Bidet or chlamydia as the the next 'exotic' sounding name for our DC, but it'd still be a travesty 😂 I often affectionately call Ddog 'shitbag', but if I had another child it wouldn't be on my list.

But realistically although any word could be used as a name it doesn't warrent it should? I doubt there's many people lining up to all their child 'Pedophile', and yet the word sounds much nicer than say table or chair? I'd imagine it's more what you can carry as an adult than 'what bloody stupid name your parents saddled you with?'... River Phoenix kept his name for his (short) life/career because it sounds pretty cool and set him apart. Joaquin Phoenix changed his name from 'Leaf'? Because its a bloody stupid name to call a child.

Tulip Sadiq has done alright for herself.

My cousin's toddler is called Oak. It's super cute.

Just fashion.

Also I imagine some of those names may have started out as nicknames before they became names in their own right.

Some names may also be translated from another language in which it is an established name. For instance Esmeralda is more common in Spain than Emerald in English, I'd wager. Maybe the Spanish use spurred the use of the name in english ?

Also stage names can turn an "out there" name into something socially acceptable.

And then there are trends, like the current trend (which I despise) of giving nicknames instead of full names on the birth certificate. That would probably have been considered very strange only a few years ago.

As an extra detail to your question
How come one letter/sound being different can change the name a lot.
Ryan is ok, Bryan is old man
Brenda is old lady, Brendan is old man, Brandon is younger man.
Harry is young, garry and Barry are old
Victor seems dated, but Victoria seems more modern.
I guess a lot of it is how we perceive the name?
Ooh, I had an old uncle Barry etc.

I think it comes down to the sound of something and if it sounds like other names.

Like Violet rolls off the tongue and sounds like all the ette names out there which I guess made it acceptable. But Daffodil is like a mouthful and doesnt sound like any other name really.

But you bring up a good point. Which knows. Technically anything can be a name. It's just a matter of taste and reputation I think.

Emerald isn’t okay is it?!