Does anyone else like Hero for a girl?

[maddymellow]

I love it, DH just did this

Obviously I can’t use it but does anyone else like Hero as a girls’ name or is it objectively awful?

I love it.

Oh and Helena is lovely too!

I have a Hero. I really wanted to use it as it’s so much stronger than all the -ia ending names or -a ending names so many girls have.

To me, it’s a classical name the predates many, many other classic names. I don’t really get why something as old as Greek mythology is less valid than Elizabeth or Catherine 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s a legitimate name, not something made up.

As for saddling you’re child with something to live up to - no one expects my child to be an actual hero. She’s just who she’s is and someone with a name some people think is great. Doesn’t make her have to be someone she’s not. My name is Scandinavian when I’m from Yorkshire with no discernible roots there - yet no one expects me to “act” Scandinavian. And no more for your child to live up to than Charity, Faith, Chastity, Hope etc.

I dunno. Just goes to show everything is in the eye of the beholder.

Our youngest DD has Hero as a middle name. It’s after a lovely song by an American indie folk band. Our older daughter is named after another of their songs. Her first name is of Greek origin too (although it was accidental, we just loved the name). Her whole name spans beautifully and she loves it!

Its the name of our male cat, so sorry but no 🙈

@MadamShazam just because you chose to rather randomly call a male cat a female name, doesn't mean it can't be used for a human female like the play and the Greek myth

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling lovely to meet a fellow Hero parent. We love to, our daughter loves it. And nobody could ever mispronounce it

No

Uhh, no. Sorry.

How about Connie? The meaning is: Hero; a courageous person, who is respected and admired by all

Always think it a Male name then I think of Shakespeare.
I think it’s a lot to burden someone with !!

Connie is twee. Hero is... Heroic! But pretty sure the OP has said she and her DH have compromised on Helena.

@TurningPointe I didn't randomly choose the name, my 6 year old did. So off you go now

Not sure Connie means all that... surely it’s just a short form for Constance, which basically means what it sounds like.

@TurningPointe and @GorgeousLadyofWrestling I’m in love with your choice of name (and very jealous)

How about Connie? The meaning is: Hero; a courageous person, who is respected and admired by all
Did you just make that up?

I'm glad my name isn't "Hero". I don't feel like I could live up to it whatsoever ! I'm just a normal person who often got picked last for sports

Not keen.

Connie - top top name (or nn rather)

Nominative determinism theory says you live up to your name - so maybe if you were called Hero, you would have been picked first!

I’m not a fan

I don’t really get this idea that you have to live up to your name?

Plenty of names in popular use are words for something that no one ever says “ooooh no, couldn’t use that, what if they couldn’t live up to it?”

Faith
Hope
Charity
Honor
Grace
Patience
Joy

All names that have been and possibly still are in popular use that are words to be something. I grew up with a friend called Grace - never given a second that she should be graceful? My niece is called Faith. I know of twins in my DD’s class called Faith and Charity - what if one of them grows up to be completely uncharitable?? Oh no! My old neighbour is called Joy - very popular name of her generation. Does she always have to be full of joy?? No.

I really don’t get it. It’s more that Hero is just an unusual name and the others are deemed more acceptable because they’re more used to them. people default to this idea that they’re saddling the child with the a concept they have to live up to. Not really. It’s just a name. Like it or don’t like it, whatever, it’s all the eye of the beholder and very subjective. But I do get irked by this idea that my Hero has to grow up to be heroic when there are plenty of examples of names that are similar without that criticism.

(This was my mum’s reaction when we announced it - can you tell I’m still annoyed But her other granddaughter is called Faith and I really can’t see the difference.)

His favourite name is Jennifer

LTB.

I like Hero. Not sure I would have liked to be named it though, due to endless commentary about it.

I adore Hero, always have done since watching Much Ado twenty odd years ago. It's beautiful, strong, elegant, and I love the -o ending. My sister and I pledged that when we grew up if we both had daughters I would name mine Hero and she would name her Beatrice. (Didn't happen, sorry to say.)

Interesting to see what a marmite name this is.

*name HERS

I don’t really get this idea that you have to live up to your name?
When it's a name with a certain image attached (and let's face it, Hero means something to most people outside the Shakespearean connection) then it might seem a bit pathetic when those supposed traits are very definitely absent.
Like a tiny , weedy Hercules, for example.
Or an Adonis who is not blessed with good looks.

I love it!

@Thisismytimetoshine ok yeah - but so does Grace. Do they have to be graceful all the time? And Joy. Does someone called Joy have to be happy all the time? No.

I do get what you’re saying but my point is, there’s plenty of other names - that to your point, mean some very obvious - where people are not expected to uphold what those words mean.