Salem

[Rickandmortified100]

I met a little Salem yesterday and was surprised by how much it suited her and what a lovely name it seemed. If someone had posted on MN about the name I’d probably have been a bit pessimistic about the name due to the witch trials, but weirdly I really liked it. A quick Google shows me that it’s both a Hebrew and Arabic name meaning ‘peaceful, safe, complete, perfect’, and also a biblical name referring to Jerusalem. What do you think?

Salem's Lot. Fuck me that bit where he's scratching at the window <shudder>

Salem is a cat from a tv show. I wouldn’t call a baby that, sorry.

I've taught several Salems but they've all been boys. All lovely though!

Salem’s Lot

That film terrified me as a kid 🍿🤯

That will always be it’s main association in the Uk. Madness..

No.

Cool for a black cat. Not cool for a real person. Witch trials, Sabrina, goth culture etc.

I always say one of my top naming rules would be don’t choose a name that needs a conversation. You’re not the one burdened with explaining it every time you meet somebody. And if you do love a name like that, change your own name, and let your child have a name that’s serviceable.

First thought; Tortured medieval. women.

It makes me think of dead women, not a name for daughters to my ear.

Cigarettes
Witch trials
The weirdness that is Salem, Oregon.

I’m American though and reading that name from my perspective.

Makes me think of a black cat

How was it pronounced? The Arabic version is Saa-lem, often written as Salem or Salim. It means good health.
The Satanic version Say-lem, I wouldn't be so keen on!

Instantly makes me think of witch trials and McCarthyism, which isn't good. Once of those names where you think the parents can't be aware of those associations or else why would they pick it!

That's nice. But it's also the place name of somewhere that women were horribly abused. I'm guessing the parents never read the Crucible.

Makes me think of this cat! www.facebook.com/salemthepubcatyork

No. The Salem witch trials. Salem’s Lot.

I don’t really understand how a name “suits” a child, as well. The name just is. Unless it’s a virtue name.

Awful, so sorry for that child

Even if they’d never read/seen The Crucible I would think most people have heard of the Salem Witch Trials. Just such an odd thing to want to associate your daughter with.

It makes me think of drowning. It's bloody awful.

Salem is a cats name… I had a cat called Salem

The parents are very religious and chose the name for religious reasons. It was apparently a popular Puritan name (probably why I liked it as I love Puritan names!)

Why would anyone give their child a name that's associated with the torture and violent deaths of women?

Honestly, do people use their brains at all?

Salem being a place where Puritans waged a terror campaign against women and outsiders… and these parents are Puritan you say? That’s rancid

Awful choice, for a boy or a girl.

Rank misogyny. Poor girl.

Oh no! I can't imagine a child called that xx