Is this a terrible name?

[RedPandaFluff]

DH and I have just had a huge (lighthearted!) barney about what to call DD, due in summer. I love the name Ophelia and I know she's a tragic Shakespearean character but still love it and would happily use it (although obviously we won't use it as we won't both be in agreement!)

DH is adamant that it's a terrible name and doesn't think that anyone else would feel like me (ie make the connection but still think it's a beautiful name).

Naturally, the only thing for it is to throw it open to mumsnetters

I love it.

I think regardless, you can't use a name one of you hates.

Agree - I don’t get the ‘a fictitious person with the name has something bad happen to them so the name - and anyone who goes by it?! - is doomed and shouldn’t be used’ brigade.

Ophelia wouldn’t make my list, but I don’t have any issue with other people liking it for the name itself.

It's a bit long and fussy for me and the potential 'feel ya' gags would put me off too. But I wouldn't think 'awful name' though if I met an Ophelia.

Ophelia is a beautiful name

What would she be called as a nickname though? Friends will always shorten their name so you have to think it through & get in their first...!... Lia? O-P?

Oh , she'll probably get called "Fi" by friends...

Beautiful name, tragic association. I like it very much but wouldn't use it for that reason.

Daphne?
Cordelia?

Personally I love it and know a barrister with that name.. so…

Ophelia is sweet but I think is better as a second name.
The complexity of sound should always have enough time to be spoken. A first name is often shortened.

I like it, but our rule was that if one of us even slightly disliked a name it was out.

@Hesma Ophelia Legg 🤣

I think it's lovely. I know one with the nn Fifi.

We’d have nothing left 😂

It’s not terrible, and I think it’s being used more than it was, but it is SO much associated with tragic Ophelia I wouldn’t

How about Olympia?

I'm with you op I like the name and draw the connection
I still think its a beautiful name.

Does dh have any suggestions?

Daphne - turned into a tree to avoid rape by Apollo
Cordelia - hanged in prison

How are these associations any less tragic than Ophelia?

The "feel-ya" gags hadn't even occurred to us

As mentioned in the original post, we won't be using it (of course we both have to agree on the name!) - I was just curious to know whether DH's assertion is correct, which is, that nobody in their right mind would ever use or like the name Ophelia due to the Shakespeare association.

Interestingly, I think I might pronounce it differently to many people here - I would say Oh-fee-lee-ya rather than Oh-feel-ya!

@Enko - no, DH seems to think his role is solely to veto my suggestions . . .

With Cordelia, it’s very different. She has courage, boldness, autonomy, moral rectitude in the face of danger, is killed, etc. Ophelia is the opposite. She’s a pawn, weak, a victim, does what she’s told, goes insane, kills herself.

It’s noticeable that a lot of people consider Ophelia to be more tragic than other heroines who arguably meet worse fates. I suspect it’s linked to the taboo / stigma associated with suicide.

I think it’s a lovely name OP.

It’s like a mixture of Olivia and Amelia, a bit like Sophia.

I think you might be on to something there - and taboos around madness are probably also relevant.

Juliet seems to get a pass because her suicide is romantic

Thank you @daisypond. Daphne was a minor Greek figure and also has much more positive associations too.

I like it but your DH trumps mumsnet!

Pretentious.