Ariola

[DC555]

I met a woman whose baby was called Ariola the other day. Is it just me or is this a bit too similar to the name for part of a nipple…?

The more I think about it the more I wonder if I misheard. Anyone come across one before?

I too wonder if you misheard and it was Ariella (here's hoping 🙏🏻). Ariola is definitely going to make most people think 'nipples'. That's not because we're sexualising breasts, it's simply because it's the name of a body part! Most body parts wouldn't make good names, let alone one that has massive teasing potential for when she's in secondary school. You wouldn't call a child Clitoris, Labia or Vulva Ariola/Areola is of a similar ilk.

If course people should consider whether their child will get the piss ripped out of them at school because of their name. It's completely naive of a parent not to consider such things.

Me too.

It is a very beautiful name, In a different language… In English it means nipple.
it just does.
Clearly in Albanian it doesn’t mean that, or in fact in many, many other countries. I do think that everyone should think and check on this kind of things if they are choosing to bring up their child in a country that speaks a different language to their mother tongue. As should English speakers living elsewhere.
At least make yourself aware so you’ve made an informed choice. One of the new kids in our school has a name (not an English one) that basically reads as ‘arse’. I do wonder how that will play out has they grow.

Doing Midwifery in the late 60's early 70's, the drug of choice for constipation was Cascara.
I knew of 2 women who named their baby girls this even though they knew the origin of the name

Actually it’s also an uncommon Nigerian Yoruba name which means “we have seen God’s wealth”. As a Yoruba descent, I actually love the name and meaning but as a British, I wouldn’t name my child that either as they’ll most likely get teased in school. She can shorten to Ari though, if necessary!

I believe it also has some Italian origin.

I was sat next to an Ariella in a cafe recently (the little girl had it written on her backpack). I must admit when the mum first called her over I thought she was called Areola…

The West Ham goalkeeper is called Areola ( surname ). I think of nipples everytime they say his name.

My brother Bawbag completely agrees with you.

I’m not convinced that “areola” is jn the vocabulary of most primary school children. It feels like the kind of word that, if you’re old enough to know what it means, you’re old enough not to tease people about their name.

Kind of goes under the same umbrella as names like Dick, Regina, Fanny, people with surnames like Cock, Cocks, Pratt, Dick … albeit at school she won’t have quite so much ribbing as most kids won’t know areola til they’re a bit older

I hope not actually. But my point was that if someone says a word then, well, that's what you do tend to think of.

Actually you are right! Those names look frightful when strung together like that!

It's not just school though. I mean first dates, job interviews ... the lot.

I've also thought it with Aurora - but I admit that is shading into "me problem" territory.

Which is why here on MN we don't approve of yoonique names. It's a form of child protection really ...

I actually do know a laiba
It's an Arabic name but my mind does always go to labia unfortunately! 😅

whilst i am respectful of culture, i am going to have to say this name could invite teasing because of how close it sounds to a body part, so it may be best to rethink this one OP

There are several girls called Laiba at DD's school. I've never seen it as similar to labia. Different vowel sound. Different number of syllables. I think it looks more similar written than it actually sounds when you say it IYSWIM.

Ariola on the other hand sounds exactly like areola and would be a really cruel name to give a kid.

But it’s the first thing most will think of! Majority of people will think the child has been named after a nipple no matter what the name means in another language.

I get it's from a different culture and has a lovely sound to it but I fear the child won't have a great time at school.

Probably similar to calling your kid Dick or Fanny.

He makes a tit of himself quite regularly too... 😂 Fans often refer to him as 'Nipple'.

Obviously he can't help his surname (the Bournemouth manager has a similar surname too - Iraola) but as a first name, no no no!!!

If only we lived in a lovely world where nobody was ever teased for their name.

It's not just primary school you have to consider. Secondary school kids who come across the word will definitely tease someone with that name. Unfortunately, being old enough to know better doesn't stop teenagers from taking the piss out of each other.

Then you have to consider the embarrassment the name will cause the child into adulthood. Nobody wants to give their child a name they're too embarrassed to introduce themselves as as an adult.

People aren't at primary school forever. Names don't suddenly become less embarrassing because you're not a young child anymore. If anything, young children are the most accepting of outrageous names (through lack of life experience or being too young to know what a word means). It's as you get older names become more embarrassing/tease worthy.

@BarnOwlFlying I really want to challenge you on this. It is NOT the first thing I would think of actually. I have a "forrin" name in a different language that is hugely meaningful and when I hear different names I am curious about that - what does it mean, where is it from etc?

If you see a name like Ariola and all you can think of is nipples then honestly that's you. If you had more cultural curiosity you would maybe think "oh I wonder where that is from, I wonder what that means" etc

I accept that is just me as someone with a "forrin" name as everyone else doesn't seem to see how narrow minded it is to equate "Ariola" with boobs.

I’ll admit my mind went to football first 😆
Put it down to international break withdrawal symptoms 😡

There is nothing narrow minded about being reminded of the actual.meaning of a word when you hear it. That is how language works ! You hear a word and your brain searches for the most obvious meaning for it.
And in these days where people call their kids all sorts of weird and wacky names why would you assume it was a foreign name anyway. You would just assume it was a parent who fancied one of those Yoonique type names surely. !