Do the meanings of names matter to you?

[RoamingToaster]

On the one hand I’ve been friends with people since childhood and don’t know the meaning of their names and I’m thinking most people don’t look up or know the meanings of most names of the people around them. So in general it doesn’t matter that much. However names like Claudia seem nice to me but then I look up the meaning and it does put me off. I don’t like to think of myself as superstitious but calling a child a name that means crippled/lame does feel a little uneasy with me.
What do you think?

Not to me personally. Most people don't know about the meanings of names. The meaning of my name hasn't influenced my personality or life at all, and definitely doesn't represent me. But it's all individual preference.

I think most people probably don't either because Emily can mean rival and George means farmer, both very popular names.

The meaning doesn’t bother me, but being named after someone like a murderer would stand out to me. Like Myra.

It was important to us - we wanted a name that sounded pleasant and also didn't have any unfortunate connections or meanings.

Then again, not everybody cares, as long as they like the sound of the name. Probably a bit like with music: some people see the lyrics as an essential part of whether or not they like the song; whereas others don't care what the words are and only value the overall sound of the melody and the tone of the instruments and voices.

It matters to me and Claudia is always my first example too. I adore the name but wouldn't use it because of its meaning.

I also ruled out names that meant golden haired, because any child of mine was definitely going to have dark hair.

I wouldn't call it being named after a terrible person who happens to share the same name - unless they're the only person who has ever had or been known for that name... but certainly the name becomes associated in the public consciousness with that person, and so most people won't want to use it for that reason.

It's a shame, really, as Myra is objectively a pleasant name; but nobody now thinks of the many, many perfectly ordinary, nice, kind women in history who have also had that name.

Yes it matters when naming a child. I liked Cassian/ Cassius but it means empty/ vain/ hollow so decided not to use it.

Most people know something about what their own names mean and I would not want to discover that was the meaning of my name.

On the other hand I would have happily used Rowan despite my baby not having red hair, so I think there are different levels.

It would bother me personally. But I think most people aren't aware of name meanings and don't really care. James for example means "supplanter" and that hasn't stopped it from being the one of the most popular names ever. Mary too - its actual meaning is disputed, but one of the most commonly-stated meanings is "bitter".

No, not remotely interested in the meaning of names. It’s not something we ever looked up when choosing.

Yes, it’s important to me. I like the idea that when I’m calling my child’s name, I’m sort of saying ‘this is how you’re free to live your life’. So for example one of my cousins has a name which means ‘strong and free’ and for her parents, they wanted her to know she can be bold, and forge her own path in life (whatever that looks like). I personally think that’s a lovely concept.

Perhaps the name’s meaning should included on the ‘this or that name’ threads? Might just swing people’s decisions!

The biggest factor for me when choosing was how the name sounded to my ears, but meaning definitely came into it. We named younger son Marcos, which comes from Mars and means ‘warlike’ and I don’t really like the meaning, but because I liked the sound of the name it won out. However, after considering Alexander, which I really like the sound of for his middle name, I decided against because the meaning is often given as ‘warrior’ and I thought that was too much alongside warlike! So we went with something with a softer meaning instead.
I also liked the sound of Emilia if we’d had a girl, but didn’t like the meaning of ‘rival’ for a younger sibling! I know most people don’t go around knowing and thinking about the meaning of names of people they meet on a daily basis, but I think for many it definitely comes into the equation when choosing a name

I guess it depends. Apparently the name Brennan means sorrow but my friend loves the way it sounds so much she didn’t care she called her child Brennan.

At some point I was considering the name Catherine Ember as first and middle name. Catherine meaning pure and Ember means fire, so the names together would mean ‘pure fire’

They do a bit. But I love Claudia and had no idea it meant that. I get put off by macho boys names: Dominic, Victor, Ira - I don't get why people want their sons' names to be inspired by fighting.

I'm more put off by names that sound like other off-putting words. Like the sound 'mean' in Mina.

I love girls' names that have positive connotations: Sophia meaning wisdom, Lucy meaning light, Stella meaning star etc

Yes. Hence why I would never name a child Desdemona despite how beautiful it is.

I think it's very different if it's a neutral/normal characteristic, albeit one that doesn't apply to your child personally - if you get a white girl called Ebony or a black girl called Bianca... there's nothing negative about either of those characteristics.

Paul means small, but there are lots of men called Paul who are well over 6 feet tall; you meet men called Scott without any Scottish heritage whatsoever; and I've never yet met a Vanessa who was actually a butterfly! But again, they're not negative descriptors at all.

One of the weirdest - slightly meta(!) - cases I know of was a baby who was officially named Baby. Of course, it's an absolutely perfectly descriptive (if Ronseal) name for a newborn; but a name is intended to last you for your lifetime. She's now a woman heading towards her later years, still called Baby!

If you look at some of the baby name sites they seem to pull meanings out of a hat, so if I were looking for a name with real meaning I would have to look at several places to make sure I'd got it right!

The only name I was ever put off using was when I was thinking of calling my youngest DD Fay. A lot of name sites said it related to 'elf' or 'fairy', but then I came upon one site which said the name meant 'fated to die young' and it put me off completely.

There's none so easily influenced as a just post-natal mother!

I’ve got 5 children and it never occurred to me ever to look up the meaning of their names 🤷🏻‍♀️ and I have no idea about my own name. Names are just names In my eyes

Yes, but not hugely. I wouldn't use Amelia or Alexia because of the meanings, but I wouldn't not use Claudia or Cameron because of the meaning.
I'd pick a name because I liked it, the meaning is a secondary consideration.

All ‘meanings of names’ are made up bollocks so anyone who cares about such nonsense must be a bit dim, in my view!

It’s like reading and believing that your weekly (completely made up) newspaper horoscope is real and actually applies to you.

I mean…. seriously??? 🤣🤣

@PluckyChancer But surely names do have origins/etymologies? Some are debatable (like Mary) but some are not.

@PluckyChancer , some name meanings might be made up bit most aren't.

@Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService - Baby wasn't from near Rhyl in North Wales, was she? If so, I've chatted to the Registrar who filled out her birthday certificate!

She also registered a baby boy with the middle name of Batmobile because, according to the parents "people can be named after cars, like Mercedes, and the Batmobile is the most awesome car."

Also- most of the meanings in baby name books are bollocks. Particularly the ones that are supposed to mean brave, or princely or things like that.

@Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService , the name Vanessa was made up, and the association came later.
Meaning, origin and history of the name Vanessa - Behind the Name

Most names aren’t recently made up. If you look at the etymology of most names, you can find out the genuine meaning (not the stuff you see on daft baby name sites or books)

I like the name Rebecca but would never give my child a name meaning ‘snare’!