Names with negative connotations

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

This post brought to you by the recent obsession with the name Loki.

Does anyone actually read the mythology behind Loki? He is one nasty, evil god. Why would you want to name yout kid that? Even if you just view him as a necessary trickster/badguy in the lore, he still ends up chained to a rock with his son's entrails and venom dripping onto his face. He gets to stay like that until the end of the world, according to the mythology. What a lovely story to tell your kid about his name.

I, for one, could never give a child a name with a historically negative connotation. Juliet even bugs me because she does (spoiler!) kill herself at the end of the play, after all. Ophelia, same sort of issue. Damian, Lucifer, and related names are all awful in my opinion and should doom the parents to a hellion of a child. (Don't anyone get the idea that Hellion's a lovely name.) Same with Adolf.

If Lolita's okay (not that I think so) then why aren't people offering up Humbert as a boy's name? Humbert Humbert is a great literary figure, after all. And Bert is such a nice nickname.

So in conclusion:
1) What's your opinion on using names with negative backgrounds?
2) Any other good examples of names with bad history?

Comments

[queenfionnuala.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. I think Ophelia is a beautiful name, but would never, ever name my child that. Juliet bothers me a little less, simply because yeah, she kills herself, but it's not in a circustance nearly as negative as Ophelia's.

Another name I feel this way about is Delilah. She is not a good character in the Bible, and that name will never have anything but negative connotations to me. Again, beautiful name, bad connotation. I guess this partly depends on your upbringing, though. People who weren't raised hearing Bible stories probably don't have a problem with the name.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

Yep, Delilah is another one I wouldn't use personally, for the same reason.

[amiasha.livejournal.com]

Hehe, my Uncle and Aunt were intending on naming their next kid 'Loki Danger' for awhile. Thankfully they chose 'Vega Dream' instead.

Personally, I think that if the name is immediately associated with something bad, that it probably shouldn't be used. The thing with 'Loki' though, is that SO MANY people have used it that it's almost become a cute, trickster name rather than really accurate to the myths. I think once a name moves beyond just it's original source, it's okay to use, though if it's still very associated with something (like Adolf) then it should really be avoided.

I can't really think of any names with a terrible history/association at the moment, though I know there are some good ones. Hannibal, maybe? XD

[caribbean-luv.livejournal.com]

I think the names Damian and Lucian sound nice, but I immediately think of evil...so I would not consider naming my kid that.

[so-there.livejournal.com]

I think there's a big difference between some of the names you've listed and others.. some names basically come from the character themselves, like Loki, I doubt the name existed for very long before the mythology was created. other names existed long before their connotation was made. Adolph, Damien.. heck, Damien is just from a movie! I don't think a *recent* bad connection should make an otherwise nice name with a history predating said connection become unusable. I happen to like the name Damien, it's a Catholic Saint's name, and if it weren't the first choice of my brother-in-law and his fiancee, I'd have probably used it myself.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

I actually totally agree with you. Damian is just something I wouldn't personally use, same with Adolf. I'm not bothered by others using Damian, though.

[framedinblood.livejournal.com]

I have a friend that named one of her cats Loki.

I like the name Lucian. Lucifer's a stretch, but it still has a nice meaning. Lucian shares the meaning and it has a much more pleasing sound to it.

I couldn't name a child Lucius though, because I'm a Harry Potter fan.

[swiftheartlu.livejournal.com]

I don't see a problem with negative connotations in names. For a rose by any other name would smell so sweet etc etc. And they can always be changed.

I think the name Loki is fairly good. Although it would infuriate me if people didn't know the real story behind Loki. Same as I pretty much murdered someone that called their girl 'Kali' just because it was a cute way of spelling it.

I once met someone called Macbeth (as a first name) and figured they were pretty much damned from birth.

If it's to do with person-that-names-stupidity, it's to do with education. If people were AWARE that Loki etc had bad connotations, then they may not choose them. But all the power to them if they do know and still choose it.

I know two Damians, and a Robert Damian and they all LOVE their names, because of the connotation.

I don't think it has much to do with your upbringing. I was brought up on bible stories and you could call your child 'Jeebus' and I wouldn't give a monkeys.

Each to his own I suppose.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

The "a rose by any other name" quote in full context is that Romeo is cursed by his name, since he is Juliet's family's sworn enemy. So Juliet wishes he could cast aside his name, since he would still be the same person without it, and then they would be able to be together.

So, I think it upholds my point, actually. Of course people with awful names aren't automatically awful people, but they certainly are cursed if they are sweet people with a name that makes everyone else think of evil.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

Evangeline comes from the poem by Longellow. It's about the forced deportation of Acadians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadian) from Canada by the English in 1755. My family is Acadian, so I have a bit of attachment to the name.

It does have the same roots as evangelical (bringing/bearer of good news) so your dislike is understandable.

So why do you like Loki even with the back story? Friendly curiosity, not attacking, promise. :)

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

I really like Damien, but wouldn't ever use it because of the Omen.
Lolita is such a pretty name, but the obvious would keep me from ever using it.
Ophelia (or rather, Ofelia) is beautiful but has awful connotations.
I also like the name Snow, but it sounds so trashy.

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

And Humbert Humbert is still, no matter how innocently the book makes him out to be (which I think it does. You kind of... understand him.), a pedophile.

And I think Humbert is an awful name. ;)
Juliet isn't so bad, not as bad as Ophelia. Probably because of all the similar names (Julia, Julianna/Juliana/Julianne, Julie).

[ladydiddymus.livejournal.com]

Agreed! I always check the meanings/connotations before I decide if I like a name.
When I was younger I liked the name Aurora until my mom told me it reminded her of toilet paper.
And I liked the name Claudia until I found out it means "lame" or "crippled." I also feel obligated to share that with anyone else who likes this name haha.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

Well, there goes Claudia off my possible names list. :)

[moldycelery.livejournal.com]

I personally think naming your child after mythological characters is a bit odd, and Loki's backstory makes it even worse. And same with Ophelia; a kid would probably be teased growing up for being samed after some crazy princess who kills herself.

Delilah is the name that gets me everytime, because it's a giant, flashing sign screaming "whore." Tristan and Isolde annoy me as well, but less people know about their myth, so it's not that bad.

[swiftheartlu.livejournal.com]

Jesabel does that one for me too.
And all the other spellings of it.

[notsoprettygrrl.livejournal.com]

Omg, so weird I JUST had a conversation with my friend about the name Loki... We both agreed it was just all around bad.

I also don't like things that orgins are in the Bible or means "gift of God" or anything like that... I don't know why, I just don't like it.

We also discussed how if you name your child Adolf, Hades, or Cain, you pretty much get what is coming to ya... :)

[labyrinth56.livejournal.com]

haha,my friend and i also just had a discussion about the name Cain...my cousin is naming her baby Cain,except with a y (Cayn)

[labyrinth56.livejournal.com]

i think to a certain extent it's not a big deal to use negative connotation names...something like damien,in my opinion, is a pefectly acceptable name, as is juliet,but on the other hand i don't think adolf is...but that's because the only adolf you ever hear about is hitler...i'm sure there were probably thousands of adolf's in germany back in the day,and maybe even now...it's just not a very common american name.

i'm kind of torn about delilah...i think it's a pretty name, but the story behind it throws me off,so i don't know.

but like someone else said,where do you draw the line on what is acceptable and what's not? juliet is a fairly common name,but you said you wouldn't name a child that, and charles is a very common,acceptable name,but what about charles manson? any name can have a negative connotation, it's mainly the origins that make people wary of it.

another name with a negative connotation is holden, because of "the crazy guy in catcher in the rye"...but that's my nephew's name and i think it's a beautiful name...i think it really depends on the origin and story behind the name.

[traceylalala.livejournal.com]

I actually like Delilah... i am pregnant and was thinking of it for my daughter's name, but i live in the Bible belt, and though not personally a Christian, i don't want people thinking i named her after a biblical whore when i love the name off of a song.

And yet Dalila means 'gentle' in Swahili. So i'm torn. My husband REALLY likes the name... i am just a little ambivalent at the moment.

[thiscantbesoy.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised that people name their kid Benedict. Having a name that evokes thoughts of a traitor can't be good. "Benedict Arnold" is a slang synonymous term for traitor.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's one I couldn't use either. I did know a Benedict once. Actually, it suited him. He was a sneaky little manipulator.

[heyitsrebecca.livejournal.com]

If I just had to use one of those names.. I'd slap it in the middle. I really really like Juliet, but was hesitant to use it as a first name.. for obvious reasons. It ended up with dad picking the first name, and I picked the middle, and picked Juliet because it sounded nice. LOL

Ophelia is a middle name, Damian doesn't bother me. Lucifer is terrible, and Adolf is ruined forever.
I'm having a stupid moment.. is it Adolf or Adolph? Neither looks right at the moment. Probably the former.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

Hitler was Adolf but Adolph is a an acceptable different spelling.

I've met some lovely people named Juliet, but I just couldn't use it myself.

[dosequisgirl.livejournal.com]

"Damian, Lucifer, and related names are all awful in my opinion and should doom the parents to a hellion of a child."

As the mother of a child named Damien, I'd just like to say thanks for showing your ignorance.

Damien, Damian and Damion...none of them have anything to do with the devil. It was a movie for Christ's sake!

[dosequisgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, that may have come off really mean. I'm just so tired of people saying that it's the name of the devil and it's an evil name.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I ranted a little too enthusiastically. I don't actually think that Damian = hellion, though I stupidly did say that in the post.

And I don't think anyone with such a name is evil, of course not, just that it's a bit of a burden to bear.

[queen-mab.livejournal.com]

I agree with most of this. I hate it when people name their kid a name some truly awful person in history or god/goddess in mythology or what have you because they don't even bother researching the name. I firmly believe everyone who chooses to name their child something that isn't all that common fully researches the name first, so as to prevent themselves from looking stupid.

I have plenty of names on my list that have been taken from literature or mythology. They are as follows:

Freya - I love this name so much. But it tears at me that this particular goddess had to be a slut. But she was the goddess of love, beauty, and battles! And she freakin' rode on a carriage carried by CATS! But, there's really no getting by the slut thing. So this is mostly out as a first name.
Gemma - I like it because of the character in Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels. She's really a great, noble, intelligent character, and I love her name.
Helena - From A Midsummer Night's Dream. I love this name, but because the character was sort of pathetic, I don't think I'll use it. I wish Shakespeare would have switched Hermia and Helena's name around so that Helena was the more likeable character. Too bad Hermia sounds like hernia. That, and I know no one would pronounce it HEL-en-uh, the way I want it to be pronounced.
Idony - Probably a better goddess in Nordic mythology to name a child after, but since the name is a little out there, it's not one of my top picks. More of a guilty pleasure. English form of Iðunn.
Isolde - I'm not entirely fond of the legend of Tristan and Isolde since love stories make me feel sickly, but I do love the meaning and the sound. Plus, I think flows well as a middle name for Rosalind.
Rosalind - From As You Like It. Great, hilarious character. Will probably be first daughter's name if my taste doesn't change.

Caspian - Character from The Chronicles of Narnia. Great, heroic character. I think I'll use it as a middle name.

Sorry about that last comment. I suck at HTML.

[bugamok.livejournal.com]

I love the name Rosalind.

And you could train people to pronounce Helena the way you prefer it. :) I've known one HEL-en-uh and one he-LANE-uh.

[oneworldvision.livejournal.com]

I really don't like names with negative connotations. Why do that to a kid? I actually know of someone (via the intarwebs) who named her sons Loki and Cain. Seriously, wtf?

[laduchesse.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I am a believer in not giving your child a name with a horrible connotation, but I've always favoured Delilah and one of my friend's adored Jezebel. Loki sounds pretty but yeah, I'd prolly stay off it because of the back story. Like you said, nice story for the kid to hear.

[hotmaildt.livejournal.com]

I always loved the name Samara, but after I saw The Ring, I knew I could never use it, the little girl was too evil!!