Tempest

[bright-eyes-jh.livejournal.com]

Hello,

I'm not planning on TTC for a few years yet, but I am starting to think about baby names. First of all, one of my husband's favorite pieces of writing is Shakespeare's "The Tempest". Also, we both have strong personalities, so it's not unlikely that our daughter will be stubborn and spunky (like her mom and dad). Also, we both love nature imagery, but I don't want this name to sound like a hippy name.

We're thinking Tempest (middlename) Watson (our last name isn't Watson, but it's a two-syllable last name ending in son, so Watson works as placeholder where rhythm is concerned.). Tess as nickname.

Does it sound too flower-child to you? And what are some good middle names to accompany such a unique first name?

Comments

[bornto-fly.livejournal.com]

I like Tess as a nickname, but I'm really not a fan of Tempest. Why not choose a name from The Tempest instead? Then the reference isn't QUITE so obvious and if she is as stubborn as you think she will be, she won't constantly be told that she is aptly named, etc. I know people whose names fit them perfectly like that (a Hope and a Faith come to mind), and they both get really annoyed when people say that.

Plus, it is rather flower-child, much like River or Storm or Rain. If you DO use it, I'd go with a REALLY common middle name, like maybe Catherine or Elisabeth, just so she has a total opposite name to go by if she really dislikes Tempest.

What about Miranda or Ariel (names from the play)? Or maybe look for a name that MEANS strong, willful, etc.?

[bright-eyes-jh.livejournal.com]

Ariel's definitely in my top 5. :)

[venicecalling.livejournal.com]

i'm with the above poster, it feels like there is too much of a negative connotation for a person to have to bear.

[mrsduryee.livejournal.com]

I adore the name Miranda, from the Tempest, and it means "wonderful" which is lovely.

Not so into Tempest. It has negative connotations for me, especially after Katrina. Storms can be fun and enjoyable, but they usually result in destruction.

[addienfaemne.livejournal.com]

No. No. No.

No.

[bright-eyes-jh.livejournal.com]

*shrug* To each her own. Although, y'know, there are less annoying ways to voice your disagreement.

[addienfaemne.livejournal.com]

Last time I checked, this was the Internet. Where I didn't have to use niceties if I don't feel like it. ;)

I won't sugarcoat it -- it's a crap name. But it doesn't reflect on *you*! I bet there are lots of cool Shakespearean names you guys can come up with. Like Miranda. Or Ophelia!

[morphinae.livejournal.com]

It's my community, and last I checked, I stated clearly in the rules that yes, YOU DO have to use niceties. Or you're out. Please play nice.

[addienfaemne.livejournal.com]

So you have to sugarcoat your criticism of names? I'm not quite sure I understand! Criticizing a name doesn't mean I'm criticizing a person!

[morphinae.livejournal.com]

Sugarcoat? No. Even your original comment didn't bother me much. I personally would have used a more tactful approach, but it wasn't over the line. I'll agree with the poster, annoying, yes, but not 'mean'. It was your reply that crossed the line a bit, you do have to use niceties. Disagreement is gonna happen, and especially with the vast diversity we have in this community, we all need to be a bit extra conscience as to not let disagreeing opinions not get out of hand. No one wants to babysit a community full of grown ups to keep the drama down. Gotta wear your manners, is all.

(hoping that made as much sense in type as it did in my head. I've got a killer headache that's impeding my thought process a bit :P)

[pixietangerine.livejournal.com]

looks like i'm in the minority, but i like it. i don't think it sounds too hippie at all, though i do like hippie names..
and tess is a very cute nickname. i say, go for it! :)

[bright-eyes-jh.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I knew some people wouldn't like it, but day-umm. Because all females have to only be named after perfectly pleasant things like sunshine, roses, and dewdrops, right? *eyeroll*

[easter.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't name my kid Sunshine or Dewdrop either.

I would go with a name like Ariel or Miranda. Not hippie-dippie and actually classy, but still retains the meaning you're looking for.

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's as bad as some of the posters say it is. I mean, sure, there are less negative names you can give a child, but I don't think this one is as obvious as, say, Chastity or Faith, you know?

If the child went by Tess more often, then I say do it!

[bright-eyes-jh.livejournal.com]

I think she'd definitely go by Tess most of the time - Tempest could be kind of a mouthful for a little girl.

Also, while I realize storms have negative connotations for many people, to me storms are awesome (in the classic sense of the word), and they wash away the dust and freshen the air, sort of the way something is purified through fire, if that makes sense.

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

I really do think it's a beautiful name; it's probably the most "out there" name that I like. I think you should totally use it.

I know what you mean by the beauty of storms, I love the rain and wind and all that. So, I think someone up there said, give the girl a common nickname, or something less normal, you know? So they can choose to go by that if they wish (though if I had the name Tempest, I wouldn't want to go by any another name).

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

less abnormal*

[bright-eyes-jh.livejournal.com]

*Nod*. I think we'll probably give her a very feminine and traditional middle name, so if she wants to use that, she can. Maybe Sophia?

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

I think Tempest Sophia sounds really nice.

And Sophia is a classy, adult sounding name, which is a great option for her should she choose to not like Tempest.

[in_excelsis_dea.livejournal.com]

I like it... Personally, I wouldn't use it. But I think it's an interesting name. I would use a very common name for a middle name, though. And- you have to think, in twenty years, when this kid is grown up, what are they going to think about being named Tempest? And what would you think, if you went to a doctor or a lawyer named Tempest? Just things to think about. Tess is a cute nickname, btw. You could also go the route of using Tempest as a nickname and have the first name a character from the play, if you end up deciding that Tempest wouldn't work out for a first name.

[glitterberrys.livejournal.com]

Name her Miranda instead ;)

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

Tempest has a negative connotation, and I'm not a fan of giving a kid a name with a negative connotation, regardless of gender. I would go with a name from one of the characters in the play instead, like Miranda. Tempest is kind of silly.

[imyourrapunzel.livejournal.com]

I think Tempest is fine if you two really like it.
I just read the it recently and fell in love with the name Miranda. But it's just a matter of which you prefer. And I do love the nickname Tess :)

[morphinae.livejournal.com]

I love love love it, even considered it, but to be honest, I don't think I am brave enough to actually use it. It's slightly over that 'too far out there' line. Just a weeeeeee bit too oddball, unfortunately.

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, why does the spelling annoy you?

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

Makes perfect sense.

[morphinae.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Personally I find it pretty. Definitely a personal preference thing, I guess.

[kitchen-poet.livejournal.com]

I absolutely love the name. Really, I think it is cool in a literary way, but then again I am a fan of the play.

Tempest Paige? Tempest Eve?

Actually I have read an lj of someone on lj who has a beautiful little girl named Tempest. Her lj name is "babyslime" :)


I say go for it!!

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

I've seen that LiveJournal with the little girl named Tempest! She's quite a cutie. I'm pretty sure she has a brother of an equally interesting name...?

[kitchen-poet.livejournal.com]

xan, I think---he's a cutie too ;).


really, though, my husband and I are talking about Tempest as an option for us too! It is a seriously kickass name. (and to be honest, playgroups don't need anymore Aidens ;)

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

It would definitely be an odd name on the class roster, which I am totally in favour of!

Xan, yep, I remember now! Those kids have fantastic genes.

[ldywati2d.livejournal.com]

That was my first thought...it just got The Cosby Show themes running through my head.

[heure-actuelle.livejournal.com]

yeah i agree with the above person...i think of Tempest Bledsoe.
by itself it's an okay name, but i agree with the other people about its negative connotation :(

[bluekoala.livejournal.com]

The word "tempest" to me doesn't sound like anything good. Temper. Pest, as mpepper pointed out.. If you know she's probably going to have, uhh, a "strong personality" as you put it, Tempest just seems like it'd be inviting in a...well, a temper. Especially because you actually note above ("Because all females have to only be named after perfectly pleasant things like sunshine, roses, and dewdrops, right? *eyeroll*") that you're naming her something negative, and in fact I don't see where feminism plays into this at all--who here is advocating pretty pretty princess names only? As far as I've seen a lot of people here like warrior names like Matilda.

Anyway, if you're going to use it, I'd advise against a trochaic middle name. DEE-dee DEE-dee DEE-dee sounds so regular. One-syllable would be good, I think. Sophia, from above, also sounded nice.

[0o-faerie.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of naming her something less traditional and less 'happy happy'. Storm is kinda cool =)
I don't really like the name itself though, but that's mostly because 'pest' is in it. And because I love the name Ariel, haha ;)

[hey-cassandra.livejournal.com]

I like Tess, but I'm really not fond of Tempest.

[hotchpot.livejournal.com]

It sounds good, but Tempest isn't exactly a great word, when you look at meanings.

tem pest

1. a violent windstorm, esp. one with rain, hail, or snow.
2. a violent commotion, disturbance, or tumult.
–verb (used with object)
3. to affect by or as by a tempest; disturb violently.

[justuschickens.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the most famous Tempest of the 20th century was a stripper. Seriously. I think it's out for the same reason Gypsy is.