Rilla

[omgzits--tam.livejournal.com]

My family and I were talking about naming children after characters in books, when Anne of Green Gables was brought up.

Honestly, I could never get into the series, I found it pretty dull, so is it a little wrong if I like the name Rilla? I'm feeling like I shouldn't, since I haven't read the books.

Do you guys like names from shows, books, movies, that you hate/have never seen/read?
And what do you think of the name Rilla?

Comments

[comicstar.livejournal.com]

It's short for Marilla, which I don't like, but as a name on its own it's pretty cool.

[xanya.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh, I LOVE Annne of Green Gables. Too bad I don't like the name Gilbert or I would name my son that and he would be the best kid ever.

But there's no problem naming your daughter after a book you've never read, I don't think. Anyway, yeah, it's short for Marilla which if you used as a full name I'm sure there would be endless questions relating to AoGG as she was a far bigger character than Rilla.

[kimber-leigh.livejournal.com]

me too.. love love love it.. always have, always will..

[xanya.livejournal.com]

My mum read the first one to me and my sister when we were about six and I've been in love ever since.

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

Oh my god I LOVE Anne of Green Gables. I still reread them all the time. ALL the time.

[nearlyalegume.livejournal.com]

Not really. Rilla Blythe is the main character in the last book of the series, Rilla of Ingleside.

[aquilinum.livejournal.com]

... who was named for Marilla; Rilla is only the nickname they use on Anne's daughter to distinguish her from the deceased lady who brought up Anne (much as they call the twins Nan and Di, although they're named Anne and Diana). It elaborates on this in the penultimate book, Rainbow Valley.

[kimber-leigh.livejournal.com]

i've never actually read the books.. but i love the movie that was made based on the books.. i don't particularly like the name Rilla/Marilla.. but i do like other names from the book..

Muriel
Josephine
Ruby
Josie
Gilbert (nn Gil)

[kitten-wrangler.livejournal.com]

Damn computer ate my comment. Try again.

If I remember correctly, the character Rilla's full name is actually Bertha Marilla Blythe. And somewhere in the 8th book, I think she states that she would prefer to be called Bertha as she thinks it's a beautiful name and not as old-fashioned as 'Marilla'.

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

she would prefer to be called Bertha as she thinks it's a beautiful name and not as old-fashioned as 'Marilla'.
Hahahahahaha WHAT? That doesn't even make SENSE.

[kitten-wrangler.livejournal.com]

Within the context of the book it DOES make sense. Rilla of Ingleside is set during the Great War - 1915 or so. And to Rilla, the name 'Marilla' is nothing more than the name of an old dead spinster whom she never knew. 'Bertha' on the other hand was a far prettier name in her eyes.
This is what Wikipedia says - the key words have pretty much been picked out of the book:
Bertha Marilla "Rilla" Blythe: Rilla, in her teens, regrets being called by her silly childhood nicknames - Rilla or Spider - instead of her respectable and "dignified" first name, Bertha.

More on the naming of Anne's children here ()

[kitten-wrangler.livejournal.com]

No, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Valley#The_Ingleside_Children

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

I've never read the books, either, but I don't think there's anything wrong with you using a name from the books if you haven't read them. I mean, I wouldn't then go tell my daughter, "I named you after this character in a book I've never read," but you could say, "I heard the name when a friend was talking about a book and I thought it was really pretty."

I don't particularly like the name on it's own, but I think it's pretty as a nickname for Marilla.

[kitten-wrangler.livejournal.com]

The only thing with naming people after characters in books/TV shows you've never read or seen, is that you would WANT to know exactly how that character presents him or herself.

For examples - and this is for ANYONE who's ever read a Malory Towers book, I once met a girl named Gwendoline. It went like this:

"Hi - my name's Gwendoline."
*KW's eyes grow huge, and she gets this really strange look of shock and amusement on her face*
"Yes, I've read Malory Towers, no I'm not a crybaby, a cheat or a suckup."
"Ah, so you've heard that before."
"Many times. Many times."

[solagirl.livejournal.com]

Marilla is ok. Just Rilla would be destined to be called Gorilla for life.

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

It sounds a bit like someone with an accent were trying to saying "really??" in a very surprised tone :P
but I can see the charm on paper!

[waitingonsunday.livejournal.com]

I've seen the name used elsewhere, so I don't think it would always be linked specifically to the series. Most people I know who have read any of the series, even the people who really enjoyed it, never made it to the last book, and probably don't even know Anne had a daughter named Rilla. She's in the background until that last book (which is probably my favorite).

I think Rilla is cute, though, as everyone's mentioned, it's short for Marilla, which is not cute.

Incidentally, I'm surprised now that I didn't find the series dull when I first started on it when I was ten. But I'm glad, because L.M. Montgomery is now one of my favorite authors.

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

I love the scene where Rilla's beau comes back from the war and asks, "Is it Rilla? My Rilla?" playing on her name Marilla = My Rilla. Yeah my preteen self melted at that. ::sigh:: Personally I like the name Rilla and I agree that in the grand scheme of things, not a whole lot of people know the character. I'd think you'd be safe to use it.