Let's talk about Lola

[iamkatiei.livejournal.com]

Lola is a family name and I've always thought about using it should I ever have a daughter.

It also seems to be a very divisive name: people either seem to love it or loathe it.

Pro: It's a beautiful spanish name that's easy to spell and easy to pronounce. I think its a great alternative to a very common, over-used name and a very obscure, rare name.

Cons: Thanks to songs by Barry Manilow and The Kinks and other references in pop culture, the name also carries some connotations/impressions (not to mention fodder for teasing). Also, it has spurts of popularity and might be seen as a "fad" name.

What do you guys think? Like it or leave it?

Thanks in advance :)

Comments

[kilobites.livejournal.com]

I like the sound of it, but I think that I would prefer it as a middle name or a nickname rather than a first name or given name. It sounds really pretty but I do think it sounds slightly childish.

[0o-faerie.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you on everything you said there! =)

[la-jolie-vie.livejournal.com]

I like it a lot.

[julia-michelle.livejournal.com]

For a dog, yes. For a child? NO.

[patsfan610.livejournal.com]

i thought the same thing cause its my dog's name

[thismakebelieve.livejournal.com]

A woman at my office is called Lola, and at first I couldn't say her name or think of it without singing that Kinks song in my head, but slowly over time the name Lola became her in my mind rather than the song. It's a really cute name.

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

I don't really like it. It sounds childish and nicknamey. I don't like how it feels on my tongue.

I don't know the Barry Manilow song, but I do think of the Kinks and the song Whatever Lola Wants, neither of which would discourage me oddly enough. In fact, I could definitely see myself singing the first lines to WLW to a 2 year old. "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets" I could see a little kid having a blast listening to songs with their name in it. You can't say The Kinks' song isn't fun. :P And it's not like a young kid would understand what it was about. Of course, I don't know how much it would be appreciated when the kid got older. I really wouldn't worry too much about song references though. I mean, adults should be able to understand that a song doesn't really mean anything and I don't think many kids would know the songs to tease.

...I kind of rambled there. Um, it may not be my thing, but if it is a family name and something you've always come back to, go for it. There's nothing inherently wrong with the name. It's just not my style, which isn't what's important. And there's always the option of using it for a middle name if the associations still bother you whenever you do have kids.

[iamkatiei.livejournal.com]

I ♥ the Kinks song.

There is a girl in our office named Lola, and all the guys love to sing that to her until she annoyed beyond belief! It really ruins am otherwise fabulous song!

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

Lola is one of those super popular naming community names that I just don't get the appeal of.

[anapology.livejournal.com]

Lola is very nicknamey, it's a diminutive of Dolores and means sorrow which isn't too nice. I could see it used for any name that has an L in it, or a 'Lo' sound though, because it's so cutesy. I think Madonna's daughter Lourdes goes by Lola, I can see how that would work.

[velkoria.livejournal.com]

the correct translation to Dolores is... pains. Like pains you get... I've never been able to see the whole naming your kid something you say when you... want to explain what menstrual cramps do.

Other than that! I've met a few Dolores in my life and none go by Lola... most don't see how to get Lola out of Dolores... or Lurdes/Lourdes. But then again people are creative with nicknames like José nn Pepe and Josefa nn Pepa.

[tiphanism.livejournal.com]

Yes, this - I really like it as a diminutive, but I can't see it as a name in its own right (and I've met a horse called Lola, too, so that doesn't help...)

[iamkatiei.livejournal.com]

hahaha! Exactly! Tarty is, unfortunatley, the exact adjective that I feel it is associated with. Tis a shame...

[velkoria.livejournal.com]

I might be the 'weird one' or maybe just the fact this sounds so beautiful in my native tongue (Spanish) makes me love the name =)

I've always loved it and most people here don't even know the songs OR the book/movie so I wouldn't mind using it myself and it's a nice name.

Lolita is a nickname, Lola is a name. I also never got why Lourdes would be a 'full name' for Lola... but that's just me!

[iamkatiei.livejournal.com]

ditto! My family heritage is Spanish, I speak spanish, and should I have kids I would love for them to have spanish names and speak it as well.

We'll see how the name is viewed ten years from now, huh? Maybe I'd feel more confidant about it.

:)

[schexyschteve.livejournal.com]

It's alright. I think it makes a cute nickname (for Elizabeth or Lauren, perhaps), but it's too cutesy as a given name.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

Leave it. Probably because it seemed to be the hit celeb-baby name for awhile there. I just don't like it, I think it's kind of ugly.

[arbus.livejournal.com]

i do like it, but as a nickname for something else.

i know a girl named lauren who goes by lola.

my first thought is "L-O-L-A..."
and my second thought is "she was a showgirl..."

;)

[silvergirl22.livejournal.com]

I'd *leave it*
EVERY time I hear that name I sing the song, "Lola..walks like a girl but talked like a man...LOLA!" lol

[http://users.livejournal.com/-----citylight/]

I LOVE the name Lola.
There was a Lola frenzy at my daycare, and all of a sudden we had like...four or five kids named Lola at once. I really like it.

[sarahness.livejournal.com]

I liked Lola until I heard the song. And now that's all I can think of when I hear the name. The song is catchy, but doesn't really paint a picture of what I'd want my daughter associated with.

So for me, the song is what killed the name. If you can get past it, go for it.

[nandy-pandy.livejournal.com]

I don't like it, but only because "lola" is a way to address your grandmother in Tagalog, so, to me, it'd be like naming your kid Granny.

That being said, you should use it if you like it! Not everybody is going to have the same connotations. My sister's name is Caroline, and the only person who'd bring up "Sweet Caroline" was my mom.

[keepcalmcarryon.livejournal.com]

My friends nicknamed me Lolita in highschool and ever since I've gone by Lola. I get all kinds of compliments on the name (I wish it was my birth name, which is alas, Lauren) and the only songs I've ever had sung to me are Cocacabana and that one by Eric Clapton. I've never even heard of the other songs people are mentioning. If I ever have a daughter I will name her Lola.

[tiarrajanae.livejournal.com]

Love it! If you really love the name, I say go for it!