Names after characters

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

So I've become a total The Mentalist geek, gone, whoosh, totally obsessed with the show.
Just for fun, I thought I'd ask what you think of the names Lisbon for a girl and Jane for a boy. These are from the main characters, Teresa Lisbon (chief of the police unit) and Patrick Jane (the mentalist himself).

I've quickly grown to love how Lisbon sounds in english, although I'm not thrilled about it in the written form. And Jane on a boy, I can only picture that as a middle name, but I'm thinking maybe not too weird, considering how many actual girl's names were originally boy's names and so forth..

P.s. I'm in love with Simon Baker...

Comments

[schexyschteve.livejournal.com]

Lisbon reminds of The Virgin Suicides. I also don't like it for a girl. I think there are too many lesbian jokes that that be had.

I don't like Jane on a boy at all. It's all girl to me.

[sunshinefleur.livejournal.com]

I don't like Jane on a boy, and Lisbon is one of those city names that just can't be anything other than a surname to me.

I'm also in love with Simon Baker, though. lol.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I've heard that Jane is the feminized version of John (which I don't know is true), but it seems kind of weird to use a feminine version of a boy's name on a boy. Lisbon is a city, Jane is a surname or a girl's name. That's what I think.

[kilobites.livejournal.com]

I don't like Jane on a boy, or Lisbon on a girl, but I love that show!

[blueberryeyes17.livejournal.com]

I like Lisbon, but I don't think that Jane for a boy would be appropriate. It's the stereotypical girl name, like Jill, you know?

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

ahh I forgive you then :D lol

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

you're right, I hadn't thought of the lesbian jokes..

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

It is indeed, but then with so many names like Ryan, Dylan, Jordan, etc that used to be typical boy names now turned into "unisex" (which I don't really endorse), I guess anything goes lol

[monkey-fruit.livejournal.com]

Jane is the feminine version of John... Using the feminine version of a boy's name on a boy is just...no. >:S
Lisbon is not a good first name.

[mrssubee.livejournal.com]

yeah, I enjoy the show too...naming a boy Jane (1st or middle) is a surefire way to torture him through school
Lisbon would be okay on a girl although I imagine they could twist it into teasing about being a lesbian? remember high school?

[blueberryeyes17.livejournal.com]

That's true, but when I think of Jane I think of Jane Doe and John Doe... Jane just seems extra feminine. It's true though, anything goes. :-)

[perchedoutside.livejournal.com]

I don't like either. Lisbon instantly made me think of lesbian, and while I like some girls names on boys Jane isn't one of them.

[sunshinefleur.livejournal.com]

it's his eyes...so mesmerizing xD

[hemlockheart.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't name a boy Jane, but secretly do like the sound of it, after hearing it as a male surname, like on the show, or like the actor Tom Jane. I also have a pet snake named Jane, and although I call it "her" I have no clue if the thing is actually a male stuck w/ the name. :X

[satunian.livejournal.com]

This, 100%

[jordle.livejournal.com]

Jany makes me think of Firefly where there was a male character called Jayne. Suited him perfectly but in real life, not so much.

[tiphanism.livejournal.com]

I don't like Jane on a boy. People are going to assume he's a girl, no?

I know girls are now being called by boys' names, but I don't think it works the other way at all.

[pegasus2o5.livejournal.com]

Okay, as much as I adore The Mentalist, I have to tell you, DON'T DO THIS. Naming a boy Jane, even as a middle name, is such a cruel thing to do that I can't believe you're even considering it. And Lisbon? WAY too similar to the word 'lesbian.' Whatever your opinion on gay rights, you do NOT name a child Lesbian unless you HATE every cell in her body.

If you want to use names from The Mentalist, there are ones that will not send your child to therapy for the rest of his/her life. Teresa. Patrick. Simon. Jane on a girl. ANYTHING but Lisbon or Jane-on-a-boy. PLEASE. I am begging you.

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

Slow down, girl :D
I never said I was going to use any of these on a real human being, so you can rest assured ;) I did open the post by saying "Just for fun"..for a reason :D I like to fantasize, I guess!

[pegasus2o5.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I jumped all over you, I've just seen too many posts like this (mostly on other sites than this one) where people were NOT joking. I try to prevent childhood trauma where I can. :) The Mentalist is an awesome show, though, you could do worse than to name someone after one of those characters... as long as pick a sane name!

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

It might put you at further ease to know I'm a developmental pshychologist, so I'm very sensitive to children's mental well-being as well :)

The Mentalist truly is a brilliant show.. I just wish they had a better range of names for me to pick from :P Besides Teresa not being my cup of tea, it is also the name of one of my partner's exes, so it's out :)
I don't like Patrick a whole lot either, but interestingly enough, Patrizia is my MIL's name, so it might fit somewhere!

[pegasus2o5.livejournal.com]

Ooh, way to win points with the MIL and still satisfy your Mentalist leanings! I've always liked the idea of a Patrick nicknamed Patch. It's a little unconventional, but better than Pat, ugh.

There's also Grace, after Van Pelt. Sadly, Rigsby and Cho's first names are Wayne and Kimball, respectively... out of that trio I'd stick with Patrick!

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

Ohhh I love the idea of Patch for Patrick!!
A while ago, I gave my boyfriend a miniature teddy bear that has little patches over his body, so of course his name is Patchy ;) he loves it and always carries it with him, so that could work really well for us on a baby boy!
Thank you for your suggestion, it would have never occured to me! :)

[pegasus2o5.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

[bluedano.livejournal.com]

This! :)

[requiem-morrow.livejournal.com]

LOL - I like Jane on a boy (Jane, Jayne, Jain, Jaine, etc)

[roseofjuly.livejournal.com]

Lisbon can work - it immediately makes me think of Portugal, though. Jane on a boy makes me think of Jayne from one of those Joss Whedon shows, I don't watch them but I know there's a man named Jayne, correct? I think Firefly.

Anyway, a lot of girl's names were originally boy's names. I wouldn't find it at all weird to meet a boy named Courtney, Ashley, Leslie, or Shannon. But Jane isn't one of them! It's a feminized version of John, and I'd think it strange that a person named their boy child Jane instead of John.

ETA: Am I really the only person who didn't make the Lisbon/"lesbian" connection? I mean, I can see where people could stretch it to make the tease work, but Lisbon is pronounced quite differently from "lesbian."