Monday, November 02, 2009

What's in a Name?

So, I was thinking about baby names, as I often do. When there are no children in your immediate future, these thoughts float into your head sometimes. Well, mine anyway.

I was just thinking today, how much I like the name Hermione. I'd never use it, for obvious reasons, but I really like it. It makes me resent Harry Potter a little, but then I realize that I can't too much, because I may never had come across the name without it in the first place. I just think it's a pretty name.

Edward and Jacob have been ruined for me too. They've been on my "list" for years... thanks Twilight. (Isa)Bella wasn't on my list but would have been considered before now as well. Besides, if I'm gonna name my kid after a vampire, it'd either be Mick St. John or Louis. None of this sparkly glittery crap. :) Or for an immortal being in general I really like Connor or Duncan.

I think I got the need for normal but not popular names from my mom. She named me with the thought that I'd have a name that everyone had heard, but there weren't a million kids running around with it. That was November of '81. The Thorn Birds hit in March of '83. Whoops! Lots of Megans now.

She did it again for Roxanne, my sister. 8 years had passed since The Police song, but I think it had more staying power than she realized. My sister has had EVERYONE under the sun sing that song to her. I think she embraces it now, but I KNOW she hated it as a kid, even before she knew what the song meant. At least all of my mom's kids managed to escape having to have an initial permanently attached to their first name. I don't think I was ever referred to as "Meghan B" growing up. Well, unless it was "Meghan is a B." :)

What names are "ruined" for you?

9 comments:

Trena said...

Haha! I'm sure no one ever said Meghan is a b! :P Funny. My names that are ruined are Emma (Rachel from Friends), and others that I can't remember right now. It's hard to come up with baby names!

KRISTIE said...

the time change is to hard on me, so i am much to tired to think of the name that our on my list. but yes some names are ruined.

Jaana said...

Awww, I think Hermione's cute and you should totally use it! =D I don't think HP "ruined it" really, Hermione's a great character! haha Besides, even with the exposure of the name, I don't think there would be a lot of people using it. Not like Edward, Jacob or Bella, which are popular names to begin with, so since they are so popular, I don't think the Twilight series really tainted them that much, but that's just me.

I haven't really had names ruined for me by popular media...for me, a name is ruined when I meet an undesirable character in real life whose name, in my head, will be defined by them for the rest of my life. lol Oh, and there's obvious ones...like, I really like the name "Adolphus" but then I realized they will be called Adolf, and thus associated with Hitler. Hitler ruined it for all the Adolfs out there, that jerk.

Pixie said...

Jaana- Okay, so Hermione isn't "ruined." None of them really are, I just don't want my child to be 1 in a bajillion names. Edward actually was ruined for me on a personal level a few years back... Twilight just cinched it.

I think I'd still use Hermione as a middle name if I can convince Matthew... yeah right. LOL She really is a great character and a wonderful role model for girls!

Jaana said...

Yeah, do it do it! I have a friend whose dad wanted to name her Arwen after Lord of the Rings, but her mom settled for it being a middle name instead. Could work with Hermione! =D

Maybe Twilight will fade over the next few years and you can use the names again without cringing, lol. Have Blaine or I told you about how we're going to replace Twilight when it's over, with our epic Egyptian-themed romance-drama? All the Jacobs and Edwards will be forgotten and Aminhotep will be all the rage! ;P

Pixie said...

I thin my mom wanted to name one of us girls Arwen or Eowyn. Dad didn't let it fly for a second. LOL

Dot said...

Jacob has been ruined...
Hannah has been beyond ruined.

Anonymous said...

5 years ago my older sister had baby number 5 and named her Kaitlyn Ray...Funny as how I LOVED that name and was going to name my 1st girl...if I ever had one....Caitlin Raye...My sister is such a BITER!

Cheryl said...

Hey friend. Use Hermione anyway.