Baby Name Poll Results

I can’t say I go out of my way to check out smaller languages and stuff, but usually if a name means something bad in another language that a lot of people speak, you’ll hear about it right away when you mention the name you want to use.

That being said, I chose really common, classic names that are pretty standard in my family and background, so I didn’t really expect to find anything.

I do pay attention to it, within reason. I think if a certain name exalts the virtues and principles of a Nation or a religion, it can be considered. Particularly if the family has an admiration for the culture or faith. If it’s appropriated just to sound exotic and trendy, then it’s pretty lame but passable. Some things are just not right and I do think certain names like Dakota and Cheyenne are unfortunate.

I don’t really personally care about meanings of names. I mean Kennedy means "misshapen/deformed head" but I still think it is an amazing name. Desdemona means "of the devil" but I still think it is so extremely gorgeous and Gideon means "having a stump for a head" but I still love it and think is is so handsome. I just don’t see why it’s a big deal that a name has a negative meaning, it doesn’t mean the kid will be a certain way and usually people don’t think about the meaning if the name when looking at a child with said name.

I think it depends on the name. If it is a name that is pretty well integrated where you live, like Isabella, Esme or Gianna, you should be in the clear.

However, if it is something like Cohen, which has a sacred meaning than you should steer clear. Same is true of some Japanese, Irish or anything that sounds really foreign, you really need to do your research and make sure that you are not giving your child a loaded name. Sakura, for instance can mean a lot of different things depending on how it is written.

An obviously, don’t name your child something like Adolph or Lucifer.

If the meaning is going to impact a close family or friend is him will be in my child’s life for a long time I don’t use it. I have a son named Dakota as I don’t know anyone who takes offense to it (and it’s a name I’ve always loved and was supposed to be my name if I as a boy and connected to me as my middle name is Cheyanne) but I wouldn’t use Cohen as I know someone who is Jewish who takes offense to it who would be around my son. For me it’s personal when I think of meanings and how they’d impact someone close to me.

I also believe as times change so do meanings as words evolve with change because the original meaning usally doesn’t have connections that are relevant now so I take this into consideration when naming my children.

But that’s just me.

I’m the exact opposite of the previous poster. The meaning is very important to me. I would never never want my child to have a name that’s offensive, either as something that means something bad or mean like "misshapen" or "unwanted", or as something that is the name of a religious hero in another religion and anyone from that religion would feel offended to meet a regular human being with the name. I just think that’s in poor taste. and even though it’s my choice, it’s my baby that has to live with the name and people’s reaction to it. Especially if it is something that would offend someone in another culture and I just didn’t do my research as to why I shouldn’t pick it, that’s just mean to my baby and I couldn’t do it.

My top picks mean "light", "sunshine" and "beautiful child". I mean, I don’t expect my baby to be thought beautiful by everyone who meets her simply because I give her that name, but at least my daughter would understand that *I* find her beautiful!

I love Cecily, but wouldn’t use it. Maybe not exactly what you’re asking, but still. The name’s got to be pretty, but only pretty to me, you know? I want other people to find it pretty, too. So if someone said that, I don’t know, people in Minnesota are offended by the name Jane, and I’m just making this up here, then I wouldn’t use the name Jane ’cause my daughter would probably meet people from Minnesota or maybe even move there. And it’s her life. So yeah.

I come from a culture where names have only "positive" meanings related to nature, minerals, virtues, aspirations and the birth order of children. It is probably why I cannot imagine using a name like Cecily or Claudia, which are nice and rich in history, but mean something rather odd. My family and Asian friends would consider it unlucky, even if I am not superstitious enough to take that under account.
I also care about being fair and respectful of other languages, nations and cultures, even if I don’t know them. I couldn’t expect the same for mine if I didn’t act accordingly. If a person explains to me why a word is not appropriate, I would refrain from using it. I would be puzzled and honestly think less of a person who had a name that is derogatory to my people, even if it is to no fault of their own.
With so many pretty and favorable names out there, why get fixated with the names that are sacred or important to others?
Having said that, someone pointed out in my poll that the name Tora (which I am considering for my daughter and means tiger in Japanese) is somewhat connected to the Jewish sacred text Torah. I think it an interesting coincidence, but since it is not the same word, or a name I am "stealing" from Jewish people to use it on my child, I am not crossing it out. Coincidences like that occur all the time, since languages are so diverse and full of meanings/ideas/concepts.

Yes and no. I wouldn’t go out of my way to find meanings necessarily, though if I chose a name and someone told me it had a VERY negative connotation I may reconsider.

I like positive meanings of names.

I really like Cameron but it means crooked nose, so unfortunately I’m not sure I’d use it now.

To me it all comes down to distinguishing between "stealing" a word from a culture/religion/nation to use it as a name for my snowflake, and using a name that within my own culture/religion/nation is accepted and it just so happens to have an off vibe somewhere else. Hence the Coen vs Cohen struggle. I’m not going to just disregard Jewish history and identity just so my child can have a priestly name. However, Coen is a Ducth name related to the name Coenraad, and thus perfectly fine. What poster S said above also exemplifies that. Tora means tiger in Japanese, it is also similar to the female name Thora, and the word Torah. Similar sounds and looks, different meanings.
I am however, not crazy about non-Buddhist Bodhi(s), non-NA Dakotas (who wouldn’t use that name for themselves), non-Indian Indias (who also wouldn’t use that name for themselves) and all that collection of names mostly white Europeans co-opt to create exotic or different. It makes me roll my eyes inside :)
It’s fine if other people don’t care about it and just use them. It’s just my reaction and view on it.

Don’t pay attention

I don’t really pay attention. I love the name Callaghan which happens to mean "Strife". Would I still use it? ABSOLUTELY! I always thought that meanings were quite boring anyway and think that the child should present a new meaning with his/her personality.

Out of respect, I pay a lot of attention. I also want to make sure for my child’s sake the name doesn’t mean something dumb in another language.