[VickiLong]

Can the names we give our children affect the type of person (and child) they will be?
Do certain names conjur up visions of a nerdy boy, popuar girl or bully? are these visions founded or simply a reaction to people we have met or heard of in the past?

On the same note, should you consider what you child may look like when deciding on names, for example a blue eyed/blonde hair boy may be better suited to Cody that Antonio.

Two boys names on my current favourite list are Preston and Lincoln, but I cant help invisioning a Preston as a bit of a nerd, lacking in friends, and to me when I hear Lincoln I see a strong, ruff, bully type of kid.
I dont want to offend anyone, at all, I love these names!!! but want to know if others have pre-existing opinions of the type of child when they hear a name and if that could potentially have an affect of the child.

Vicki

Edited to correct spelling thanks Julie

This post has been edited by VickiLong: 06/02/2013, 02:37 PM

[Dylan's Mummy]

I think that people associate certain names with a personality and different people have different views in the personality that goes with a name. Funny you mention the name Preston, too me that name conjors up a preppy rich boy but my SS went to school with a Preston who was a bit of a bully who got into a lot of trouble, he is very good at sport though. A name like Ivan seems really nerdy to me. There are some girls names that are really cute for a little girl but seem bimboish for an adult. Some name seem like stripper names.

[niggles]

I read an article once that presented pretty good arguments that it does. But I think it slots in next to a range of other influences and so could easily become insignificant.

It's important to me that the sound, feel and association of names are positive but it's all so varied, and people are so experimental and wide in their choices these days that I think the influence of a name will lessen.

I think meanings can be important to the individual and their family but they aren't usually well known so I think it's unlikely that they will shape the social responses of people in the child's life. I have a brunette daughter whose name means 'golden haired' so it clearly didn't stop me.

[Hattie]

It's Lincoln.

I think certain types of names are likely to mark a person in a certain way, but that is not a popular opinion on EB.

Cheers,
Julie

[mad madam mim]

There are some names I have certain associations with, for example I picture a Wesley as a bit of a geek (I think we can blame Buffy for that lol), and then there are names I think are awful for the tease factor, another example is Apple or Blue. I don't think we all see the names the same way, for instance I rather like Preston and personally picture a sporty guy everyone likes, same goes for Lincoln.

[Pooks*potters]

I think some names are a lot more loaded then others. In some cases they might have some kind of impact on how the kid is perceived. IME, when a name either clashes with or amplifies a characteristic, it's a bit of a shame. For example, if you have a really shy kid and give them a name with major swagger like Baron, Axel, Blaze, the contrast can be a bit amusing, or perhaps people form the perception of a more outgoing kid from the name then have to review that IF they give time and attention. Or if they are really shy and then you name them Colin or Nigel, the tendency to pigeonhole them as a quiet nerd could be a bit irresistible, especially for passing acquaintances.

I met a little girl with a name that sounded just like Fierce, but spelled differently, and she was sweet and timid, I did think that was quite a name to live up to and I wondered what a new teacher would be conjuring up in her head as she read it on the school roll, as opposed to an Isobel or Lucy.

[niggles]

There are some names I have certain associations with, for example I picture a Wesley as a bit of a geek (I think we can blame Buffy for that lol),

You're watching the wrong things. This is Wesley:

[cinnabubble]

It's best not to use a name if you can't spell it.

[ellebelle]

It seems nearly anything goes nowadays. When I was at school and there were 6 Lisa, 3 Susan and 4 Michelles, Yasmin was pretty strange....but I marvel at the vast array of names in my son's class. Hence, I think it is less likely you will be judged.

[RatbagBob]

I've always had problems within people who call their dark skinned children Bianca or their pale as the driven snow children Ebony, as one example.