Connotations of the name Atlas

[kneeswrites]

so my husband and I found a name we both love, we'd use it for a boy and a girl, and we were pretty excited. Atlas. I know it's a boy name but I don't care. It has everything we want in a name. But I mentioned it on fb and a friend told me it instantly reminds her of the book Atlas Shrugged, and people might take us for libertarians or neoconservatives if they heard our kid's name. I'm super liberal and anti both of those things so that would be a problem for me. But I love the name so much. I have never read the book, I associate it with the mythological story of the name.

What do you guys think? Mythological or political?

 

[MrsMcCurdy]

Sounds like a boy to me but I suppose it could work for a girl. I like it, sounds strong.
Mythology association.

 

[justplay91]

Unfortunately as a fellow liberal and not a fan of Ayn Rand, it does immediately make me think of Atlas Shrugged. However I do quite like the name and I don't think the association is strong enough that you shouldn't use it.

 

[justplay91]

Plus if you're anything like our family, it will probably become clear pretty quickly that you aren't a libertarian/neoconservative.

P.S. I think the mythology of the name is neat!

 

[minties]

All I think of is an actual atlas. Or maps I suppose. I've met one boy with the name. I would not name a girl Atlas though, it's very masculine, it would be like calling a girl Hercules or something.

My OH really wanted to call Thomas Kronos/Cronus.

 

[staralfur]

I also immediately think of Atlas Shrugged but I've read the book and it sticks with you. I think it's probably a hard association to break for anyone that's read it.

BUT I wouldn't think that someone named their child Atlas after the book, not at all. I think it's a cool name even with the book association.

 

[jumpingo]

definitely think of mythology, but i also don't read much.

i'm not sure i'd give it as a girl's first name, but would be a badass middle name for a girl.

 

[rwhite]

I've never heard of Atlas Shrugged So definitely mythological here. We were planning on using Atlas as a middle name if we had had a boy this last pregnancy- he would have been Henry Atlas

 

[RubyRainbows]

The only connotation for me is atlas as a noun - meaning a map. I never heard of the book so it's certainly not a political statement name to me. But I also don't immediately associate it with mythology. After just googling it a bit - I see the appeal for a baby boy. But seems too masculine for a girl.

 

[TeddysGirl]

Definitely mythological.....or Atlas as in a map. But I live in the UK so I'm not clued up on US politics. If you like mythological names how about Athena or Camilla for a girl. I love the name Gaia but I have a cousin called Maia and I think it's too similar.

 

[ellahopesky]

i just think of an actual atlas - but i kinda like it. for me its more masculine than feminine but it could defo work for either x

 

[stiletto_mom]

I have no problems with Ann Rynd and I also don't mind the mythical namesake. The only thing I can think of is that Atlas has to carry the weight of the world, which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[kneeswrites]

Thanks guys! I think we're gonna use it I understand for some people it's not gonna work as a girls name but we're both queer and genderbending and for us it works. But it's 100% a personal thing. I know a girl named Owen and a baby girl named Elliot and they seem to do okay so I feel okay about using a traditionally male name for a girl (and vice versa) as long as it has a pretty neutral pronunciation.

 

[justplay91]

Yeah, I feel like because it's not a commonly heard make at all is actually quite gender neutral. Go for it!

 

[madseasons]

I am not political and don't read political books, so it's got a Mythological association with me. I say GO for it! Girl or boy!

I named my DS after a Dragon and my DD is named after the Goddess Freya. Some people say Drake is the name of a male duck, but I didn't associate it with nothing but a Dragon when picking that name (15 years ago! haha)

Dee

 

[kneeswrites]

Thank you! I think we're gonna do it! And just found out baby's a boy so the gender thing doesn't even matter haha

 

[loeylo]

I like the name. I'm a geography teacher so for me it is about maps, whereas my oh is into mythology so or him it is a Greek god. I wouldn't name my kid atlas but we nearly named our dog Atlas (I don't want that to put you off though!) - glad to see you have settled on it!