Would you use a name w/ "negative" meaning?

[ginasgemz]

I wonder what you all think of names that have negative meaning or make people have negative associations?
Like for example, the name Corbin is growing on me but it means "raven" and people keep telling me it's bad because ravens were associated with death and Satan throughout the centuries. I personally am not superstitious and I love ravens as they're one of the most intelligent and fun birds..but if family members/friends immediately associate this name with the devil and death doesn't it affect the kid negatively in the long run? Stupid question I know since we should be able to use what we like but sometimes I feel it might be selfish to use something just because I like it, regardless of the possible effects on the kid later on. I know all names can be teased but some have more potential for it than others..

 

[Phantom]

I really liked Cecily until I found out it means "blind". I am pretty big on meanings.

 

[ginasgemz]

Yess..exactly..I was thinking of Cecily as another perfect example..gorgeous name with horrible meaning..I love the name but because of that I'd never use it. Raven is not as obviously bad as blind for example, but once one knows the superstitios associations with ravens throughout history..it becomes even worse

 

[booflebump]

I think Emily and Cameron both have negative meanings as well, but lovely names!

 

[Button#]

I think the majority of people won't know the meaning anyway (I didn't know those two) and I think if you love the name and name your child that it will take on it's own personal meaning to you. All your family and friends will just come to associate the name with your child. I think it's nice to have a name that means something nice but a negative meaning would not put me off a name I loved. Also not everyone associates the same things, when you said raven I thought of the poem and intelligence.

 

[ginasgemz]

Me too, Button, I have no negative associations with raven at all - until now that I've heard from multiple places "why do you want to use a devilish name to your baby". Ughhhhhhh!

 

[Button#]

Doubt they'd dare suggest it (or probably won't even think of the meaning) once there is a little baby in front of them with that name. They'll just think aww, cute little baby Corbin!

 

[Sophist]

My nephew is Corbin and he's adorable.

 

[crazyguider]

A friend of mine has a nephew named lucifer!!
Apparently it was a common name and has only been associated with the devil in the last 150 yrs

 

[pixydust]

it would put me off... quite a lot, but if i really LOVED the name i'd possibly still use it Raven for me has no negative connotations

 

[PresqueVu]

I think the meaning behind cecily would have put me off - if I'd known it because it would seem like bad luck.

Raven has no negative connotations for me either, I just thought of a news story I'd read recently where they had proved they can use tools!

I agree with Button#, even if someone DOES initially have some reservations it'll all change once they see baby Corbin

 

[Adrienne]

My daughter's name is Molly, and every source I've looked at has a different meaning. I've seen "star of the sea," "beloved," "bitter," "sea of bitterness," "wished for child," and "rebellion." But the negative ones certainly didn't put me off. In my opinion, if it's a cute name, it's a cute name, regardless of meaning.

 

[Amygdala]

I would go by your own associations in this case. Personally I wouldn't pick a name with an obvious negative meaning (eg Dolores "sorrow") and especially if it's a widely known one I'd stay away (Lucifer sounds really lovely but every child on the playground will know the associations). Corbin I think is different. You don't mind ravens and neither do most people here. And I'm guessing the people that commented wouldn't have known that it means raven if you hadn't told them? I think in this case, the negative connotations are quite far fetched so they wouldn't bother me. But go with your instincts! Don't let your friends or family or us here talk you around!

 

[moomin_troll]

ive always wanted to name my first son Zane so never really thought of the meaning, but i knew it was an old english surname.
just looked up the meaning tho and it means gods grace or gods light which is nice.

but i dont think the meaning of a name will mean much to the child growing up

 

[MUMOF5]

Ive liked a couple of names with 'negative' meanings Lola - sorrow, and Jude - the traitor from the bible (not that that affects me as im not religious), but others had opinions on it. The only one ive been put off of because of meaning was Cameron - crooked nose, especially because i dont have the cutest of noses, so if the child ended up with my nose it may be a bit ironic . xx

 

[babyplease81]

I also LOVE the name Lola but just cant bring myself to name my daughter a name that means "sorrow". It was going to be her middle name.
That's why I have gone with Lila as her middle name instead.. I just feel better about it.
Her first name is Sadie which means princess.

 

[misscream]

I dont go by name meanings!!! Almost every site has a different meaning for each name, they aren't consistent in the least and I wouldn't not name my child something because someone said it means whatever. I just googled the meanings of Corbin and went to 2 sites, one of them says black bird and the other said Steep hill. Anyone can make up a name meaning so I wouldnt rely on them being accurate

 

[babybumpage]

I'm thinking that every name can be connected to some type of "negative" meaning or situation that would be a negative. I think so many people have done so many things, good and bad, that each name you come up with could be associated with something. For me, with the exception of lucifer, I don't see anything in those names that would strike me as a bad baby name. Lucifer, to me, would be a no no, as I wouldn't want my child to have to deal with religious issues (the 'how dare you' religious types). Also, names are changing so much, that if you find a name you like, I'm sure you can find a positive connotation of the name!

 

[firstbabyOMG]

I am sure most people will associate Corbin with The Fifth Element before they associate it with ravens. Secondly, people are naming their children Raven straight out & even then people think it's a cool name (at least where I come from).

I love, love, love the name Gethsemane... and I was positive no one else in the world would share that name. But I got a lot of crap because it's "the Garden of Betrayal"... well, I'm not Christian so what do I care? However, growing up Agnostic & being abused by Christians I finally decided I didn't want my child to experience the same treatment, so hubby & I scrubbed it. Also, we're Jewish & no sense in picking a name out of the New Testament anyway. BUT the point is, when there's a more obvious negative connotation, think of the child before thinking how you feel about the name. And be very sure that there is a real negativity before making the decision. Because like I said, I really think you're in the clear.

I've grown to need the name to mean something to me, not really worrying about what the name means. There are plenty of names out there that have truly profound meanings, but the name itself means nothing to me. So to each their own, I've kind of ranted & rambled, sorry.

 

[Blah11]

it wouldnt put me off. I know a baby corbin and also a caine