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[Opinions] Love it (m)
Mordecai is very distinguished sounding to me. The whole "mor/mort" = death thing doesn't bother me. First of all as a good little name nerd I know that this particular name has nothing to do with death, at least in its meaning.* But more importantly for me, there are many Celtic names having "mor" in the name: Morgan, Morwenna, Maura, Maureen, Morag, etc. These have nothing to do with death so I am able to leap tall Latin building in a single bound and escape the morbid association.
If you talk yourself out of Mordecai, how about Melchior? It has a lighter, more carefree feeling to me and is just as Biblical. Then there's also Malachi, but then you'll have a whole thread on "Children of the Corn" to deal with . Melchior is much safer. :-)
* Mordecai, as a Biblical character, might have negative associations. I know Mordecai figures into the story of Esther in Persia. But I'm not sure if Mordecai is a good character or not. I think he is her father, which would be good.

This message was edited 8/6/2007, 1:45 PM

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I hadn't heard of Melchior until I became interested in the Broadway musical, "Spring Awakening", in which it's the name of one of the main characters. The musical was based on a book written in the late 1800s, btw.
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Mordecai is a good characterMordecai resided in Susa, the metropolis of Persia. He adopted his cousin Hadassah (Esther), an orphan child, whom he tenderly brought up as his own daughter. When she was brought into the harem of king Ahasuerus and made queen in the place of the deposed queen Vashti, Mordecai was promoted to some office in the court, and was one of those who "sat in the king's gate". While holding this office, he discovered a plot of the eunuchs to put the king to death, which, by his vigilance, was defeated. His services to the king in this matter were duly recorded in the royal chronicles.Haman the Agagite had been raised to the highest position at court. Mordecai refused to bow down before him; and Haman, being stung to the quick by the conduct of Mordecai, resolved to accomplish his death in a wholesale destruction of the Jewish exiles throughout the Persian empire. Tidings of this cruel scheme soon reached the ears of Mordecai, who communicated with Queen Esther regarding it, and by her wise and bold intervention the scheme was frustrated. The Jews were delivered from destruction, Mordecai was raised to a high rank, and Haman was executed on the gallows he had by anticipation erected for Mordecai. In memory of the deliverance thus wrought for them, the Jews to this day celebrate the feast of Purim.(from Wikipedia)
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Wow, thanks, Kate!:D
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Ooh, Melchior's interesting!I might have to add that to my list, thanks, Bear!Yeah, I know the name Mordecai isn't related to "mort" itself, but I think that might be part of why it seems so dark. I'm seriously rusty on my biblical characters, but I *think* Mordecai was a decent fellow. Someone, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.Actually, all this is only making me like the name more. Maybe as a MN, though (I really don't need any more boys' names), since I'm especially liking the feel of Thomas Mordecai. It's a nice replacement for the ol' GP of Thomas Pluto, at any rate :D
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Just to be annoying . . .How about adding Jasper and Balthazar onto that GP list, along with Melchior? Glad you like Melchior!
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You're not annoying!Especially since Balthazar is a name I thought I had on my BtN list, but apparently not! (And Thomas Balthazar sounds pretty cool, too!) So thanks for alerting me. :DI love Jasper, too, but somehow, that one doesn't manage to be a GP for me. :PThank you so much!ETA: D'oh, I'm not very bright, am I, because I just now realized that Balthazar and Jasper were supposedly the names of the other two Magi. I'm really bad at putting two and two together today, it seems!

This message was edited 8/6/2007, 4:41 PM

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