View Message

[Opinions] Silence
I'm feeling Silence for a girl in a big way today. It's an old favourite of mine--the sound of the name and the images it evokes for me have appealed to me for years--but I haven't thought much on it in some time now.WDYT, and what would you pair it with?Array
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

"The rest is silence."Too much death imagery for me. Add to that the repressive feel of it, and the fact that it sounds like an admonishment to be quiet, and I think this is one dark name. If I had to choose a mn, I'd pick something conventional: Elizabeth, Catherine, Anne, etc.
vote up1
Way back when ,my husband (he's a doctor) had a male patient named Silence (in French, though).
Also another elderly guy named Tranquille.
vote up1
I like it a lot.I am surprised by how much I like it.
Hm. Wow. I don't get that puritanism at all?Curious, how does the goddess Angerona sit with you? I love her domains.
vote up1
Sorry, but this is the kind of name that feels totally unusable. I can't help but imagining daily-life situations like a teacher shouting: "Silence, will you keep quiet please!" or a sibling complaining: "Silence won't shut up for a second!" Plus, as it has already been pointed out, it feels like implying the child in question should be quiet, discreet and not speak her mind.
vote up1
And just out of curiosity, you said that you've loved the image that the name Silence gives you? What exactly is that image?
vote up1
Naming a little girl Silence, to me, is like telling her she has no voice and shouldn't be heard. I know that's not what you meant by it but it's how I (as well as, I'm sure, tons of other women) would percieve it.What about Silas for a boy? Sounds similar without the strings.
vote up1
I like Silence as a girl's name but somehow it feels sad. It also makes me think of the Silence Dogood letters. Anyhow, combos:Silence Maureen
Silence Valeria
Silence LucienneVeronica Silence
Michaela Silence
Gretl Silence
vote up1
I dont like it, something about it makes me feel uncomfortable, the images I get are of a by gone age where women had no voice and were expected to remain silent and in the background.I get the same feeling from word names like Chastity.
vote up1
I don't know what it is about Chastity...But I know I'm not the only one who feels that the name Chastity gives off the exact opposite vibes from those it was originally intended to give off. Maybe it's an American thing, I don't know...
vote up1
I agree. Chastity has a rather downmarket vibe, I'd say. Also, as with names like Princess, Angel, and Jolie, it sets up a girl to be a walking definition of the word "irony."
vote up1
I think it is perhaps because Chastitys generally don't end up being chaste. I mean, most nuns can say they are, but not an average girl.
vote up1
I'm sure you will find quite a few nuns named things like Sister Mary Grace or Sister Hope and whatnot, but I will personally eat my hat if somebody can show me a Sister Chastity. See, even the nuns know it. lol
Another factor working against Chastity's image is how often it's speled Chasity or Chassidy or Chassittee.
vote up1
Yep, those sisters know that even if they may be chaste there is no reason to announce it to the world through their name choice.
vote up1
Silence is alright but nms. It's pretty and soft. The first thing it reminds me of is Cadence (the -ence ending) and then Silas. I really like Silas.Silence Rosemary
Silence Christian
Silence Isabeau
Silence Clarity
Silence Bellatrix
Silence Ginevra
Silence Cassidy
Silence Primrose
Silence Agatha
Silence Rebekah
Silence Dahlia
Silence Abigail
Silence Mariana
Silence Veronica
vote up1
Silence has a very dark, grim feel to it for me. Probably this is because in Puritan times, a girl was expected to keep silent and keep her place. That connotation really does not mesh with your strong feminism.
vote up1
I agree.Her name would be like an admonishment to shut up.I'm sorry to be so blunt - I do see what you mean about the beauty of the concept and the word itself, I just can't get past the Puritan thing.
vote up1
Agree with both of you.
vote up1
Agree, not very pro-feminist.a
vote up1
When I first heard it I thought of a few things:1. Silence after death.
2. Telling someone to "shut up"
3. "The sound, of silence..."
4. A teacher yelling "SILENCE!"Overall, not good connotations for me, except for number 3...I love that song. If I was to pair it with anything though, I would definately keep it in the middle name spot.
vote up1
I like it, but in a way it sounds kind of mean to use like your telling her to be quiet. I don't know. lol.Silence Elisabeth

This message was edited 9/29/2007, 12:43 PM

vote up1
It has a nice enough sound, but for me it conjures up images of the horrible historical treatment of women -- meant to be seen and not heard. I can't really get behind it because of that.However, as for middle names, I think your best bet would be to go with something that isn't a word name, is distinctly feminine, and isn't too unusual.. while Silence Scholastica sounds wonderful, it really doesn't balance out ;)
vote up1