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Help[Opinions] Appalachia
I recently saw a name: Appalachia, I reallly like it, WDYT? and any FN or MN for it? For a girl.
This message was edited 11/17/2007, 10:20 PM
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I'm going to have to go against the grain...
Most of my family lives in Appalachia; both my parents' parents were born and raised there as were their parents and grandparents before them. It may sound downright boastful to say that my ancestors were the first settlers to arrive in Kentucky in the 1700s, but really, it's just my immense pride talking. :)
For me, Appalachia denotes a rich history, a melting pot of Irish, Scottish, Welsh and German customs. Appalachia is a place that attracted immigrants with a strong desire for freedom from the oppression and poverty they faced in their own country. They had a great will to live and survive in the harsh wilderness. And because of the remoteness of the region, a unique culture was fostered and thrived, full of music, religion, art and superstition (and moonshine!).
Yes, there is the poverty aspect, and while my family isn't poor, there are those that are and unfortunately, poverty is a blight on an otherwise charming and attractive region and culture. However, if you talk to those Appalachians, while they say they might be poor money-wise, they'll say they've been quite blessed in other ways because for many of them, as long as they have their family, home and G-d around them, they count themselves rich and happy and make do 'with what the good L-rd gave them'. There's hardly a house that you'll walk in and not find a copy of the Bible on the table.
So, what do I think of Appalachia as a name? I think anyone should be honoured to carry a name so rich in history and culture.
If you're interested in documentaries, Rory Kennedy-Bailey (the late RFK's daughter) filmed a two-hour documentary of a family that lived just outside of Hazard, Kentucky (about a hundred miles from where I live). The attitude of the family is common among many Appalachian families and gives a good idea of how 75% of them live and of their values, norms and morés.
Most of my family lives in Appalachia; both my parents' parents were born and raised there as were their parents and grandparents before them. It may sound downright boastful to say that my ancestors were the first settlers to arrive in Kentucky in the 1700s, but really, it's just my immense pride talking. :)
For me, Appalachia denotes a rich history, a melting pot of Irish, Scottish, Welsh and German customs. Appalachia is a place that attracted immigrants with a strong desire for freedom from the oppression and poverty they faced in their own country. They had a great will to live and survive in the harsh wilderness. And because of the remoteness of the region, a unique culture was fostered and thrived, full of music, religion, art and superstition (and moonshine!).
Yes, there is the poverty aspect, and while my family isn't poor, there are those that are and unfortunately, poverty is a blight on an otherwise charming and attractive region and culture. However, if you talk to those Appalachians, while they say they might be poor money-wise, they'll say they've been quite blessed in other ways because for many of them, as long as they have their family, home and G-d around them, they count themselves rich and happy and make do 'with what the good L-rd gave them'. There's hardly a house that you'll walk in and not find a copy of the Bible on the table.
So, what do I think of Appalachia as a name? I think anyone should be honoured to carry a name so rich in history and culture.
If you're interested in documentaries, Rory Kennedy-Bailey (the late RFK's daughter) filmed a two-hour documentary of a family that lived just outside of Hazard, Kentucky (about a hundred miles from where I live). The attitude of the family is common among many Appalachian families and gives a good idea of how 75% of them live and of their values, norms and morés.
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thanks, I'll look into it :)
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not a good idea
Fair or no fair, there si a very strong stereotype about the whole region of Appalachia. Leave it alone.
Fair or no fair, there si a very strong stereotype about the whole region of Appalachia. Leave it alone.
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I'd much rather see Aaron, in honour of the wonderful man who wrote "Appalachian Spring", rather than Appalachia itself. Or Apollonia, if we're going for soundalikes, as it seems a better namesake.
Nice a place as the Appalachian Mountains are (very beautiful), they're also associated with some rather extreme poverty in my mind--one might as well name a child Philippines or Laos or Somalia.
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Nice a place as the Appalachian Mountains are (very beautiful), they're also associated with some rather extreme poverty in my mind--one might as well name a child Philippines or Laos or Somalia.
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I thought of the Mountains too.
And even worse, it made me think of the sketch on Saturday Night Live called "Appalachian Emergency Room". Thats not the first association I'd want people to have when thinking about my child.
And even worse, it made me think of the sketch on Saturday Night Live called "Appalachian Emergency Room". Thats not the first association I'd want people to have when thinking about my child.
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Haha...I recall those skits.
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Exactly.
That's what I thought of immediately, and that's what others will as well. I know you don't care, and you'll find a hundred ways to explain why and how you'll get around that association, but you won't.
That's what I thought of immediately, and that's what others will as well. I know you don't care, and you'll find a hundred ways to explain why and how you'll get around that association, but you won't.
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I agree completely.
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Saying "I don't care". How do you know?, I do care about what I name my own children.
Actually no I didn't know about any of it. I did look it up, but I didn't see anything I looked over it all I remember is the mountains. Would I use it most likely not.
I'm just curious why are you always upset all the time?
Actually no I didn't know about any of it. I did look it up, but I didn't see anything I looked over it all I remember is the mountains. Would I use it most likely not.
I'm just curious why are you always upset all the time?
This message was edited 11/18/2007, 9:55 AM
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Well, generally, when people bring up negative associations of names like Cross and Neverending and Castle you don't seem to care about those, and it becomes a tired argument. So I think it's reasonable for her to say that.
Personally, I myself am not particularly bothered by the poverty association, althugh it's something to take into consideration. I think it's too heavy both phonetically and on-paper-y, though.
Personally, I myself am not particularly bothered by the poverty association, althugh it's something to take into consideration. I think it's too heavy both phonetically and on-paper-y, though.
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I guess I liked the way it looks more then the sound, I do like the history behind Appalachia though.
The reason I don't "care" about Cross or Neverending is because of the religious hold it has for me, they are special to me very much I think that's why I don't shine away from them, no matter how bad the comments.
The reason I don't "care" about Cross or Neverending is because of the religious hold it has for me, they are special to me very much I think that's why I don't shine away from them, no matter how bad the comments.
This message was edited 11/18/2007, 10:26 AM
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Shy.
It's tiresome, honestly Sabrina. If you post a name and it doesn't get rave reviews, you'll argue up and down about why you want the name, how it means this and that to you, and you totally ignore people's very intelligent, very well-reasoned arguments against it. Your arguments on Disney and Race are being brought to mind.
I might care too much about what others think - I'm very close to scrapping Raphael because too many people think of Teenage Ninja Turtles - but that's because I did grow up with an unusual name and remember what a pain in the ass it was. And Haven is nothing like Neverending or Disney...a LOT less teasing potential.
It's tiresome, honestly Sabrina. If you post a name and it doesn't get rave reviews, you'll argue up and down about why you want the name, how it means this and that to you, and you totally ignore people's very intelligent, very well-reasoned arguments against it. Your arguments on Disney and Race are being brought to mind.
I might care too much about what others think - I'm very close to scrapping Raphael because too many people think of Teenage Ninja Turtles - but that's because I did grow up with an unusual name and remember what a pain in the ass it was. And Haven is nothing like Neverending or Disney...a LOT less teasing potential.
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Deliverance and Peaches also come to mind
Granted, I don't remember that you actually liked the name Peaches, but you were totally amazed to learn just what the slogan "Tasty Peaches" on your T-shirt actually referred to.
More to the point, there was the little exchange about Deliverance as a name. I and MANY other people brought up the very widcespread and strong association with the movie "Deliverance" and specifically with the "Squeal, Piggy, squeal!" and you just seemed to put your hands over your ears and go la-la-la I can't hear you.
The words you post as "names" seem often to be just random words you happen to like the sound of. All right. That's fine. We all have words we love the sound of. But just because a word sounds nice does NOT mean it makes a good name. Influenza, amenorrhea, amanita, and Mascara are all beautiful sounding words, but that doesn't change the fact that they have bad connotations and do not belong on people. Influenza literally just means "influence" and referred originally to the influence of the moon, but it was borrowed as the name for a disease.
See what Siri is getting at?
Granted, I don't remember that you actually liked the name Peaches, but you were totally amazed to learn just what the slogan "Tasty Peaches" on your T-shirt actually referred to.
More to the point, there was the little exchange about Deliverance as a name. I and MANY other people brought up the very widcespread and strong association with the movie "Deliverance" and specifically with the "Squeal, Piggy, squeal!" and you just seemed to put your hands over your ears and go la-la-la I can't hear you.
The words you post as "names" seem often to be just random words you happen to like the sound of. All right. That's fine. We all have words we love the sound of. But just because a word sounds nice does NOT mean it makes a good name. Influenza, amenorrhea, amanita, and Mascara are all beautiful sounding words, but that doesn't change the fact that they have bad connotations and do not belong on people. Influenza literally just means "influence" and referred originally to the influence of the moon, but it was borrowed as the name for a disease.
See what Siri is getting at?
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Thanks, and as for being immature for not liking my name
I like my name fine. It's a total pain in the ass in the professional world. Period. I'd be on the phone trying to order toilet paper for my work, and the woman would want to know what my name meant. I'd have to spell both my names every time I was at work. It was a royal pain in the rear. It's not that horrible of a name, and now I do appreciate it - but I will never, ever use it again professionally.
I like my name fine. It's a total pain in the ass in the professional world. Period. I'd be on the phone trying to order toilet paper for my work, and the woman would want to know what my name meant. I'd have to spell both my names every time I was at work. It was a royal pain in the rear. It's not that horrible of a name, and now I do appreciate it - but I will never, ever use it again professionally.
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I'm not crazy about my name either
And I won't have anybody call me immature for it. It's tacky, for one thing. And over the phone, nine times out of ten it's misheard as Darla or even Carla. And while Roxanne is long-established and has a nice meaning, in my case it's after the prostitute in the Police song.
And I won't have anybody call me immature for it. It's tacky, for one thing. And over the phone, nine times out of ten it's misheard as Darla or even Carla. And while Roxanne is long-established and has a nice meaning, in my case it's after the prostitute in the Police song.
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Parents.
My sister has a bad name as well - Jessica Sue. She now lies about her middle name and I don't blame her.
What I do love doing is informing people of my siblings' names. They'll get all excited, wondering what the name is. And I'll remark: Ben, Chris, and Jessica. The look on their face is always priceless. Always.
My sister has a bad name as well - Jessica Sue. She now lies about her middle name and I don't blame her.
What I do love doing is informing people of my siblings' names. They'll get all excited, wondering what the name is. And I'll remark: Ben, Chris, and Jessica. The look on their face is always priceless. Always.
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it's mostly relative, isn't it?
I mean, Jessica might hate her name and probably hates that every time she turns around she runs into another Jessica, but to my mind Jessica is a beautiful name. And everybody knows she's female, everybody can spell and say it, and it's hard to make stupid jokes about it, unless you want to try for Jessica Rabbit and that's about twenty years out of date. Sue isn't my style but again, same as with Jessica. And at least she wasn't named after a fictional hooker. lol
I mean, Jessica might hate her name and probably hates that every time she turns around she runs into another Jessica, but to my mind Jessica is a beautiful name. And everybody knows she's female, everybody can spell and say it, and it's hard to make stupid jokes about it, unless you want to try for Jessica Rabbit and that's about twenty years out of date. Sue isn't my style but again, same as with Jessica. And at least she wasn't named after a fictional hooker. lol
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Jessica Sue as a whole name is what I mean
It's an incredibly country-bumpkin name, and she's anything but country-bumpkin. I used to call her Jessie Sue as a kid, just to harass her.
And yah you're right. Your name is a lot worse. Jessica is a classy, if popular name, and she'll be dropping the Sue pretty quick.
It's an incredibly country-bumpkin name, and she's anything but country-bumpkin. I used to call her Jessie Sue as a kid, just to harass her.
And yah you're right. Your name is a lot worse. Jessica is a classy, if popular name, and she'll be dropping the Sue pretty quick.
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Tell her about my best friend, Kimmie Sue. FULL NAME = Kimmie Sue. :b
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you think that's bad?
I knew a girl once called Kitty Sue. As far as I know that was her whole name.
I have a friend named Dawn Lynn (lastname) whose mother had wanted to call her Kim Sue. She was talked out of it on the grounds that it sounded Oriental and they were a hundred percent white Okie. lol The funny thing was that with their last name, Kim Sue would have sounded like a Korean massage parlor.
I knew a girl once called Kitty Sue. As far as I know that was her whole name.
I have a friend named Dawn Lynn (lastname) whose mother had wanted to call her Kim Sue. She was talked out of it on the grounds that it sounded Oriental and they were a hundred percent white Okie. lol The funny thing was that with their last name, Kim Sue would have sounded like a Korean massage parlor.
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*snort*
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I do understand what she means, and her assocations to certain words (as well as others). I just don't get those assocations personally, and I don't think everyone would. I think it depends on the person, and their experiences. I really doubt I'd use Appalachia, I just like the way it looks, more then sounds.
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Well, I don't think it matters that not all people will understand the meanings and connotations of a name like Appalacia or Deliverence. I think what matters is that the majority will and then will wonder why you chose to do such a thing.
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Just because you grew up with an unusual name (mind you at the time so did I as well back when I was young, not as unusual as yours, but still it was unsual). Doesn't mean that child will get teased relentlessly, they might, they might not.
Did I hate my name when I was young? Absolutely, I hated ,and despised it, but then I grew up. I realized that it had meaning behind it why my parents chose it. I still dislike some assocations, but in the end I grew to love my name, and most people I know do.
It's not the end of the world for having an unsual name. If they don't like it they can go by their MNs (which are usually common).
I don't ingore people's remarks only the ones who are rude, without having to be. I don't mind if people are against my names, but to be blunt, rude, and inconsiderate is uncalled for, so half the time I ignore few people's responses.
Did I hate my name when I was young? Absolutely, I hated ,and despised it, but then I grew up. I realized that it had meaning behind it why my parents chose it. I still dislike some assocations, but in the end I grew to love my name, and most people I know do.
It's not the end of the world for having an unsual name. If they don't like it they can go by their MNs (which are usually common).
I don't ingore people's remarks only the ones who are rude, without having to be. I don't mind if people are against my names, but to be blunt, rude, and inconsiderate is uncalled for, so half the time I ignore few people's responses.
This message was edited 11/18/2007, 2:06 PM
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I'm sorry to butt in...
Acting like people who don't like their given names are immature is really so unnecessary.
Of course it's not the end of the world having an unusual name (I personally wish I did...grass is greener, eh?), but the reason people tend to rail against your names is because the instant they see the names, they've picked up on about ten ways for Little Johnny to tease Little Neverending on the playground. I wouldn't drop a name just because of teasing potential (I can think of at least one way to tease Little Johnny!), but there are some names that are obviously going to be hard to bear. That's all people are saying.
Acting like people who don't like their given names are immature is really so unnecessary.
Of course it's not the end of the world having an unusual name (I personally wish I did...grass is greener, eh?), but the reason people tend to rail against your names is because the instant they see the names, they've picked up on about ten ways for Little Johnny to tease Little Neverending on the playground. I wouldn't drop a name just because of teasing potential (I can think of at least one way to tease Little Johnny!), but there are some names that are obviously going to be hard to bear. That's all people are saying.
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Am I the only person who thinks that Philippine would be a cool name for a girl? BTW, I agree that Appalachia and poverty are too closely entwined.
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No, it's very a kin to Philippa, isn't it?
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