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Help[Opinions] Valentine
What do you think of Valentine for a girl? I pronounce it the English way, VAL-en-tine. Do you prefer Valentine or Valentina?
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I don't like it on a girl, sorry. Valentina is lovely, though.
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No. I didn't even know anyone thought of it as a girls' name?
When I was around 7 we got a male golden retriever for my birthday and I named him Valentine "Valley." He was a very masculine, giant dog. He's all I can think of.
When I was around 7 we got a male golden retriever for my birthday and I named him Valentine "Valley." He was a very masculine, giant dog. He's all I can think of.
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Valentine to me is icky-boo-boo sweet. I picture a femmy little cartoon boy with long golden ringlets and big round eyes and ruffles on his clothes and shoes that turn up with little bells at the toes. It's an effeminate name but not a feminine one, if that makes any sense. Valentina is kind of exotic and has some substance to it, but even it has a flashy, theatrical feeling to it that keeps me from truly liking it.
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Where I live the holiday isn’t called just Valentine’s Day, it’s Saint Valentine’s Day and since the saint was male, Valentine is male to me (also it’s Sveti Valentin which is obviously male, since the female form would be Sveta Valentina).
Regardless, I prefer Valentin for a boy and Valentina for a girl (the same way I prefer Augustin and Augustina to Augustine).
Regardless, I prefer Valentin for a boy and Valentina for a girl (the same way I prefer Augustin and Augustina to Augustine).
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To be honest, I think it might sound a bit like a stripper or porn star name on a real person. Valentina is more of a name and has less of those connotations. Of all the Val- names, I like Valerie best.
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I like Valerie as well. I like Valentina but I really dislike Tina.
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I like it much better for a boy. I prefer Valentina for a girl. It reminds me of the word valiant, and just sounds masculine to me. I would not want to be a girl named Valentine. It sort of booms. And on a woman, I think Valentine seems to suggest Valentine's Day hearts and flowers ... and sexuality. Be mine, Valentine. On a man it doesn't do that IMO, it just sounds like a somewhat overbearing first name.
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 12:56 PM
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I find it hard to see how anyone could think of it as masculine sounding. Maybe on this board because people here generally prefer for boys names to stay boys names.
But to me it's one of the most feminine sounding names out there. As you said, it makes me think of hearts and flowers and that doesn't change at all when it's used on a boy. I don't think of anything sexual, just of love, which is a good thing.
To be honest I think most boys out there would hate to be named Valentine (or Lindsay, Ashley, Hadley etc) whereas most girls would be fine with it. Maybe that's different in England or Australia.
But to me it's one of the most feminine sounding names out there. As you said, it makes me think of hearts and flowers and that doesn't change at all when it's used on a boy. I don't think of anything sexual, just of love, which is a good thing.
To be honest I think most boys out there would hate to be named Valentine (or Lindsay, Ashley, Hadley etc) whereas most girls would be fine with it. Maybe that's different in England or Australia.
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As far as I can tell you're basically just replying to argue with my opinion because you don't share it. Why? Shall we fight to get the last word? OK! I care as much as you, because Valentine is one of my favorite male names.
I find it hard to see how anyone can like it as a feminine name. To me Valentine is a butch-sounding name on a guy and a somewhat trivializing, flimsy name on a woman. It is ONLY hearts and flowers and romantic lurve, on a woman. It's a classic man-name meaning "vigorous" on a guy, with a tinge of romance from association with Valentine's Day.
It's got nothing to do with boy names staying boy names. I prefer a lot of crossed-over male names on women. This is just how I really feel about the name Valentine. It really does makes me think of valiant and valedictory, and sounds Roman and masculine. I have known that Saint Valentine was a dude, since before I can remember.
Sure I think it could be a tad challenging for a guy to be named Valentine because of the day, but there's at least as much positive association from that. It's like a pink shirt - a guy who wears it is secure in his own masculinity. And anyway it's practically guaranteed he'd go by Val, rhyme Hal and Al, like Val Kilmer (his full name AFAIK).
Valentine "Valen-TEEN" is a woman's name. Valentina is too. JMO - you don't have to like it.
ETA: I think your opinion is far more commonplace. I'm an underdog. =)
I find it hard to see how anyone can like it as a feminine name. To me Valentine is a butch-sounding name on a guy and a somewhat trivializing, flimsy name on a woman. It is ONLY hearts and flowers and romantic lurve, on a woman. It's a classic man-name meaning "vigorous" on a guy, with a tinge of romance from association with Valentine's Day.
It's got nothing to do with boy names staying boy names. I prefer a lot of crossed-over male names on women. This is just how I really feel about the name Valentine. It really does makes me think of valiant and valedictory, and sounds Roman and masculine. I have known that Saint Valentine was a dude, since before I can remember.
Sure I think it could be a tad challenging for a guy to be named Valentine because of the day, but there's at least as much positive association from that. It's like a pink shirt - a guy who wears it is secure in his own masculinity. And anyway it's practically guaranteed he'd go by Val, rhyme Hal and Al, like Val Kilmer (his full name AFAIK).
Valentine "Valen-TEEN" is a woman's name. Valentina is too. JMO - you don't have to like it.
ETA: I think your opinion is far more commonplace. I'm an underdog. =)
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 2:49 PM
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hmm.
I'm reposting my old poll http://www.behindthename.com/polls/200346
Vote here http://www.behindthename.com/polls/220970
I'm reposting my old poll http://www.behindthename.com/polls/200346
Vote here http://www.behindthename.com/polls/220970
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This is behindthename. People here are often biased against using traditionally masculine names on a girl. In my opinion the poll doesn't say anything about how people in the real world would react to it.
There's a major movie coming out this year, 'Ender's Game' which will feature a feminine main character named Valentine (with the -ine pronunciation). My guess is that it will even further establish Valentine as a feminine name and that it might get some use for girls after the movie has been released.
Edited: Just a question regarding your poll. I do find Valentine 'romantic and charming' on a girl, not really on a boy. So I don't know whether to choose that as one of my answers or not as it doesn't specify for which gender.
There's a major movie coming out this year, 'Ender's Game' which will feature a feminine main character named Valentine (with the -ine pronunciation). My guess is that it will even further establish Valentine as a feminine name and that it might get some use for girls after the movie has been released.
Edited: Just a question regarding your poll. I do find Valentine 'romantic and charming' on a girl, not really on a boy. So I don't know whether to choose that as one of my answers or not as it doesn't specify for which gender.
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 3:09 PM
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Yeah, but at least the poll shows what people here think. I think it's a little more accurate than the opinion board, as far as sampling. But only a little bit. I pretty much agree with you that in the world "in front of the name," most people share your opinion, not mine.
Yes, choose romantic and charming if that's the vibe it gives you. The poll isn't trying to specify what gender the name is "supposed to be." The one option is just supposed to distinguish whether your image is influenced by Valentine's Day. The "strong and vigorous" option could be chosen even if you like it for a girl, if you feel like the name evokes that image too.
Yes, choose romantic and charming if that's the vibe it gives you. The poll isn't trying to specify what gender the name is "supposed to be." The one option is just supposed to distinguish whether your image is influenced by Valentine's Day. The "strong and vigorous" option could be chosen even if you like it for a girl, if you feel like the name evokes that image too.
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 3:19 PM
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I wasn't arguing, just offering a different point of view.
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I think it's too pretty-pretty precious, like a pink bow on a poodle. I don't care for it.
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I can't help but see Valentine as the male version of Valentina.
I adore Valentina but I don't know if I'd ever use it in real life. My images for the name are so huge I wouldn't want to use it on a real kid. I use it in some stories.
Plus, Valentine just reminds me of Valentine's Day. I feel there'd be a lot of really lame "would you be my valentine" jokes.
I know you didn't ask, but for nn's I like Val and Vala. I'd stay away from Tina because I really dislike it.
I adore Valentina but I don't know if I'd ever use it in real life. My images for the name are so huge I wouldn't want to use it on a real kid. I use it in some stories.
Plus, Valentine just reminds me of Valentine's Day. I feel there'd be a lot of really lame "would you be my valentine" jokes.
I know you didn't ask, but for nn's I like Val and Vala. I'd stay away from Tina because I really dislike it.
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Hmmm to me Valentine sounds really feminine. I know it was a strictly masculine name but so was Shirley. It just makes me think of flowers and hearts :P I dislike Tina as well. But I also dislike Val. I think if I had a daughter named Valentine I'd call her by her full name and if she picked a nickname I'd hope it would be Vallie or Allie which are fine.
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