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Help[Opinions] Merlin for a girl?
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Um...no, just...no. Absolutely not, Merlin was of course a wizard of Arthurian legend and most definitely a MAN. Don't do this to a little girl, just don't.
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I used to know a girl named Merlin
I actually quite like it, though I prefer it on a boy.
I actually quite like it, though I prefer it on a boy.
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I wouldn't use it for a girl. I automatically think of the wizard, so it's hard to imagine it as a girl's name even though it sounds like it could be a unisex name.
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Ick. Sorry that was my first thought.
Second thought - Please don't.
Second thought - Please don't.
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No way. I think of the wizard too much to use it for a girl.
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I also thought of the bird but the wizard association is stronger for me. Bird names are usually unisex to me, but usually leaning slightly more one way. Peregrine, Eagle, Jay, Crow, Cardinal, Falcon, and Hawk don't seem unisex to me, they are very masculine. Merlin, Kestrel, Heron, Sparrow, Raven, and Halcyon all seem unisex to me but they lean towards masculine. Lark, Wren, Dove, Swan, Parakeet, Nightingale, Starling, and Chickadee are unisex but I lean towards feminine with them, though those last four are more nn's to me than names. So most birds names seem more masculine to me.
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This message was edited 3/21/2013, 4:43 PM
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You know, my gut reaction is "NO" but actually, it does sound rather feminine.
In theory, I totally get it, but in practice I think it'd be tough to pull off - Marilyn would be better
In theory, I totally get it, but in practice I think it'd be tough to pull off - Marilyn would be better
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Well, just to add some useless knowledge to the mix: Merlin is actually a regional, medieval German diminutive of Margaret. That has long since fallen into oblivion.
That being said, I wouldn't use it. Not here, not there. Not for a boy and certainly not for a girl. The name is just too strongly tied to the wizard. Not that the wizard is a bad association in my book, it's just that it's the only association for pretty much everyone. I guess I just like my names to have a broader scope when it comes to associations. Broader than just one.
(Case in point: I really like the girls' name Merlind, and I'm not sure if I'd ever use it because of how close it is to Merlin.)
That being said, I wouldn't use it. Not here, not there. Not for a boy and certainly not for a girl. The name is just too strongly tied to the wizard. Not that the wizard is a bad association in my book, it's just that it's the only association for pretty much everyone. I guess I just like my names to have a broader scope when it comes to associations. Broader than just one.
(Case in point: I really like the girls' name Merlind, and I'm not sure if I'd ever use it because of how close it is to Merlin.)
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I really really hate it.
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I don't usually get what people are talking about when they say they would be upset if they heard of a person with suchandsuch name, but I get it now. Merlin on a girl = sinking feeling in my chest =(
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Just... no.
Why not Malin? Or Merin?
Why not Malin? Or Merin?
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My friend named her cat Merlin. Then found out it was a girl and named it Merlynne. I don't like it.
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Love it!
I love it.
Yes, I actually do!
Because I had a classmate in eight grade whom was named Merlin.
She was nice and beautiful, and the name stuck.
Although it to 99% is a masculine name, for some reaaon it fitted her perfectly!
Even though she was very feminine.
I love it.
Yes, I actually do!
Because I had a classmate in eight grade whom was named Merlin.
She was nice and beautiful, and the name stuck.
Although it to 99% is a masculine name, for some reaaon it fitted her perfectly!
Even though she was very feminine.
This message was edited 3/21/2013, 10:41 AM
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No way! Not ever! There are so many nice girls names out there, that choosing such a masculine name like this is just plain ridiculous to me!
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I think the sound of Merlin is unisex and pleasant, though Merlin always makes me think of male wizards with long white beards, which is not a feminine image. I would not name a daughter Merlin because it isn't my style. I decided to ask myself how I'd feel if I was named Merlin and I oddly think I would love it. I don't know why but I'd feel very awesome if I was named Merlin but I'm really geeky.
Also my partner wants to have a daughter named Dante and I'm okay with that being used for a girl even if it isn't my style and even though the most famous Dante is depicted as very masculine looking with a large hook nose, I think Dante works for a girl in spite of that.
Plus the only Taliesin I have ever actually met was a girl so maybe I'm predisposed to feeling more comfortable with male Arthurian legend names being used for girls. Though everyone knows Merlin and almost no one knows of Taliesin, so it is a little different. My partner and his mother love Arthurian legend but neither of them thought of Taliesin when Jeopardy this November had this as the final question "Built in 1911, this Wisconsin home was named for a Welsh bard associated with King Arthur." None of the Jeopardy contestants knew the answer either but I knew it right away, took me less than a second to know the answer. To be fair a couple of years ago I watched a PBS documentary about Frank Lloyd Wright and since Taliesin was the name of his own home and a lot of drama happened there they talked about the Taliesin home a lot, plus I always pay close attention to names especially when they are ones I like.
Also my partner wants to have a daughter named Dante and I'm okay with that being used for a girl even if it isn't my style and even though the most famous Dante is depicted as very masculine looking with a large hook nose, I think Dante works for a girl in spite of that.
Plus the only Taliesin I have ever actually met was a girl so maybe I'm predisposed to feeling more comfortable with male Arthurian legend names being used for girls. Though everyone knows Merlin and almost no one knows of Taliesin, so it is a little different. My partner and his mother love Arthurian legend but neither of them thought of Taliesin when Jeopardy this November had this as the final question "Built in 1911, this Wisconsin home was named for a Welsh bard associated with King Arthur." None of the Jeopardy contestants knew the answer either but I knew it right away, took me less than a second to know the answer. To be fair a couple of years ago I watched a PBS documentary about Frank Lloyd Wright and since Taliesin was the name of his own home and a lot of drama happened there they talked about the Taliesin home a lot, plus I always pay close attention to names especially when they are ones I like.
This message was edited 3/21/2013, 2:06 AM
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Did you fall and hit your head in something? Sorry, but Merlin on a girl is ridiculous and crazy.
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I'd be more forgiving of Emrys on a girl, and I'd be maybe 1% forgiving with that one (starts with Em- like Emma & Emily, ends with -ys like Carys & Gladys, so I could see how someone might get confused...or want to deliberately flip it). The name Merlin, on the other hand, has a flowing white beard, so. No.
How about... Meredith? (Not Meredith Elizabeth, though.) Or Mererid / Mared? Or... Marilyn?
How about... Meredith? (Not Meredith Elizabeth, though.) Or Mererid / Mared? Or... Marilyn?
This message was edited 3/21/2013, 12:04 AM
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Completely ridiculous. I have a friend whose mother is named Merlynn she's Filipino, I am pretty sure she just goes by Lynn because it's a silly name.
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Too masculine. Maybe if you spelt it Merlyn or Merlynne you could get away with it....
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Never
Merlin is a not a girl's name in any sense of the word. Merlin, being a well known MALE wizard and mythological character, is 99.99% of most people's association with the name. It's not like Merlin is someone obscure-everyone knows who he is. I don't say this ever, but Merlin on a girl is asking her to get her ass kicked. She'd just go by Elizabeth, and hope nobody ever finds out her first name.
If you must use Merlin on a female, use it on a dog or a fish that can't object.
Merlin is a not a girl's name in any sense of the word. Merlin, being a well known MALE wizard and mythological character, is 99.99% of most people's association with the name. It's not like Merlin is someone obscure-everyone knows who he is. I don't say this ever, but Merlin on a girl is asking her to get her ass kicked. She'd just go by Elizabeth, and hope nobody ever finds out her first name.
If you must use Merlin on a female, use it on a dog or a fish that can't object.
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Eeeeewww.
:P
:P
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Seconded.
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I like the way it sounds, it's not too mannish sounding - but Merlin is a dude, no question about it. Besides, hardly anyone even names their boys Merlin because it is too dorky on boys. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to go through life as a woman named Merlin. It's still a man name, and until everyone else is using it for girls, I wouldn't even remotely consider using it for a daughter. It just seems lame to use a name for a daughter that you know everyone will assume is a guy's name ... it seems to suggest you thought there's something cool or sexy about sounding like you're male when you're not. "Merlin Elizabeth" just sounds comical. If it were already trendy to use it for girls, though, and there was a common expectation that a Merlin *could* be female - I have to admit I'd probably be guiltily on that bandwagon. It "feels" like it could be unisex to me.
Merle is unisex, and 'lin' is a common ending sound for female names, so IMO the only problem is just the perception that it's exclusively masculine. But I think that's a big problem.
Merle is unisex, and 'lin' is a common ending sound for female names, so IMO the only problem is just the perception that it's exclusively masculine. But I think that's a big problem.
This message was edited 3/21/2013, 1:20 AM
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Welcome to Gensokyo (in a video game). Merlin Prismriver is there. I wouldn't name a girl after a poltergeist.
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