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[Opinions] Tallow
I have recently heard of a baby girl with this name. She was named after a tree called Tallowwood.
I thought it was absolutely beautiful... I love nature themed names, with soft sounds, love the "ow" ending and that it begins with T!
Also I had never heard of it before - so very unusual too!
But then I was so upset to find out its other meaning.. Animal fat. Especially because I'm a vegetarian.
Thought this was going to be my first girl name choice!
What do you think of naming a baby girl Tallow?
Can anyone think of any other ideas for me instead?
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Immediately thought of fat, sorry.
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Yeah, no. All that comes to mind is the animal fat, and the fact that they used to make candles out of it (tallow dip candles, back in the 1600/1700/1800s [and maybe even farther back]). I do like candles (who am I kidding, I lurve candles), but tallow is still not a very pleasant sound. And the full tree name, tallowwood, kind of runs together in the middle. Um, as for suggestions...do you like other naturey names? Maybe tree names? Suggestions:Willow
Oak
Yarrow (a type of plant)
Tansy (again, a plant-sometimes considered a weed, though)
Eyebright? (Maybe too out there-it's an herb)
Meadow
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It's unusual possibly because it is gross. I would not ever consider that if I was naming a human child. I'm not always against nouns as names but this one isn't a pretty bird or a flower or gemstone, it's rendered animal fat. Yecch. If you like nature names, this is one of my favorite sources: http://www.earthlypursuits.com/FlwrsPer/FlwrName.htmIt's a list of flower names in English, French, and Latin. There are some very pretty ones in there. Some of my favorites include:Hyacinth
Saffron
Verain
Zephyranth
Ipomea
Laurestine
Osmunda
Hogbean ;-)The nature-related name Teal is a 'guilty pleasure' of mine. A teal is a kind of duck.

This message was edited 10/21/2013, 12:06 PM

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I wish I didn't always jump to trolling, but how great are Hogbeam and Mugwort??
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BuglossBugloss is another one that I enjoy. ;-)Wake-robin became a GP name for me, from perusing that list so much. And Hop is my go-to nickname for Thomas, however my brain decided to make a connection between the two.
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Oooo I love Zephyranth! I had that one in a combo once but couldn't remember where it came from, so thanks :) Teal is cool too
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wonderful linkThanks!
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I'm glad you checked it out! I try to mention it often because I think it is such a neat resource. :-) I wish I knew a thing about the French language, some of those French flower names look like they would be wonderful.
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ElowenMy favorite name EVER!!
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That's a shame. :-/ Animal fat woud put me off too, and i'm not a vegitarian. (Good for you, by the way. I'm too weak.) My first thought for you was Mallow, as in the pretty flower. But "marshmallow" would be too easy to tease with. How about:Meadow
Eirlys (= snowdrop)
Acacia (nn Ace? Caci/Casey?)
Linnet ("LIN-et," a small bird)
Mulberry (a GP mn for me)
Diantha
Briar
Afanen ("AV-uh-nen," = raspberry)
Jacintha / Hyacinth
Terra
Kestrel
Baya
Mavis (a twist on popular Maeve)
Nightingale (nn Gale?)
Lark
Promise
Patience
Edelweiss (nn Del?)
Oleander (nn Lena? Andi? Ollie?)
Genista
Bernadette (nn Bear?)
Nantale (= gazelle in an African language -- sorry I forgot which one)
Euphrosyne / Eyebright
Amarantha (nn Mari? Amy?)
Sorrel
Juniper (nn Juni?)
Helianthe / Sunflower (nn Sunny?)
Solstice
Polaris / Polaire
Afton (a river)
Persephone (associated with changing seasons)
Celeste
Astraea (click on link for neat meaning)
Cedar
Myrtle / Hadassah
Jessamine
Oceane
Kinneret ("ki-NEHR-et," = harp shaped, = Sea of Galilee)
Briallen
Saffron
Honeysuckle
Blanchefleur
Angelica
Laurel
Rosemary
Artemisia (nn Mimi, Mia?)
Clary Sage
YarrowHappy hunting!

This message was edited 10/21/2013, 10:38 AM

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Not good!
There's a very old saying, not in use these days,that someone is so miserly that they'd "Skin a flea for it's hide and tallow."So no, I'd never name a baby girl that!
I suppose the parents didn't know of the animal fat meaning. That's one time when, if it were my name, I wouldn't stop at using my middle name, I'd change it.
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Animal fat was the first thing that came to my mind. Maybe a good alternative would be Meadow.
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I wouldn't use it because of the other meaning, vegetarian or no vegetarian, It's not very nice sounding to me anyway.May I interest you in Willow?
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It does have a nice sound! - but I've never heard of it as anything other than animal fat. Tarlow is apparently a surname, maybe that would work? or maybe Tallis. Or Callisto.
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It's awful... I mean the word is pretty, yes but it means animal grease and there's just no way around that. Unfortunately.Willow, Meadow, Sparrow, Harlow, Marlow(e)
Talia / Tahlia, Talulla (TAL-ul-la ... people would have to be corrected when they inevitably say ta-LOO-la)
Itxaro (eat-CHAR-oh I think)
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Aw, that is a crummy meaning. Shoot. Tallow sounds really neat. So soft and beautiful and unusual. Harlow
Meadow
Willow
Sparrow
Rainbow
ShilohTindra
Talita
Tania
TillyLike anything?
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