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Help[Opinions] Myrrh (as a name)
I've recently realized I love the name Myrrh as a name. Not for a future child (already have more names for those than I'll ever need!), but for a fictional character (probably in a steampunk-ish or fantasy setting).
What are your thoughts on Myrrh? Does it feel more feminine, more masculine, or more neutral/ambiguous? What sort of character do you feel it would "fit" best? What elaborations and/or nicknames can you think of? Any fun/elegant/creative combos you can think of? Sibsets?
What are your thoughts on Myrrh? Does it feel more feminine, more masculine, or more neutral/ambiguous? What sort of character do you feel it would "fit" best? What elaborations and/or nicknames can you think of? Any fun/elegant/creative combos you can think of? Sibsets?
This message was edited 7/2/2015, 2:14 PM
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I don't like the sound of it. In Sweden Myrr is a chemical substance you use to kill ants.
I do like the Swedish word for myrrh, myrra, which has occasionally been used as a name. It sounds a little like Mira. There is a Swedish singer and musical actress called Myrra Malmberg.
I do like the Swedish word for myrrh, myrra, which has occasionally been used as a name. It sounds a little like Mira. There is a Swedish singer and musical actress called Myrra Malmberg.
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It's the kind of name I would have used when I was fourteen, in one of my many unfinished stories. I probably would have used it in a fantasy setting. Nowadays, if I picked up a novel in the bookshop and seen "Myrrh" as a character name in the blurb, I'd put it straight back down. Sorry.
However, in Aristophanes' comedy Lysistrata (pro tip: don't read it), there's a female character named Myrrhine. I think that's such a pretty name, it's just a shame about its most well known usage.
However, in Aristophanes' comedy Lysistrata (pro tip: don't read it), there's a female character named Myrrhine. I think that's such a pretty name, it's just a shame about its most well known usage.
This message was edited 7/3/2015, 4:52 AM
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Myrrhine! Of course! I knew at the back of my mind there was a Myrrh- name I couldn't recall. To be honest, seeing Myrrhine (nn Myrrh) in a blurb would only make me want to pick up the book - it shows that the author has some familiarity with ancient literature. Fantasy novels get away with all sorts of names anyway. (I mean, using the ultra-modern names Catelyn and Jaime in medieval-esque fantasy? They simply don't sit well with me.)
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I'd be much more open to a Myrrhine in a fantasy novel, but it would depend on what kind of fantasy it was. If it was set in a world anchored to our own, such as Harry Potter where I think names like Hermione and Sirius work very well, then that'd be fine, but I'd be completely unimpressed if I saw a fantasy world entirely independent of our own using a name like Myrrhine, or Jaime or Jade or whatever. But I don't read much fantasy anyway.
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Just for the record, the extremely popular and successful 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series of novels (and the HBO adaptation) are in fact a fantasy world entirely independent of our own, and one of the main characters is named Jaime. (Another is named Catelyn.) I don't see how either name doesn't fit the setting, though, and I don't see why something as simple as Jade wouldn't fit either. (Assuming jade exists as a substance and a word in that world as well, why couldn't people decide it would make a good name and just start using it?) What sort of names do you think would actually fit in a fantasy world entirely independent of our own?
This message was edited 7/3/2015, 11:42 AM
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For a character, especially the child of hippie parents, yes, I think it would fit well as a female name or a character who is into the mystical side of things.
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Hippie parents would fit for sure. :) Or just a general culture where it's pretty common to use names like this. (Maybe I should be taking notes from that thread about quirky word names.)
But yes, I'm getting the sort of sense that Myrrh might be a herbalist/alchemist/apothecary. Or tarot reader? idk Maybe she's a midwife.
But yes, I'm getting the sort of sense that Myrrh might be a herbalist/alchemist/apothecary. Or tarot reader? idk Maybe she's a midwife.
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That would all work, I especially like the Tarot reader idea. Keep going you must be on a roll!
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I think it sounds nice as a character name. Sounds pretty unisex, but looks feminine. Myrrine is also a name and could be used as a "full" name for Myrrh or Myrra/Myrrah
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I don't much like the feel of Myrrine, but I do like Myrra and Myrrah. :)
And I agree, while Myrrh does feel more feminine, I could totally see it on a guy as well.
And I agree, while Myrrh does feel more feminine, I could totally see it on a guy as well.
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It's a sound to me, not a name. I don't think it works, not even for a character.
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I would love seeing a fictional character named Myrrh! I has such a lovely soft sound and looks beautiful in print. I immediately consider it a feminine name.
I think it would be pretty neat in a sibset of nature related-names (which might turn out cheesy but I can't think of other names Myrrh would fit well with), such as Juniper, Thyme, Rosemary and Aspen.
I think it would be pretty neat in a sibset of nature related-names (which might turn out cheesy but I can't think of other names Myrrh would fit well with), such as Juniper, Thyme, Rosemary and Aspen.
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OMG. I love Aspen. I'll have to make note of that. :D (Thank you.)
I agree on it sounding feminine; it does to me as well.
I agree on it sounding feminine; it does to me as well.
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