Message: "Re: It has been used for quite some time (m)"

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[Opinions] Re: It has been used for quite some time (m)

by Dracotorix

8/2/2020, 9:53 AM

I'm guessing in 17th century England it was more likely to be a nickname based on the person's hair color or something like that?

ETA: But I don't think the history really matters in this case. Tiffany has a long history, but it still sounds tacky because of how popular it was in the 80's and it doesn't feel like it has a sense of history. And there are some names that were invented within the last decade that sound very solid and feel like they have history even if they don't. Like Tiffany, which feels more modern than Amber even though it has more actual historical usage. The sound of Tiffany is more frilly so I think it seems more frivilous and superficial, while Amber has a deeper sound even if its usage is more "Tiffany" than Tiffany itself.

This message was edited 8/2/2020, 10:01 AM

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- Cake or Death (queenv) +1

8/2/2020, 10:58 AM

In "Forever Amber", the heroine is conceived out of wedlock by two lovers who are torn apart because their families are on opposite sides during The English Civil War. The male lover has amber eyes. The female lover, upon learning that her baby is a girl, says she wants to name her Amber after the color of her father's eyes. And Amber inherits her father's amber eyes, which means that Amber has amber eyes.

So the name is a one-off based upon certain circumstances. I find it believable enough.

- Perrine (Destry)

8/2/2020, 12:28 PM

I also don't find it very unlikely. It is a gemstone name and the word has been around for ages. So if they used Opal, why not Amber?

It has been in the top 1000 since 1880, the earliest year we have data from.

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