[Opinions] Re: Word names that are not used in your language
in reply to a message by Felie
In Poland common noun names are discouraged by the Polish Language Council, which the Civil Registry Office may ask to opine on unusual choices so it's often not that easy to get a common noun name on a birth certificate.
It's easier now, I suppose, since a lot of the rules for names have loosened but it's still technically discouraged. And because it's been discouraged for so long it just sounds weird and even though I love common noun names in English, I generally don't like making them up in Polish.
Certain noun names have always been traditionally allowed and those feel alright:
Róża (Rose)
Jagoda (Berry)
Nadzieja (Hope)
Kalina (Viburnum)
Malina (Raspberry), though to me it's rare enough that it's on thin ice (and I just don't like it)
Lilia (Lily), also on thin ice due to much higher popularity of Liliana
Jaśmina (Jasmine)
Lew (Lion), the "Polish" and more common version is Leon, Lew, despite being the Polish word for lion is seen as more of a Russian influence
Narcyz (Narcissus)
I'm probably forgetting a couple but there really aren't many.
And some of them can also be derived from things other than the homonymous common nouns, like Jagoda from Jadwiga or Narcyz from mythology, which made the council more accepting of them.
Of course, I'm sure there are people out there with unconventional noun names as it's up to the official registering the child and they don't have to listen to the council or even ask their opinion in the first place so I'm sure things have slipped through over the years.
Personally, I love Jaskier (Buttercup) for a boy after the character in The Witcher, I love the way it sounds and that it's a flower name on a boy but realistically I probably couldn't get it in and I must say it would sound somewhat weird even if it's lovely.
I really think it's a great loss for the Polish language that we don't have anything even close to Summer, Dawn, Sunny or April. Or virtue names (other that Hope).
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/109883
It's easier now, I suppose, since a lot of the rules for names have loosened but it's still technically discouraged. And because it's been discouraged for so long it just sounds weird and even though I love common noun names in English, I generally don't like making them up in Polish.
Certain noun names have always been traditionally allowed and those feel alright:
Róża (Rose)
Jagoda (Berry)
Nadzieja (Hope)
Kalina (Viburnum)
Malina (Raspberry), though to me it's rare enough that it's on thin ice (and I just don't like it)
Lilia (Lily), also on thin ice due to much higher popularity of Liliana
Jaśmina (Jasmine)
Lew (Lion), the "Polish" and more common version is Leon, Lew, despite being the Polish word for lion is seen as more of a Russian influence
Narcyz (Narcissus)
I'm probably forgetting a couple but there really aren't many.
And some of them can also be derived from things other than the homonymous common nouns, like Jagoda from Jadwiga or Narcyz from mythology, which made the council more accepting of them.
Of course, I'm sure there are people out there with unconventional noun names as it's up to the official registering the child and they don't have to listen to the council or even ask their opinion in the first place so I'm sure things have slipped through over the years.
Personally, I love Jaskier (Buttercup) for a boy after the character in The Witcher, I love the way it sounds and that it's a flower name on a boy but realistically I probably couldn't get it in and I must say it would sound somewhat weird even if it's lovely.
I really think it's a great loss for the Polish language that we don't have anything even close to Summer, Dawn, Sunny or April. Or virtue names (other that Hope).
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/109883
Replies
I love the idea of a Polish girl named Iskra.
Oh wow, now I love it too! And it has Iśka as an available nickname, which is already familiar and doesn't feel awkward, I'm charmed.
I like Jaskier too. And to be honest, English people are also very picky with names. It took them years to loosen up. We are blessed though, most certainly blessed to have more options now. I wish that everyone else did. Names are mainly just names.
I like Jaskier too. And to be honest, English people are also very picky with names. It took them years to loosen up. We are blessed though, most certainly blessed to have more options now. I wish that everyone else did. Names are mainly just names.
I like Jaskier too. And to be honest, English people are also very picky with names. It took them years to loosen up. We are blessed though, most certainly blessed to have more options now. I wish that everyone else did. Names are mainly just names.
I like Jaskier too. And to be honest, English people are also very picky with names. It took them years to loosen up. We are blessed though, most certainly blessed to have more options now. I wish that everyone else did. Names are mainly just names.