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[Opinions] So-called "romantasy" names (from article)
Today, I came across an article regarding "romantasy" baby names on the rise in the U.S.: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/parenting/25-romantasy-baby-names-actually-being-used-in-the-u-s/ar-AA1FNjre?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=f5fbfc611622410e8de5bf3319c7a260&ei=23These were the names specifically highlighted: Alaric
Aries
Athena
Azriel
Briar
Casper
Cassian
Castiel
Ceridwen
Dorian
Echo
Elowyn
Freya
Godric
Leander
Maeve
Manon
Nesryn
Persephone
Rowan
Rhys
Soraya
Veda
Vesta
ZeldaMaybe I'm hopelessly trendy, but several of these names appeal to me! It's also becoming more apparent that Elowyn will be the "American" spelling while Elowen is more prevalent in the U.K.Anyway, what do you think?***Please rate my personal name lists:www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." - Carl Sagan

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I like: (* = would use)Alaric*
Aries (or Ares)
Athena*
Azriel
Briar*
Cassian*
Castiel (or Cassiel)
Ceridwen*
Dorian*
Echo
Elowyn (prefer Elowen)
Freya
Leander*
Maeve
Nesryn (not sure, prefer Nasrin and maybe Nesrin but they all remind me a little of "nose")
Persephone
Rowan*
Rhys (kind of- I like the look, but the pronunciation is boring)
Soraya
Veda
Vesta (prefer Hestia)
Alaric is fine. It's quite nice. I wouldn't ever use it irl, it's so obviously fantasy coded.
Aries feels horoscope-girly to me. The god is actually a second association. I'm not a fan.
Athena is ok, but very overused. I know of about eight people with the middle name Athena, a kid called Athena (or with the middle name Athena), or a relative called Athena. As a first name it seems to be having a bit of growth, there's a few young nieces/cousins named Athena. As a goddess, Athena is OK but not my favourite, and I think this tints how I see the name tbh.
Azriel. Eh. Feels like they were going for Azrael but didn't know how to spell it and just thought it sounded 'deathly and edgy' or something. Nah.
Briar. Absolutely not.
Casper. Cute, I like it. I do not see romantasy potential in it at all, but I don't like romantasy so I don't care. It's a nice name.
Cassian. Very fantasy coded. It's ok. I'm not a fan of the sound, the look is ok.
Castiel. Eugh.Supernatural. A show I did not watch, but the name goes hand in hand with the show enough that it's clear that's where the inspo is. I'm not a fan of the sound or look.
Ceridwen. Absolutely not. Strong dislike for the look and feel of the name, plus I've known two or three Ceridwens who've all gone by Ceri and all been absolute main character mean girls cosplaying the manic pixie dream girl trope... that is, absolute nightmares. That alone is enough to ruin the name, but the name was clunky and blocky and unappealing to begin with.
Dorian. I picture The Picture (lol) of Dorian Gray and a pale, anaemic, frail young man with floppy hair. Not a 'strong and dashing' kind of name, but something less sporty. I quite like it as a name, I'd never use it irl as a first name though.

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I like a lot of these names...Alaric
Aries
Athena
Azriel
Cassian
Dorian
Leander
Maeve
Rhys
Soraya
Veda
Vesta
Zelda
Love: Alaric, CastielLike: Dorian, PersephoneNeutral: Athena, Briar, Echo, Freya, Godric, Soraya, Veda, Vesta, Zelda
I love this genre of names, they feel otherworldly but still familiar.Love: Alaric, Cassian, Castiel, Dorian, Freya, Leander, Nesryn (first time I see it!), Soraya, ZeldaLike: Aries, Athena, Azriel, Briar, Casper, Ceridwen, Echo, Godric, Maeve, Manon, Rowan, Rhys, Veda, VestaNeutral: Elowyn (Elowen is much better, though)Dislike: PersephoneHate: none
Persephone is my sister’s name! I think of someone who is really modern, alt, edgy and stylish, not at all romantasy. But I suppose that’s because that’s how she is.
Interesting. I know a Rowan who is a high-school headmaster: nice guy, but as far from romantasy as it's possible to go. I've also known people called Alaric, Casper, Dorian (cute little blond toddler), Freya and Maeve. Rhys, Zelda and Vesta seem pretty normal, and Ceridwen is probably routine in its natural habitat. Nesryn makes my toes curl up in horror.
I have a baby cousin named Maeve! It used to be among my favorite names--I guess it still is--but when she was born I just quietly told myself, "Well, it looks like I'll be crossing that one off the list now." (Not that I am having any kids for the foreseeable future, but anyway...)
I love all of these names- (How "Castiel" has remained off my male names list for so long alludes me!) maybe except Zelda. It's interesting to see how younger millennials and Gen Z are naming their kids, and I think this is a fascinating direction for the names of the future.
ooh there are several that I really like! Alaric
Briar
Cassian
Castiel
Dorian
Echo
Elowyn
Freya
Maeve
Manon
Rowan
Veda
Well now I have a word for my naming aesthetic. This list has so many of my favourite names.
I'm not surprised. Pop culture has always had an effect on baby names and romantasy is BIG right now. I'm personally not a fan but I like the names still.I'm in several writing and name subreddits and this is a topic that comes up sometimes, usually in the "I'm writing a romantasy and what should I name my characters" or just general "What names do you think are romantasy names?" threads lolI think a lot of my own favorite names lean into the romantasy genre, because I love Arthurian and mythological based names a lot, so they match the same vibes as these I think. There's a certain floweryness, magical vibe to these names that I enjoy lol