Message: "Schmetterling" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Schmetterling

by Luxiana

9/28/2006, 2:03 PM

what do you think of Schmetterling? it's German for butterfly.

it sounds kindof surname-y, but it has a sweetness and an energy.

I'm not sure of combos, but I think it could make a cute mn.

Luella Schmetterling
Gia Schmetterling
Lux Schmetterling
Anja Schmetterling

Luxiana

#Schmetterling

Replies

- NameNerd (guest)

9/30/2006, 5:44 AM

Schmetterling?
If you're using it as a character in a story that's German, fine. But I wouldn't name your child Schmetterling(unless you're German)

- name_lover (guest)

9/29/2006, 9:25 AM

I think it sounds funny, not really in a good way.
Maybe as a MN?

- Nirvanna

9/29/2006, 8:27 AM

Germans don't use words or nature terms as people's names, and while I like the sound of 'Schmetterling' as a word, I definitely wouldn't use it as a name

- rainbow_Maya

9/29/2006, 5:14 AM

As a German I have to say: No!
Don't do it!
Schmetter isn't even a nice word, it means clangour.
I do however like Papillion, french for butterfly. But, sayng tht, if the child goes to France someday...

- glukumalon

9/28/2006, 8:42 PM

I agree with what everyone else has said. It sounds quite cacophonous when you say it out loud, but the meaning is lovely (although, like other pointed out, it would probably be somewhat comical to German speakers). The idea of it is fun, though! :P

.Catherine Ann Genevieve.

- Array (WeloveyouJesseLacey)

9/28/2006, 3:35 PM

As a middle name, I see nothing wrong with it. It's nothing I'd use--but then, I'd call a kid Lyle Rosencrantz Surname, and I have no room to cast judgement on you. ;)

Array

I need the smell of summer--
I need its noises in my ears.
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having.

- as (guest)

9/28/2006, 3:03 PM

Um, sorry. No.

- Eilis (Suibhne) +5

9/28/2006, 2:58 PM

Mariposa

I think the Spanish of butterfly--or at least what I've been under the impression is Spanish for butterfly :-)-- would make a more flattering name: Mariposa.

Schmetterling to me sounds like a conglomerate of unflattering sounds.

www.qwantz.com

- LMS +4

9/29/2006, 4:30 AM

Mariposa isn't a good idea in the US, as we have a store named Mariposa. It sells teen clothes and prom dresses.

- Eilis (Suibhne) +1

9/29/2006, 5:37 PM

I live in the US

and I've never heard of it.

I'd think the biggest obstacle of Mariposa would be that the namers and recipient of the name perhaps wouldn't speak any Spanish.

www.qwantz.com

- LMS

10/1/2006, 5:00 PM

Mariposa is in the midwest and west mostly in malls.

- Array (WeloveyouJesseLacey) +1

9/29/2006, 6:00 AM

We've also got a store named Claire's...(m)

And Victoria('s Secret), Charlotte (Russe), Gloria (Jean's), and Libby (Lu).

People by those names aren't scarred for life, and I don't see why a Mariposa would be that different.

Array

I need the smell of summer--
I need its noises in my ears.
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having.

- Cleveland Kent Evans (clevelandkentevans)

9/29/2006, 3:51 PM

I don't think the store by itself should discourage anyone from naming a child Mariposa. However, in Mexico, mariposa is a negative slang term for a gay man, and so I would think twice before giving it to a child on the western side of the Atlantic. :)

- Adelle (Adelle Sofia)

9/28/2006, 2:35 PM

I think of children being insulting...

Like when kids want to insult something so they change its first and/or last syllables, e.g.:

"Lettering, schmetterling; I don't have to practice writing!"

"Bettering, schmetterling; I don't have to get better at that!"

That is based off sound alone for an American. As the German word, though, I agree with the other replies that it would be sad for the child should she ever spend time with German speakers. I like Miranda's suggestions: LN for a fictional character.

Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.

This message was edited 9/28/2006, 2:36 PM

- Britney (BritneyTamber) +1

9/28/2006, 2:12 PM

It reminds me of smattering, schmorgasbord and just things schmooshed together in general. It's a fun word. Just not a name.

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- Luxiana

9/28/2006, 2:26 PM

so you could say it's smashing? :]

it is fun. again, probably wouldn't use it, but like it.

thanks.

Luxiana

- Miranda (Randee15) +3

9/28/2006, 2:08 PM

Ack, the butterflies! Get 'em off!

Sorry, sorry... This post just reminded me of that "Neveah means 'butterfly' in Slavic!" crap that gets bandied about the cra--er, less-scholarly naming boards.

Schmetterling would make a wonderful surname for a fictional character imo. But it should in no way be a given name imo, though as always it's slightly better in the middle name slot than the first. For one thing, if the kid ever went to a German-speaking country, the natives would probably laugh themselves sick over his/her "name".

Miranda
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Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks; see my profile for their names.

- Luxiana +2

9/28/2006, 2:17 PM

lol!

your subject title made me laugh.

this database says Nevaeh is : the word heaven spelled backwards. thats odd. the comment box is full of equally odd statements.

I don't think I'd ever use it for a real person, but I am quite fond of it for some reason.

anyway, thanks for the feedback and the laugh.

- Miranda (Randee15) +1

9/28/2006, 2:26 PM

I said Neveah, not Nevaeh

There be a difference between them, according to the strange creatures we affectionately call tryndees. Nevaeh is indeed "Heaven" spelled backwards; Neveah ("Haeven" spelled backwards) supposedly has the aforementioned "butterfly" meaning.

To "confirm" the above, just check such sites as Babynames.com or Babynamesworld.com.

Miranda
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Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks; see my profile for their names.

- Luxiana

9/28/2006, 3:29 PM

ah...dyslexia kicks in around nap time

I misread or mis-typed. oops.

I've never encountered those who preach "Neveah means butterfly" but I don't doubt their existence.

Luxiana

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