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Help[Opinions] Re: Smith/Smythe?
in reply to a message by MissJazJonesy
I kinda expected that the idea of Smith for a girl would have a negative reception. However, what bewilders me the most is that the majority of you kept bringing up that it would be bad for a boys name, let alone a girls name, when I never even mention Smith for a boy.
Plus the reason Smith sounds so boring is because a very common surname. Kinda strange to hate a surname cuz it's common...
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Plus the reason Smith sounds so boring is because a very common surname. Kinda strange to hate a surname cuz it's common...
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I brought it up as a boy name because while its bad enough on a boy, its worse on a girl. I also brought it up as a boy name because, well, the only person I know with the name Smith as a first name is the character on Sex and the City, who was a male.
Its not that we hate Smith as a surname, we hate Smith as a forename because its a common surname. Plus, because its so common, what happens if your daughter named Smith marries a guy named Smith? I guess she could keep her maiden name, but what if its always been her dream to take her husband's name?
Its not that we hate Smith as a surname, we hate Smith as a forename because its a common surname. Plus, because its so common, what happens if your daughter named Smith marries a guy named Smith? I guess she could keep her maiden name, but what if its always been her dream to take her husband's name?
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I'm going to add to my answer because you brought up some fair points.
The problem with Smith isn't that it's popular as a surname; it's that it's the generic surname. That's why I think it falls so flat as a first name (on a boy or girl, and I brought up a boy because I met one). I agree with you that inherently hating a name just because it's popular or a surname doesn't necessarily make sense, and normally that's criticism I'd ignore, but Smith is a special case where it's beyond just "common", I think.
The problem with Smith isn't that it's popular as a surname; it's that it's the generic surname. That's why I think it falls so flat as a first name (on a boy or girl, and I brought up a boy because I met one). I agree with you that inherently hating a name just because it's popular or a surname doesn't necessarily make sense, and normally that's criticism I'd ignore, but Smith is a special case where it's beyond just "common", I think.
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Actually, I think it does make sense to hate a name because its popular. Not in the sense that you would hate a band because everyone else likes it, but because its just boring and terribly "keeping up with the Jones'" to have the same name. Even that phrase brings up a valid point. It may as well be "keeping up with the Smiths" its so common.
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