Casper

LisaG09

WDYT? The next generation probably won't remember the friendly ghost, right?

nittanyllama

I just can't get over the ghost thing. Probably because I've just never heard it used anywhere else. I prefer Jasper.

ConversationFear

Yes - I agree, this newest generation will most likely not make the association between Casper and the friendly ghost. Just like I've been trying to tell my MIL that they are not going to associate Linus with Peanuts or Felix with a cat.

I like Casper and it was one of my picks - DH disagreeed though - because he couldn't get over the ghost thing - because he's 31 years old.

 

lauralew

I wish this is a name that could get over it's pop culture reference. Unfortunately, it also makes me think of a movie called KIDS. And the guy named Casper in it was not a good person.

That being said, I do think the show was long ago enough that it could be safe for his generation...but it's kind of risky to me.

queenbone

DS2 had one in his daycare class when he was 1-2yo. I think it is fine, although I prefer Caspar. (The version used for one of the Wise Men.)

Ceridwen21

I love it! But I named my kid after a mean puppet who lives in a garbage can, so...

novameh

Love love love it! Prefer Caspar though.

CiderWench

It's definitely a name that needs to come back in the limelight, imo. Using Caspar vs. Casper would set it apart enough (in my mind) for me to not thing about "the friendly ghost."

Manderlin923

I think of the ghost

theholmanherd

The ghost? No, please don't. I'm sorry, but just don't. If you like the whispery sound of the name, why not Jasper?

ETA: even if the kids don't get the reference, all the parents will.

TweedleDee3

I think of Casper Smart (Jlo's rebound post Marc Anthony). Either way the name is nms, but I don't think it's terrible. I really like the suggestion of Jasper.

momo21

We had some of the neighbors over for brunch the other day (both families have girls in kindergarten), and apparently there's a Kasper in first grade whom all of the girls LOOOVE. (I had assumed his name was spelled Casper, but I happened to see his locker yesterday when I was there for DS' kindergarten orientation.)

Anyway, the conversation among the adults went into how pop culture has killed some names, like Grover or Elmo. The girls just continued to swoon over the mention of Kasper's name -- they had no clue what we were talking about.

So, in short, I think the Casper reference is old enough that it's fine, unlike Grover or Elmo which are still relevant today. The name is not my style, but I would be totally cool seeing it on someone else's kid.

rlyttle

It's not that great IMO. My friend used it as a MN. Calvin Casper is his kid's name. 

plunderb

I really love it. Even with the reference. I mean, Damian is a top 100 name and no one cares.

ashiscute

lauralew said:

I wish this is a name that could get over it's pop culture reference. Unfortunately, it also makes me think of a movie called KIDS. And the guy named Casper in it was not a good person. That being said, I do think the show was long ago enough that it could be safe for his generation...but it's kind of risky to me.

This too.  I'm not sure how many people have seen KIDS but I can still hear him saying the Casper line at that party.  Creepy.  

I would not use a name that went to one cartoon character that easily for most people.  You would get lots of "like the friendly ghost?" comments.

FakeFinn

I like it! I don't think of the friendly ghost, but of one of my best friends, so I'm all for you using it. ETA: friend is a wonderful person, so I only have positive connotations. I also like Caspar and think the friendly ghost connection won't play up as much.

lauralew

ashiscute said:

lauralew said:

I wish this is a name that could get over it's pop culture reference. Unfortunately, it also makes me think of a movie called KIDS. And the guy named Casper in it was not a good person. That being said, I do think the show was long ago enough that it could be safe for his generation...but it's kind of risky to me.

This too.  I'm not sure how many people have seen KIDS but I can still hear him saying the Casper line at that party.  Creepy.  

I would not use a name that went to one cartoon character that easily for most people.  You would get lots of "like the friendly ghost?" comments.

YES! I can't get that line out of my head...

TheWop

I don't mind it.  The Casper ghost association doesn't bother me.  It hasn't been relevant in a while. 

blu-eyedwife

I prefer Caspar to Casper, but I think both are fine.  I think the ghost is an older cartoon that kids won't get (my kid dressed up as Bam Bam for Halloween and no kids knew who he was - not that I'd advocate naming a child Bam Bam)

And when I first hear the name Casper, my immediate thought is Casper Van Dien circa Starship Troopers:

blue+skies

I lived in Casper (Wyo) for several years and it's where my husband and I met, so it's a place to me. I wouldn't think it's horrible on a kid, but it just doesn't seem like a name to me.

WashingtonQueen

I love Casper! I don't consider the ghost to be a bad reference.

KTZ17

I like Casper and I think even some adults wouldn't get the friendly ghost reference.

LisaG09

I'm so happy to see so much positive feedback. My BF and I saw it in a lame zombie movie where the lead and totally awesome character's name was Casper. I just hate the look of the name Caspar...like it should be pronounced differently. And one of my childhood dogs name was Jasper...I'll always see that as a dog's name. I'm in love with Casper but probably won't ever get to use it because I think that it sounds funky with my BF's last name...Casper Minor just doesn't have a nice ring to it. The love for it makes me smile though!

brooksidebride

I like it. I think of the ghost first and that's no big deal. Then a moment or two later both the kid from KIDS and Casper Van Diem come to mind. None of those bother me... Just references that come to mind, every name has got them.

I really think coming across a Casper--any age, but I most immediately picture a toddler or a teenager--would be very cool. Yah, I really like it!