Made up names

tarmar81

So what exactly makes a name "made up?"

Like someone said in another post, all names were made up at some point.  I noticed a few posters said names sounded made up when I saw in their signatures that the names of their own children were rather unique or had spellings that differed from the norm.

A coworker named her daughter Emelyn.  That was a name I'd never heard before, and I'm sure some would venture to say that's a made-up name, but I think it's really pretty.  Her other daughter is Livia, which sounds like someone just dropped the "O" from Olivia, so isn't that sort of made-up as well?

Just curious, not trying to start an argument.

BlueRidge8

Generally, most of like "legitimate" names - which have some form of etymology - traceable history, meaning and origin.

When you jack the spelling of a legit name, you lose that history.

www.behindthe

tarmar81

BlueRidge8:

Generally, most of like "legitimate" names - which have some form of etymology - traceable history, meaning and or

mrstengallonhat1

I've never heard of Emelyn, but I know Livia is a legitimate name.

mrshall10210

My thoughts...

Just because it "sounds pretty" doesn't make it a name.  I don't think that in order for my children to be special and unique, I need to come up with something completely random that sounds pretty, or take a perfectly nice nam

tarmar81

MJ, so does my kid have a smooshed, made-up name or not?   We picked it simply because we liked the name.  We weren't trying to smoosh Kyle and Tyler.

Also, what about people who make up names to honor family members?  I know sev

plunderb

I would consider a name made up if the parents invent it or borrow it from another recent inventor. Some of the names that would qualify are smooth names like Renesmee or names that are created by taking popular syllables and creating a new name by sticki

franklyscarlette

tarmar81:

MJ, so does my kid have a smooshed, madeup name or not? :nbsp; We picked it simply because we liked the name.nbsp; We wer

plunderb

Why is it insulting to say that a name is made up when the parents explicitly made it up?

Name innovation is the manifestation of certain values, including creativity and individuality over tradition and history. Different people value diffe

franklyscarlette

mj.reilly:

BlueRidge8:<

silentsiren11

As someone who gravitates toward traditional names, I can get on board with your logic. I like names that are unique and new as well, and can appreciate a new direction. That being said, I also see the point of many on this board who hate "misspellings" e

tarmar81

franklyscarlette:

t

tarmar81

plunderb:

Why is it insulting to say that a name is made up when the parents explicitly made it up? Name innovation is the

BlueRidge8

tarmar81:

franklysc

TheWop

I kind of get the feeling the OP is looking to start arguments. 

tarmar81

BlueRidge8:

tarmar81:<

tarmar81

TheWop:

I kind of get the feeling the OP is looking to start arguments. 

 

Nah. 

Lue94

TheWop:

I kind of get the feeling the OP is looking to start arguments. 

Yeah, I agree. I think

tarmar81

MelRC117:

tarmar81:</s

TheWop

MelRC117:

tarmar81:</s

capulet

Livia was one of the most badass women in the ancient world. She was the wife of one of the most famous Roman emperors. How do so few people know this is a legit name, distinct from Olivia and with a longer history?

tarmar81

Ok. I guess I'm just thinking, weren't all names made up at some point though?  Even Livia?  An ancient Roman must've come up with it somehow.

Does a name only become legit after it's been in use hundreds/thousands of years? 

<

bsinno

my head hurts a little from reading this thread!

"made up" names are a grey area that are clearly defined by each person individually. You may not have used the name Kyler as intentional smoosh of Kyle & Tyler, but someone did once, you heard

tarmar81

bsinno:

my head hurts a little from reading this thread!

"made up" names are a grey area that are clearly defined by eac

capulet

Joy2611:

tarmar81:</st

missesru

Joy2611:

tarmar81:</st

vsalt31

My DH's grandmother was Emelyn.

CeCe8579

BlueRidge8:

Generally, most of like "legitimate" names which have some form of etymology traceable history, meaning and origin.Wh

Zimger

The variations for Greyson/Grayson are easy to explain. Grayson is more popular in the US and Greyson is more popular in the UK. The reason is that the spellings are different in both places. Gray is more common in the US and Grey in the UK. Many of th

NerdyLucy

tarmar81:

TheWop:</

msmerymac

tarmar81:

MelRC117:</s

cocohkn

I have found through the names voting, and these forms, that people really enjoy names that they think are "different" and "unique". Giving your child a name that no one knows how to pronounce or spell gives them nothing beneficial in their future. They w