Naming kids after movies/plays?

MaryMagdalene · April 2009

I named my 16-month-old daughter Katarina, after Julia Stiles' character in 10 Things I Hate About You, which was based on Shakespeare's Taming the Shrew. I'm pregnant with my second daughter and I keep thinking I like the name Bianca. The problem with that, though, is that Bianca is Katarina's younger sister in both the movie and the play. Now on one hand I think it's a beautiful name, and I think it'd be kind of cute to have them both named after one of my favorite movies/plays. But on the other, it does seem a little, well, lame to do that.

What do you guys think?

longhorn14 · April 2009

If you like it, go for it. Besides, it's not like you intentionally chose the name Bianca BECAUSE of the movie.

But maybe it did stick out in your mind BECAUSE of the movie. I like Bianca and your DD's name. Good choice.

miss_beckman · April 2009

I like them (But Im also a big fan of the movie) so I might be bais!

andrea922 · April 2009

I've seen that movie a few times and would never put together that those were the girls names, and doubt many people would. I don't think it matters.

Tess12 · April 2009

It's not like you're planning on naming twins Romeo and Juliet or Edward and Bella. They are nice names and it's not glaringly obvious where you got them from.

kiki4 · April 2009

I never would have known they were sisters in the movie or the play. Personally, I think if you like the name, use it, regardless of where it came from.

NoleGirlKEF · April 2009

The average person won't catch the association. If they do, they are probably a Shakespeare fan and will think it's cool like you do.

MissFreo · April 2009

Ditto PP -- I've seen the movie many times and have read the play, and it did not occur to me that that's where you got the names from. I say go for it! They are both beautiful names.

LMS05 · April 2009

Seen the movie many times and I wouldn't of guessed either of their names. Bianca is pretty and uncommon. I'd go for it!

beth thacker · April 2009

It's cute but at the same time it's lame. lol If you like it though I say go for it! That is one of my favorite movies by the way!

Soon2BMrsN · April 2009

NoleGirlKEF:
The average person won't catch the association. If they do, they are probably a Shakespeare fan and will think it's cool like you do.

I agree.

teacherjess · April 2009

Most people I have met have never read The Taming of the Shrew, and if they did, they don't remember the characters' name. And most of the time when I tell my students that the movie was based on the play, they are shocked. People rarely put two and two together. I'd go for it.

Smores730 · April 2009

I love that movie and wouldnt' have realized it. Go for it. And now I have sexy images of Heath Ledger in my head!

EmmieB · April 2009

Do it. Emily Deschanel is named after Emily Dickenson and Zooey Deschanel is named after Franny and Zooey (Salinger. Ironically, his Zooey was a boy.)

Just be aware that you have to love that play otherwise you might dissapoint your daughters if they find out that you "only kindof like it"

Wink

vegemom302 · April 2009

I say go for it. They are both such pretty names. And ditto pp, anyone who puts that together will probably get a kick out of it and not think it's lame.

Emie28 · April 2009

I would automatically associate them if I heard them, but I'm a Shakespeare fan. I would have said that I wouldn't do it b/c I thought it was obvious, but almost everyone said they wouldn't associate the two, so I say go for it! They are great names. I love the name Bianca.

Temp778367875008010 · April 2009

I say go for it. It isn't that obvious an association, like Jack and Jill or something.

I have a friend who has 4 kids and her 2 younger DD's are Cosette and Fantine. I guess if you've never seen/read Les Mis you wouldn't know, but if you have, you know where she got those names from.

JinglesChic · April 2009

I wouldn't have made the association but who cares if you have a theme? You are the one who has to like the names. Like pp, it's not like you're naming them Jack and Jill or something like that.

Poplin2007 · April 2009

I don't think that move was big enough for most people to make that connection. It's also not very recent. Therefore, I say go for it, I like Bianca.

megstriesagain · April 2009

I'm a Shakespeare fan, so I would get the association right away...and I'll be the lone voice saying it's probably mean to do to your older daughter. A lot of people read the original play in 8th grade or high school, and Kat was a raging b**ch where Bianca was pretty and popular. With two girls in the house, you KNOW that will come up...

I just feel like there are so many other beautiful names out there, why harbor resentment when they're older?

MaryMagdalene · April 2009

megstriesagain:
I'm a Shakespeare fan, so I would get the association right away...and I'll be the lone voice saying it's probably mean to do to your older daughter. A lot of people read the original play in 8th grade or high school, and Kat was a raging b**ch where Bianca was pretty and popular. With two girls in the house, you KNOW that will come up...
I just feel like there are so many other beautiful names out there, why harbor resentment when they're older?

I honestly hadn't thought of it that way, but you make an awesome point. I guess I had always seen Katarina as the cool one in the play, and Bianca kind of got on my nerves. Which really doesn't make anything any better, LoL. But no matter what, there's still plenty of time. I really like the name Jolene as well, but my boyfriend keeps shooting it down.

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