Any of these useable?

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

I am having a slow day at work today-- so this is just to get general impressions on these nature names. I like them all in varying degrees.

Meadow

Frost

Breezy

Blossom

Cricket

Ocean

Beryl

Gale

bsinno · November 2013

I personally adore the name Gale. The others are just too much for my taste. But I can see Breezy, Blossom, Cricket as cool nicknames

Scarlett&Gatsby · November 2013

I love Meadow and Frost. (Do you have particular sexes tied to any of these? I think Frost sounds more masculine, and I guess I'd assume parents used it for the literary connection rather than the nature one).

I worked at summer camp with a girl whose NN was Breezy. I think it's a cute NN but I don't really like it as a person's given name.

Blossom, Cricket, Ocean and Gale are all usable enough (Cricket has been used as a NN for a while in the UK, and isn't particularly different from naming a kid Poppy, Posey or Pippa), but I think they'd be better MNs than FNs.

Gale is tricky for me. I'd be inclined to assume girl because I've known lots of older women named Gail, or who go by Gail because their full name is Abigail. But The Hunger Games kind of set Gale in the boy camp for a lo of people, so I might think the parents were fans and using it for a boy if I saw it on a birth announcement or something.

Blossom reminds of the 90's show, and I wasn't even old enough to watch it when it was on.

Ocean is "meh," but it could grow on me. I think of Danny Ocean and the Ocean's Eleven series, which makes it seem less nature-y and more suave.

And I'm on the fence about Beryl. I love the way this name looks, and I love the gem. But the pronunciation gets me. The fact that it rhymes with pearl always makes me think immediately of Burl Ives and clay-mation Christmas movies. It doesn't feel very feminine to me because of that.

NerdyLucy · November 2013

Gale is definitely usable because of Gail.

I don't really like Cricket, but I know some women named Cricket, so it's usable enough for them.

I also think I've met a Beryl before.

I have a bit of a soft spot for Blossom because of my 90s childhood.

I have to think more about the others.

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

good question, @scarlett&gatsby.

I would probably only use these names for girls, but I suppose a few of them could be gender neutral.

Funny though-- I don't say Beryl to rhyme with Pearl. To me, Beryl is Ber-el (two syllables). Maybe that's regional?

NerdyLucy · November 2013

Helenahhandbasket said:

Funny though-- I don't say Beryl to rhyme with Pearl. To me, Beryl is Ber-el (two syllables). Maybe that's regional?

I say it like you, I think. Like Bear-el or Bear-uhl. I'm not sure how to write it.

Not very related, but my grandpa's first name is Burl and he hates it. He goes by Ed (nn of his middle name).

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

NerdyLucy said:

Helenahhandbasket said:

Funny though-- I don't say Beryl to rhyme with Pearl. To me, Beryl is Ber-el (two syllables). Maybe that's regional?

I say it like you, I think. Like Bear-el or Bear-uhl. I'm not sure how to write it.

Not very related, but my grandpa's first name is Burl and he hates it. He goes by Ed (nn of his middle name).

Aww- I sort of like Burl-- like Burl Ives.

Skeemer · November 2013

None of these are my taste in names.

Scarlett&Gatsby · November 2013

NerdyLucy said:

Helenahhandbasket said:

Funny though-- I don't say Beryl to rhyme with Pearl. To me, Beryl is Ber-el (two syllables). Maybe that's regional?

I say it like you, I think. Like Bear-el or Bear-uhl. I'm not sure how to write it.

Not very related, but my grandpa's first name is Burl and he hates it. He goes by Ed (nn of his middle name).

I intuitively say it like you, but I learned that it's incorrect (bummer!). There's a bumpie who occasionally posts here with the name Beryl; she says it's been in her family for years, and that's how they pronounce it. BTN says it has two syllables, but the first one is still /BER/ making it only marginally different from Pearl or Burl.

BERYL
GENDER: Feminine USAGE: English PRONOUNCED: BER-əl [key] Meaning & History From the English word for the clear or pale green precious stone, ultimately deriving from Sanskrit. As a given name, it first came into use in the 19th century.

Irishcurls · November 2013

Huh, learned something today! Definitely was saying it more like "barrel" or .... "bear-ral" I guess. Blossom reminds me of the show, definitely usable just NMS.

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

Scarlett&Gatsby said:

NerdyLucy said:

Helenahhandbasket said:

Funny though-- I don't say Beryl to rhyme with Pearl. To me, Beryl is Ber-el (two syllables). Maybe that's regional?

I say it like you, I think. Like Bear-el or Bear-uhl. I'm not sure how to write it.

Not very related, but my grandpa's first name is Burl and he hates it. He goes by Ed (nn of his middle name).

I intuitively say it like you, but I learned that it's incorrect (bummer!). There's a bumpie who occasionally posts here with the name Beryl; she says it's been in her family for years, and that's how they pronounce it. BTN says it has two syllables, but the first one is still /BER/ making it only marginally different from Pearl or Burl.

BERYL

GENDER: Feminine

USAGE: English

PRONOUNCED: BER-əl [key]

Meaning & History

From the English word for the clear or pale green precious stone, ultimately deriving from Sanskrit. As a given name, it first came into use in the 19th century.

Yes, this is how I say it-- Ber-el. Rhymes with the word peril.

ho11yday · November 2013

Meadow - useable but not a name I like, think hippie

Frost - no

Breezy - I like Stormy better, Breezy is a NN

Blossom - TV show

Cricket - NN, not FN

Ocean - I feel this is very masculine, prefer River

Beryl - Cute

Gale - Favorite, spelled Gail

divinemsbee · November 2013

I adore Beryl. It was pretty high up on our list and is still a major GP name for me. I adore the way it looks written out. I will say that most of the feedback I got was that it sounds like 'barrel.' Which, could be pretty harsh. It's one of those names I feel like you have to be an exceptionally beautiful person to pull off (I got it from the new Upstairs/Dowstairs, there's a really pretty maid named Beryl), and I don't know if I could do that.

I like Cricket as a nn. Maybe for Christine?

The only one I totally dislike is Breezy because it makes me think of Chris Brown, and ((GAG))

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

divinemsbee said:

I adore Beryl. It was pretty high up on our list and is still a major GP name for me. I adore the way it looks written out. I will say that most of the feedback I got was that it sounds like 'barrel.' Which, could be pretty harsh. It's one of those names I feel like you have to be an exceptionally beautiful person to pull off (I got it from the new Upstairs/Dowstairs, there's a really pretty maid named Beryl), and I don't know if I could do that.

I like Cricket as a nn. Maybe for Christine?

The only one I totally dislike is Breezy because it makes me think of Chris Brown, and ((GAG))

I didn't think of that!

diamondduck13 · November 2013

I actually put Gail or Gale on my daydreaming girls list recently. Gale is actually a name of English origin meaning joyful, well, at least that's what the name app I have says. Not sure what behind the name says about it. I didn't even think of it as a nature name, I guess because I ran across the name while browsing names of English origin and I know several women in their 60s-ish with the name. Although I think they all spell it Gail or Gael. I was sad to see it as Gale on a boy in the Hunger Games because it was all girl to me before that.

Scarlett&Gatsby · November 2013

Helenahhandbasket said:

Scarlett&Gatsby said:

NerdyLucy said:

Helenahhandbasket said:

Funny though-- I don't say Beryl to rhyme with Pearl. To me, Beryl is Ber-el (two syllables). Maybe that's regional?

I say it like you, I think. Like Bear-el or Bear-uhl. I'm not sure how to write it.

Not very related, but my grandpa's first name is Burl and he hates it. He goes by Ed (nn of his middle name).

I intuitively say it like you, but I learned that it's incorrect (bummer!). There's a bumpie who occasionally posts here with the name Beryl; she says it's been in her family for years, and that's how they pronounce it. BTN says it has two syllables, but the first one is still /BER/ making it only marginally different from Pearl or Burl.

BERYL

GENDER: Feminine

USAGE: English

PRONOUNCED: BER-əl [key]

Meaning & History

From the English word for the clear or pale green precious stone, ultimately deriving from Sanskrit. As a given name, it first came into use in the 19th century.

Yes, this is how I say it-- Ber-el. Rhymes with the word peril.

Well, shit, I was all ready to be like "that's not what it says!" and then I double-checked the pronunciation key and that's totally what it says. So put me on Team Beryl! I love that pronunciation, but I thought it was incorrect.

And just to clarify that I'm not crazy and making this up, I did a little searching helped me dig up the bumpie named Beryl! It's @BethPSU. In this thread she talks about how she (and her family) pronounce the name: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/76754757/#Comment_76754757

I feel like I earned my stalker points for the day.

Kmommy91 · November 2013

Meadow - very sweet

Frost - masculine, I like it actually

Breezy - stage name IMO (no clue why)

Blossom - power puff girls

Cricket - maybe for a pet

Ocean - works but kind of a surfer name, and for some reason that puts me off

Beryl - barrel? Nah

Gale - I think of a harsh wind

mmb248 · November 2013

While none of these are really my style, I can see some of them becoming more popular.

Meadow - meh, I would assume she has a sibling named Summer.

Frost - No.

Breezy - No.

Blossom - Yes.

Cricket - As a nn for Christine.

Ocean - I sort of like this for a boy, but it's still too much of a word not a name for me.

Beryl - Rhymes with Peril, yes. Sounds like Burl? no.

Gale - Love. Love love love. I prefer it spelled Gayle, but it sounds beautiful.

melody921 · November 2013

I've met a Beryl, but don't care for the name. Gale sounds more boy than Gail or Gayle, but again, a name people have heard of. The other ones are NMS.

kayjay10 · November 2013

Helenahhandbasket said:

I am having a slow day at work today-- so this is just to get general impressions on these nature names. I like them all in varying degrees.

Meadow - this is a GP name for me. I like it.

Frost - no

Breezy - no

Blossom - not a fan

Cricket - I've heard this name, but not a fan

Ocean - no

Beryl - I kind of like this name. I would pronounce it like Cheryl.

Gale - definitely

BethPSU · November 2013

Yes it's me with the name Beryl. Wow, I never knew so many people had even come across it before. My family all pronounces it like Pearl, but with a little more emphasis on the second part almost making it sound like 2 syllables (if that makes sense). Sort of like how Graham is one syllable, but people stretch it a bit. I've met 3 other Beryls in my life (aside from my mother, grandmother, and great-aunt). They all pronounce it this way and not like Barrel. Although when people read the name they generally say it like Cheryl or Meryl (makes sense). I don't really consider it a nature name and I definitely think it is harsh with either pronunciation.

It is DD's mn for obvious family reasons. I never considered it for a FN because it is just not pretty IMO, but the family significance was important.

All the other nature names you listed would get major eye rolls from. Gale is an exception because it seems like a legitimate name, while the others seem ridiculous.

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

BethPSU said:

Yes it's me with the name Beryl. Wow, I never knew so many people had even come across it before. My family all pronounces it like Pearl, but with a little more emphasis on the second part almost making it sound like 2 syllables (if that makes sense). Sort of like how Graham is one syllable, but people stretch it a bit. I've met 3 other Beryls in my life (aside from my mother, grandmother, and great-aunt). They all pronounce it this way and not like Barrel. Although when people read the name they generally say it like Cheryl or Meryl (makes sense). I don't really consider it a nature name and I definitely think it is harsh with either pronunciation.

It is DD's mn for obvious family reasons. I never considered it for a FN because it is just not pretty IMO, but the family significance was important.

All the other nature names you listed would get major eye rolls from. Gale is an exception because it seems like a legitimate name, while the others seem ridiculous.

Thanks for chiming in @bethpsu! Most of these are GP names for me-- I might consider one of them in the MN spot.

I do think maybe the different pronunciations could be regional-- I haven't ever heard Beryl pronounced any other way than rhyming with Cheryl (and I used to work in the NYC jewelry district-- so I have a lot of useless information stored up in my head about gemstones!) I am in the NYC metro area, but I could totally see how maybe someone with a southern drawl or a midwestern accent could say the name differently.

Anyway-- I totally appreciate the comments and even though you aren't crazy about it-- I love your DD's MN.

sweetpeace13 · November 2013

Blossom and Meadow are great

dreemkin84 · November 2013

I babysat for a little boy named Ocean when I was younger.

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

dreemkin84 said:

I babysat for a little boy named Ocean when I was younger.

Aww-- really? I was originally thinking for a girl but I do think it really works for a boy!

dreemkin84 · November 2013

Helenahhandbasket said:

dreemkin84 said:

I babysat for a little boy named Ocean when I was younger.

Aww-- really? I was originally thinking for a girl but I do think it really works for a boy!

He was adorable and a really sweet boy. His room was ocean themed too lol.

BC&LM · November 2013

No

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

BC&LM said:

No

Ha!

CeCe8579 · November 2013

I love Meadow and Bree without the y.

ap142193 · November 2013

I dont care for any of them as first names, but they might make interesting middle names.

diamondduck13 · November 2013

toothpastechica said:
Meadow: Hippy dippy, but pretty
Frost: You mean that cold lifeless stuff I have to scrap off my car in the morning? No thanks
Breezy: Makes me think of laundry detergent.
Blossom: Early 90's TV show...no worse then using a flower name though...and there are plenty of Rose and Lily around.
Cricket: chirp.
Ocean: Different....I surprisingly don't dislike it.
Beryl: I think it sounds harsh...kind of like Myrtle.
Gale: usable, but boring.

This was a funny run down of the names. And, honestly, sums up my thoughts pretty well, except for Gale, I disagree about it being boring (per my previous post).

Anyway, for Ocean, maybe, maybe i could see it as a MN on a boy (because of my association with the very manly man of George Cloony in Ocean's 11). But honestly, if I saw Ocean as the MN for a boy I may think the name was inspired by the movie. And I'd want to side-eye that inspiration

RedCardinal · November 2013

The only one I like is Blossom. It was the name of my dalmation when I was little

The others are just - weird to me.

allardr · November 2013

hischelseababy said:

I know a little girl named Meadow and it is adorable on her. Blossom and Breezy are usable for girls. I like Frost and Gale for boys. I am eh about Beryl, but think it sounds masculine. There rest are terrible, IMO.

None are my style but I pretty much agree with above.