am i ridiculous for liking this name? opinions needed.

[lotusma]

i like names w/ meaning or that are rich in culture, certainly not ones made up, or ones that originated as surnames, and definitely not ones made uber-trendy by the stereotypical american suburbanite. (sorry, couldn't think of a better way to describe--hoping folks know what i mean )

so why did the name Aniston get stuck in my brain ever since hearing it a few days ago and now refuses to go away? i'm in serious need of perspective here--is it as lame as my logical brain keeps insisting? thoughts? do i need to be slapped w/ some sense? please, be brutal.

[Apple Girl]

Are you asking for opinions on the name? I personally don't care for it, but it's not my kid, so if you like it, go crazy.

ETA - I think I don't like it b/c it just reminds me too much of Jennifer Aniston. And I can't tell if it's a boy's name or a girl's name. But it all depends on the siblings' names and whether or not it fits your family. It wouldn't fit my family, so I don't care for it. But it might be great in yours! So again, do what feels right for you and don't take anything that someone on a message board says too seriously.

[Bokonon]

I think everyone will say "like Jennifer Aniston?", and the kids will call him/her "Anus-ton".

[philomom]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

I think everyone will say "like Jennifer Aniston?", and the kids will call him/her "Anus-ton".

Sorry, I have to agree.

[4Blessings]

With sooooo many other fab names to choose from *I* would skip this one.

[lunarlady]

I think it's a girl's only name, and you call them Ani for short, but that is just my 2c. I don't like it, but don't hate it either. And I don't follow pop culture enough to make the Jennifer Aniston connection.

[FarrenSquare]

I feel like the Jennifer Anniston thing is over-played. By the time this child is 10 or 12 (when it really starts to matter), Jennifer Anniston will be old hat. Even if she isn't, many people named their child Taylor and no one asks, "Like Liz Taylor, Taylor?"

Maybe I'm biased because I'm around people who have chosen some pretty strange names. My friends named their baby Anniken the day the first star wars came out and while we were skeptical at first, it turned out well in the end and really seems to suit him. No one ever asks "Like, Star Wars?"

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by FarrenSquare

I feel like the Jennifer Anniston thing is over-played. By the time this child is 10 or 12 (when it really starts to matter), Jennifer Anniston will be old hat. Even if she isn't, many people named their child Taylor and no one asks, "Like Liz Taylor, Taylor?"

Maybe I'm biased because I'm around people who have chosen some pretty strange names. My friends named their baby Anniken the day the first star wars came out and while we were skeptical at first, it turned out well in the end and really seems to suit him. No one ever asks "Like, Star Wars?"

I named my son Mason and my MIL asked "Like Perry Mason?"

Taylor is a much more common last name than Aniston.

[Drummer's Wife]

It definitely makes me think of Jennifer Anniston - but then I have a DS named Lincoln and always get the "Abraham Lincoln" comments from people.

[laurabfig]

Actually- I didn't think of Jennifer Aniston until other posters mentioned it. I kinda like the name- for a boy OR a girl. I agree that as your child gets older, no one will really know/remember Jennifer Aniston or associate the name with her.

[Tresa]

It's a cool name, but I agree with others that there is a strong association with it...which is not a bad thing necessarily. She's a positive celebrity who does better acting than most, you could do worse in choosing a namesake (whether it's something you intended to do or not).


I think, at worst, you'll have a transition period after baby gets here where you'll do a lot of repetitive (annoying?) explaining and then life will move on and you'll love saying the name 10,000+ times over the next 20 years of your kid's life.

[Beverly]

I don't especially like it, myself. I've never heard it other than in connection with Jennifer Aniston or her dad, John Aniston (Victor on Days of Our Lives), and it's not even their "real" last name -- it's an anglicized version of his original Greek last name (why, yes, I did read a lot of soap opera mags back in the day ). So, in my opinion, it's very different from names like Taylor or Mason.

Though, for what it's worth, the girl who plays Lexie on Grey's Anatomy just named her baby Aniston, so maybe it'll catch on.

[lotusma]

tbh, i don't follow pop culture enough either to have the strong jennifer connection, so w/ that aside (i mean, i DO have a Jude) any other thoughts on the name? is it too porn star-ish? too made up sounding? too yuppy? i don't like names like Madison, etc, if that explains my quandry, and to me it sounded like one of "those".

[annablue]

I saw a little girl named Aniston on some TLC show the other day, and I kind of cringed.

[RedOakMomma]

I immediately thought Aniston as in Jennifer, and yes...the "anus-ton" will be a big problem.

Skip it, mama.

[trimestersdoula]

I actually really like it. If you like it, go for it!!! I think I would use it more for a girls name than a boys name but I think it could go either way. When I heard it, it reminded me of a little girl name Halstyn I know. Not sure why LOL.

[seagull]

It is not a name that I would choose, but I like traditional classical names. If it is a name that your family likes, than you shouldn't worry about what I think.

[isfa]

Originally Posted by annablue

I saw a little girl named Aniston on some TLC show the other day, and I kind of cringed.

Me too! I think I would (unfairly) make some not-very-favorable assumptions about a child's parents if the child was named Aniston and it was not a family name.

[lotusma]

Originally Posted by seagull

It is not a name that I would choose, but I like traditional classical names. If it is a name that your family likes, than you shouldn't worry about what I think.

not worried, just curious and looking for perspective.

[Monarchgrrl]

I LOVE it! I don't think it matters about any celebrity when the child is born. Your child will have that name for maybe 90 years. No one is going to associate it with a mediocre celebrity who is mostly famous for her ex-husband soon.

I don't worry about what children could make fun of a name for. Ok, I wouldn't go with Harry if my last name was Balls. But my name is Bethany and kids said Barf-any. It was funny and I was always the most popular girl all through school. Kids can make fun of ANY and ALL names! I highly doubt most kids get a complex because of another kid coming up with something funny around their name.