A name's meaning- does it really work

[boovert]

Hi, My husband and I have come up with a few names but what I really want to know is does a name's meaning really make a difference?

If we have a girl in April her name will be Zuzu (austrailian sp) or Zsuzsu (slavic sp- the one my husband wants to use) Maggie Irene Husband. My husband thinkings that since our last name is Husband already there's not much we could do to further screw up her name.

Zuzu/Zsuzsu is a very uncommon name and I'm having the hardest time trying to find the meaning of it. So far it could mean lily or rose- depending on the spelling. I guess it's a form of susan?

[nighten]

I've never heard of either name and www.behindthename.com doesn't show either as actual names.

They do however list these which are pretty close:

ZSUZSA
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hungarian
Extra Info: Related Names
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Pet form of ZSUZSANNA


ZUSA
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Jewish
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Means "sweet" in Yiddish.


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I'm not trying to discourage you but I'm curious: what's wrong with using a more traditional name that's easier to spell and going with Zuzu as the nickname? It would be a really cute nn I think. Plus having to spell a nn for folks doesn't seem as much of a pain as having to always spell your name. And I think naming a child Zsuzsu will indeed prove far more "screwed up" than having a last name like Husband. Don't hate it me for saying that, but if I think it, someone else will too and do you want to name your child something that will cause that sort of reaction her whole life? I'm sorry and I truly mean no offense, but that's just MHO.

As for your question about meaning, I think intention and perception can be more important than its technical meaning -- at least in some cases. Though I wouldn't go with a name that I couldn't find its meaning for, on the off chance it meant something like hate or rage, you know?

But in terms of an innocuous meaning here's an example of what I'm talking about: Bronwen means white breasted. Eh. *shrug* But the perception is it's recognizable as a Celtic name. To me, the Celtic association would play a larger part in how the child is received by others (and herself potentially) than the technical meaning. Make sense?

Hope that helps.

[pfamilygal]

We called our Susannah "Zuzu" when she was a baby because that is how our son said it. Now she is Anna.

[eilonwy]

I think it's important to know the meaning of a name before you give it to a child, because I've heard/seen some really funny ones that make me (and many other people) snicker or laugh out loud. For example, a Jewish couple who didn't speak much Hebrew decided to honor their deceased grandmothers, whose names were Shulamet and Chana. They named their daughter Shulchan, which means "table." : We have a large Amish & Mennonite population around here (Central PA) and they tend to favor biblical names, but very few of them are familiar with the Hebrew roots/definitions of those names, especially the less-common ones. There are loads of people walking around Lancaster county with the name "Mahlon" because it appears in the bible, but it literally means "sick or ailing," and I think that very few people would give their child that name if they knew what it meant, kwim? Then again, I can't understand why so many people are eager to name their kids "Caleb" which means "dog," but it's a very common name... though I don't know many people who have actually named their children Caleb who know what it means.

I would definately look it up, not only the meaning but the connotations. I'm picky that way, though, and a bit superstitious.