Comments on: Name of the Day: Whitney http://appellationmountain.net/2008/08/03/name-of-the-day-whitney/ Where Every Name Has a Story Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:49:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Whitney Gigandet http://appellationmountain.net/2008/08/03/name-of-the-day-whitney/#comment-9454 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:21:30 +0000 http://appellationmountain.wordpress.com/?p=354#comment-9454 I know this post is old, but I couldn’t resist commenting on my own name! I have always had a love-hate relationship with it, though looking back, ‘love’ might be a bit strong. Like, maybe. I have always received many compliments on it, and at the very least people always remember it — good in my career as a journalist — but I have always wrestled with the boyish, snobby feel of it. My hubby loves it; I feel it looks pathetic and cheap against his regal name, Constantine.

]]> By: Name of the Day: Mallory « Appellation Mountain http://appellationmountain.net/2008/08/03/name-of-the-day-whitney/#comment-1261 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:23:28 +0000 http://appellationmountain.wordpress.com/?p=354#comment-1261 [...] ends-in-y choices, often borrowed from the boys, included Ashley, Lindsey/Lindsay and Whitney.  Last names like Jordan, Kendall, Darcy, Taylor and of course, Madison, all appeared in the Top [...]

]]> By: appellationmountain http://appellationmountain.net/2008/08/03/name-of-the-day-whitney/#comment-1132 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:51:07 +0000 http://appellationmountain.wordpress.com/?p=354#comment-1132 DH, was Pretty in Pink the source of the rich-girl Whitney? I’m sure *some* 80s flick used it for a snobby queen bee type, but darned if I can puzzle it out. (I thought it might be “A Different World,” but she was Whitley!) It must be a fleeting reference, because I can’t unearth it on a search, but I’m sure she’s out there. :)

Lola, I agree with you completely – Kelly and Tracy are fabulous on boys. I don’t care for them on girls. As for Shannon, I live a few doors down from a (male) Shannon who has seen combat in Iraq and Somalia. (He also bakes cupcakes and made custom tee shirts for our kids.) Again, the name wears better on a he than a she.

I’ve often wondered if we will see the reclaiming of some of these once-masculine monikers. Much has been made of the recent tendency of some names to “freeze” as gender neutral choices – Peyton is the most frequently cited example, but Jordan, Cameron, Riley and Bailey come to mind, too.

Personally, I’d love to see Alexis come back as a boys’ name. I don’t care for it on a girl, but love it on a son – then again, I’m biased. I think Alexei is about as boyish as it gets. :)

]]> By: Another http://appellationmountain.net/2008/08/03/name-of-the-day-whitney/#comment-1131 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:47:49 +0000 http://appellationmountain.wordpress.com/?p=354#comment-1131 Hippy – I agree with you. It’s very dated snobby. I think that’s why I love it so much! I feel like it’s a throwback to the glorious 1980s and girls in Eva Joia clothing, opaque tights with mini hearts on them, Cabbage Patch Kids, etc. I think it’s a fun, reminiscent name – and while I never actually knew a Whitney, to me it screams snobby-snobby. I just love it :)

]]> By: !!!DirtyHippy!!! http://appellationmountain.net/2008/08/03/name-of-the-day-whitney/#comment-1129 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:19:04 +0000 http://appellationmountain.wordpress.com/?p=354#comment-1129 Whitney just seems to Pretty In Pink to me . . . datedly snobby. Now, I had a (male) professor whose first name was DeWitt in Grad School and I thought that hit the right “old money” note, but Whitney just seems obnoxious in how hard it’s trying.

]]> By: Lola http://appellationmountain.net/2008/08/03/name-of-the-day-whitney/#comment-1128 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:09:33 +0000 http://appellationmountain.wordpress.com/?p=354#comment-1128 I heald off posting a bit to see if I might find some reedeeming feature of Whiteny’s but alas, after stewing over it all day, I can say I intensely dislike Whitney. Surnames don’t belong on girls unless they’re family and then only in the middle, I firmly believe. Whit does nothing for me, not friendly, warm, or happy sounding. Whitney’s cold, stand-offish and a get-ahead. Not my cup of tea at all, I’m afraid.

I say time for the guys to take these worn out monikers back and wear them proudly:

Shirley, Beverly, Tracy, Stacey and Kelly (I actually know a girl Tracy who’s partnered with a guy Cary for the last 20 years and I have a good friend Kelly; guy). Wicked sexy Kelly is on the proper sex. How about Shannon, too? I know a surname Shannon, Again, wicked sexy on a guy!
Ashley, Courtney, Lindsay, Sydney and Kelsey – Ashley Wilkes always comes to mind for Ashley first & foremost. Milquetoast perhaps, but still male. Courtney would be preppy on a guy and I honestly don’t mind Sydney as long as Great Grandpa Sidney stays masculine. I do know a grown Sydney girl who loathes her name however. And Kelsey Grammer is my poonly assocation with Kelsey. Gelsey’s the soundalike I can see on a girl!
As for the more recent ones, Hayley, Reily, Bailey, Delaney, Hadley & Paisley are just plain ugly whilst Waverly is crackers.

So, surnames for girls? Not unless they’re family and then only in the middle. Ugh.

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