I’ve never really felt strongly about this name otherwise. Gem names in general just don’t really appeal to me, and this is one that’s really flying under my radar.

While I’ve been aware of the “broken down horse/nag” and “harlot” associations since I was around 10 years old, I honestly haven’t run into others who have had that kind of association – not that it would matter – it doesn’t really bother me – the use of the “broken down horse/nag” definition fell out of common use in the late 1800s, for example. Now, the “jaded” association has always been there and some people are “clever” and say something like “Oh, aren’t you Jaded?” to me… Still, it’s not a common thing and it’s never bugged me (usually I just roll my eyes – what else can be done?).

While I lived in England, lots of little girls were being called Jade and it wasn’t uncommon to be shopping and hear a ticked off mommy say “Jade, get over here now” or some such thing… Being as I’d had a few decades of being pretty much the only Jade in any given room, it always had me whipping my head around surprised to be admonished before realizing that it was, of course, not me that was getting the dress-down. And, with regard to Kate’s mention of Ms Goody – I am so thankful I had recently moed to the US when that season of Big Brother hit the air… yikes! I can understand the apprehension of any sensible Brit in using Jade as a name after that. (Aside – there was a less-famous Jade on ANTM in the US and she was not as bad, but pretty freaky.)

All that said, I’ve enjoyed being Jade. The 2 women I’ve known who were also Jades also felt the same as me about their name. Everyone can spell it, read it/pronounce it and it’s not a confusing or difficult name for people, yet it isn’t all that common (especially among people my age, even in England). It’s also pretty immune to nasty teasing. All I can say is, to anyone considering the name – actually having it is pretty good. It seems poor examples of the name (in persona – reality TV stars) and Jada/Jayden type names have made it less desirable… shame really, it really has served me well!

It’s fun to see how it comes across for everyone else!

I don’t think I would ever choose this one for my child (female, definitely). Although it has a lovely history, today’s Jade is a Walmart name, IMO. It’s up there with Bailey, Kayleigh, and Brianne. No thanks!

Onto other things:
Agatha Appolline gets a *swoon* from me, gorgeous! I adore Agatha and need some good reviews to sell her to the other half, he still thinks ‘musty old lady’ or ‘stern Grandmama’. Funny too, as Agnes gets a green light. Probably because Agnes can shorten into the modern sounding Nessa. Agatha’s just got Aggie (although I keep trying to get Thea out of that last syllable!). I think Hedwig would make an awesome middle for something simpler: Jane Hedwig, Alice Hedwig, Frances Hedwig. I’m rather partial to Alice Hedwig, myself!

Donald will be NotD on 1/25. I’ve been thinking about this one because of Eddie Cahill’s character on CSI:NY and then the Nameberry gurus started talking him up.

Emmy Jo asked for Agnes, too – she’s 2/11.

Pearl is getting lots of attention these days, isn’t she? She’ll be NotD on 2/21.

As for Jade, we’ve considered using it somewhere in the middle as an Americanization of Jadwiga, in honor of my husbands’ beloved grandmother. The English translation is, of course, Hedwig, which I’m not sure works on a modern child. Or does it? Hmmm …