Comments on: Name of the Day: Ansel

By: appellationmountain

appellationmountain — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:22:00 +0000

You’re welcome! I still feel like I’m missing something in his backstory – why did he fall out of use!?

By: Christina Fonseca

Christina Fonseca — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:31:29 +0000

Emmy Jo, what I’ve noticed in my part of the country is that there are a lot of Filipino diminutives, usually forms of Spanish names: Joey, Luisito, Patty. I know a young man whose name is Arjee – I’ll have to ask him the story behind his name. Speaking of Romina, I added her yesterday on Namipedia http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/girl/romina

By: Emmy Jo

Emmy Jo — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:47:28 +0000

Ansel is very cool. My sister’s best friend actually dated one for a while.

I hope I’m not stereotyping when I say this (if I am, it’s all meant in a very positive way), but does it seem to anyone else that Filipinos have a greater tendency to pick daring and awesome names for their kids? Ansel was Filipino. I grew up in a largely Filipino area, and I’ve known a Rolando, a Romina, a Rowena, a Bliss, a Giselle, an Ionie (like the sea), a Ciara (before the name got popular), a Guinevere — and I’m sure I’m forgetting some others. Has anyone else noticed this?

By: JNE

JNE — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:18:39 +0000

Ansel is a great name… and I kind of get a kick out of the mystery of it’s true derivation.

By: Christina Fonseca

Christina Fonseca — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:47:35 +0000

I have found myself drawn to Ansel over the past year or so. My husband’s involvement in a local camera club, and seeing a large body of Ansel Adams’ work in one place have no doubt increased my appreciation for what I used to think of solely as an “old man’s name”. It’s refreshingly different in a sea of 20 or so oversaturated names.

Funny, I had never noticed its similarity to Anselm or Anselmo. Thank you Bek for suggesting it, and thank you Verity for sharing with us.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:20:14 +0000

I know an Ansel! Unfortunately he wasn’t a very pleasant little boy and now his personality has infused the name for me.:( Other then that I like the name. As a photographer I enjoy the homage to Ansel Adams, and I like the distinct sound of Ansel. It’s not a name to get lost in the plethora of “n” enders or maiden rhyming names.

By: Lola

Lola — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:43:15 +0000

Ansel’s awesome, but I prefer the family’s patron St. Anselm, you’ll see it occasionally in my combos. I do like Ansel, though, just wouldn’t use him myself. I’d love to meet a dozen! I agree with Mia, Ansel’s the sort of name any boy could make his own. He feels creative, charming and is definitely handsome. Ansel’s fabulous!

By: Mia

Mia — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:52:28 +0000

Ansel is a really nice name. I think it is the sort that any boy/man could live with and make their own, despite the association with Ansel Adams. And it isn’t a bad association, in any case.

By: jess

jess — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:46:25 +0000

I really really love Ansel. He’s so handsome without being overtly so. I think he’d have a brother named Magnus.

By: Bek

Bek — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:26:36 +0000

Thanks, Verity. You’ve found more than I’ve ever been able to! While history and meaning are elusive, I really find Ansel charming. I know this name is definitely not for most, but perhaps that only makes it all the more alluring

Mr. Adams was my first introduction, and only reference for the name. Being outdoor enthusiasts, it was a natural attraction, especially since I’m not too fond of overt nature names…

Now if only I hadn’t used a terribly close name for my daughter. One of the ones that got away.