View Message

[Opinions] Mordecai
I've been thinking about this name on and off for a while now. I don't know if it has the potential to go into "favorites" territory, but I do like it (mostly because I've actually met a Mordecai, and he was pretty cool).The name does, however, seem to have a rather morbid feel to it, and I don't think I'm the only person who thinks along these lines. Maybe it's just because it actually sounds a bit like the word 'morbid?' Is there an association that I'm missing that? What do you think? And what other impressions do you get from it, do you like it, etc.?Thanks in advance, guys. :)
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

I think it's greatI love the biblical story, and the sound. Malachi is also a favourite- first future DS's mn (lol) and Mordecai is a possibility for a 2nd son- it's in my top 10. I think it's unusual and has a history, plus a great story to tell a kid.I get the mord- mort- thing that makes it seem heavy, but I seem to be able to get past it.
vote up1
CreepyI don't care for it. It feels creepy to me in a Children of the Corn, murderous Bible-thumper sort of way. I feel the same way about Malachai. :-/
vote up1
The first thing I think ofis the Canadian author, the late Mordecai Richler.
vote up1
I love it. Sure, it kind of sounds like 'morbid', but that doesn't bother me.
vote up1
Love itMordecai is very distinguished sounding to me. The whole "mor/mort" = death thing doesn't bother me. First of all as a good little name nerd I know that this particular name has nothing to do with death, at least in its meaning.* But more importantly for me, there are many Celtic names having "mor" in the name: Morgan, Morwenna, Maura, Maureen, Morag, etc. These have nothing to do with death so I am able to leap tall Latin building in a single bound and escape the morbid association.
If you talk yourself out of Mordecai, how about Melchior? It has a lighter, more carefree feeling to me and is just as Biblical. Then there's also Malachi, but then you'll have a whole thread on "Children of the Corn" to deal with . Melchior is much safer. :-)
* Mordecai, as a Biblical character, might have negative associations. I know Mordecai figures into the story of Esther in Persia. But I'm not sure if Mordecai is a good character or not. I think he is her father, which would be good.

This message was edited 8/6/2007, 1:45 PM

vote up1
I hadn't heard of Melchior until I became interested in the Broadway musical, "Spring Awakening", in which it's the name of one of the main characters. The musical was based on a book written in the late 1800s, btw.
vote up1
Mordecai is a good characterMordecai resided in Susa, the metropolis of Persia. He adopted his cousin Hadassah (Esther), an orphan child, whom he tenderly brought up as his own daughter. When she was brought into the harem of king Ahasuerus and made queen in the place of the deposed queen Vashti, Mordecai was promoted to some office in the court, and was one of those who "sat in the king's gate". While holding this office, he discovered a plot of the eunuchs to put the king to death, which, by his vigilance, was defeated. His services to the king in this matter were duly recorded in the royal chronicles.Haman the Agagite had been raised to the highest position at court. Mordecai refused to bow down before him; and Haman, being stung to the quick by the conduct of Mordecai, resolved to accomplish his death in a wholesale destruction of the Jewish exiles throughout the Persian empire. Tidings of this cruel scheme soon reached the ears of Mordecai, who communicated with Queen Esther regarding it, and by her wise and bold intervention the scheme was frustrated. The Jews were delivered from destruction, Mordecai was raised to a high rank, and Haman was executed on the gallows he had by anticipation erected for Mordecai. In memory of the deliverance thus wrought for them, the Jews to this day celebrate the feast of Purim.(from Wikipedia)
vote up1
Wow, thanks, Kate!:D
vote up1
Ooh, Melchior's interesting!I might have to add that to my list, thanks, Bear!Yeah, I know the name Mordecai isn't related to "mort" itself, but I think that might be part of why it seems so dark. I'm seriously rusty on my biblical characters, but I *think* Mordecai was a decent fellow. Someone, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.Actually, all this is only making me like the name more. Maybe as a MN, though (I really don't need any more boys' names), since I'm especially liking the feel of Thomas Mordecai. It's a nice replacement for the ol' GP of Thomas Pluto, at any rate :D
vote up1
Just to be annoying . . .How about adding Jasper and Balthazar onto that GP list, along with Melchior? Glad you like Melchior!
vote up1
You're not annoying!Especially since Balthazar is a name I thought I had on my BtN list, but apparently not! (And Thomas Balthazar sounds pretty cool, too!) So thanks for alerting me. :DI love Jasper, too, but somehow, that one doesn't manage to be a GP for me. :PThank you so much!ETA: D'oh, I'm not very bright, am I, because I just now realized that Balthazar and Jasper were supposedly the names of the other two Magi. I'm really bad at putting two and two together today, it seems!

This message was edited 8/6/2007, 4:41 PM

vote up1
I would never use it. "Mord-" is German for "murder" --- not exactly what I'd want to name my childBesides that though it has a nice flow. I also like Cai or Kai.
vote up1
Anything with "mor" in it sounds morbid. I think there's some kind of root somewhere that means death or something.
And then there's Voldemort I guess. Ooh, what a perfect villain name! (Sorry, I'm still OMGHP.)It's a neat name nevertheless. I strongly dislike it because I am really, really grossed out by "Kai" and "Cai," but I'd be quite glad to meet one if he didn't go by either of those. And for some reason it seems really Jewish to me.
vote up1
Kai/CaiI don't mind the names, but I think I'd me more likely to NN a hypothetical Mordecai 'Mordy' or something. (Though I'm really not much of a NN person, so if I were to have a little Mordecai, that'd probably be almost exclusively what I'd call him.)(And how the heck did I manage to not pick up on the whole "mor/mort/death" thing? I seriously forgot about it. And I'm a huge Potter fan, too. ;D)
vote up1
Mordecai nn Mordy would make me so happy. Please do it.(This is coming from someone who's too scared to use Mortimer "Morty". =P)
vote up1
It's not really my style.
I think the morbid feel comes from Mord-, which sounds like Mort-, meaning death. (mortal, immortal, mortality, mortician, mortuary)
vote up1
Interestingly enough...I was just thinking about a Mordecai the Mortician, because it seems so fitting of a profession.Yet it still didn't click that mort=death. 'Cause, yeah, that would explain it! Thanks for reminding me. :P

This message was edited 8/6/2007, 12:50 PM

vote up1
it makes me think of mordere=to bite in Italian, or the adjective "mordant", so it's harsh sounding for me, I'd never though of mort as in death. Now I'm thinking of "Mordant Mordecai".
vote up1
Mordecai does sound a bit like "morbid" and though it's cool, it is quite heavy. You could call him Kai (Cai) when he was little if you wanted. I've never met a Mordecai, and would love to meet one, even if this is not a name I would personally use.
vote up1