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Help[Opinions] Sheila
Just looking at this in old UK charts and thinking that aside from massive datedness, it's really not that bad. WDYT? Does the Aussie use make it forever unusable? Would you like it more as Shelagh, or Shila, or Síle (see Sile)?
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My sister has a friend named Sheila, they graduated together so she'd be 25 or 26. It's nice to see on a young woman - I don't particularly find it dated, just uncommon.
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I quite like it.
About 15 years ago a guy called Bruce wanted to emigrate from SA to NZ for family reasons but couldn't get a residence permit. So he went to Oz instead, and ended up working for a magazine under a senior editor called Sheila. This made a lot of people very happy ... but it says to me that if it doesn't bother real Australians, it shouldn't bother us.
About 15 years ago a guy called Bruce wanted to emigrate from SA to NZ for family reasons but couldn't get a residence permit. So he went to Oz instead, and ended up working for a magazine under a senior editor called Sheila. This made a lot of people very happy ... but it says to me that if it doesn't bother real Australians, it shouldn't bother us.
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I named one of my fat little goldfish Sheila! She has no eyes, but she's still saucy, so I though it was appropriate.
I only vaguely know about the Australian use for it (it's like slang for a"girl", or something?). Actually the strongest association I have with it is the scene from Will & Grace where she's trying to get pregnant using Will's sperm and they're discussing names. Grace says "What about Sheila?" and Will says "That's a whore's name" or something like that, and then they are embarrassed because the nurse is named Sheila.
So Sheila has this kind of outspoken working-class gritty whorishness to it for me. which I like.
Shelagh looks like it's trying too hard to not be Sheila, Sile would be pronounced like Kyle in my neck of the woods, and Shila looks like "Shill-a". So I'd go with plain ol' Sheila!
I only vaguely know about the Australian use for it (it's like slang for a"girl", or something?). Actually the strongest association I have with it is the scene from Will & Grace where she's trying to get pregnant using Will's sperm and they're discussing names. Grace says "What about Sheila?" and Will says "That's a whore's name" or something like that, and then they are embarrassed because the nurse is named Sheila.
So Sheila has this kind of outspoken working-class gritty whorishness to it for me. which I like.
Shelagh looks like it's trying too hard to not be Sheila, Sile would be pronounced like Kyle in my neck of the woods, and Shila looks like "Shill-a". So I'd go with plain ol' Sheila!
This message was edited 6/7/2012, 10:35 AM
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I actually really like this name. I think it's cool. I live in the United States, so it's not a problem here.
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Sheila (or Sila) is one of those overlooked classics that I hope one day to see get more attention. It's not a personal favorite, but I always like seeing classics brought back into focus and would be thrilled to meet a little Sheila one day.
I'm aware of the Australian slang term, but it doesn't factor into my feelings at all. (I'm in the U.S.)
I'm aware of the Australian slang term, but it doesn't factor into my feelings at all. (I'm in the U.S.)
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Ohh
I wasn't sure what Pie meant about the Australian thing, but seeing you say it's a slang term I looked up what it means. Is it used in a derogatory manner? Or would it just be weird as a name becuase it's a common slang term? I guess you might not know these things, not being Australian, but maybe someone who does will read this.
I wasn't sure what Pie meant about the Australian thing, but seeing you say it's a slang term I looked up what it means. Is it used in a derogatory manner? Or would it just be weird as a name becuase it's a common slang term? I guess you might not know these things, not being Australian, but maybe someone who does will read this.
This message was edited 6/7/2012, 11:02 AM
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You'd have to ask an Aussie, but I never took calling a girl / woman a Sheila to be a bad thing. It's sort of like during WWII in the U.S. when boys / men and girls / women were called Jack and Jill. It's just slang. No one uses those terms in the U.S. anymore and maybe Sheila isn't used in Australia anymore either.
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It isn't derogatory but it is still quite commonly used or at the very least very commonly known. It is a very 'okker' term i.e. typically 'Aussie' and not the kind of term you'd hear used seriously by most people in urban areas. I guess you could call it lower class but if we're sucking up to our Australian-ness, you'd hear it being used in jest.
It is definitely usable here, I think...I know a few older Sheilas, it is just super super dated.
It is definitely usable here, I think...I know a few older Sheilas, it is just super super dated.
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Yeah, agreed... the term itself isn't derogatory, although I'd say that because of prevailing sexist attitudes in the section of society that uses it seriously, it's often heard in a derogatory setting. And yes, the name itself is very dated.
This message was edited 6/8/2012, 12:03 AM
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Thanks for the info. :)
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Good to know. Thanks. :-) I'm glad it's still usable there.
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Weird, I was just thinking about this name yesterday! Possibly had it in a dream even. I'm not sure what to think about it. I think it has a nice sound, but sometimes the datedness is overwhelming. And for some reason it's always reminded me of banshees, which isn't a good thing. I try to look past that. I think it could grow on me if I put in the effort, and I think Sheila looks the best too.
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