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Help[Opinions] Re: Helen or Susan?
in reply to a message by Uilos
I feel the exact opposite. I find Helen to be a "classic" name, with Helen of Troy in ancient Greece, etc., whereas Susan seems "dated."
According to this website, Helen was very popular in the early 1900s as well as being a VERY old name, whereas Susan peaked between 1940s-60s, which is why there are so many older-middle-aged Susans around. Not that there's anything wrong with that if you like it.
I like Helena as a variation of Helen, especially if it's pronounced HEL-en-uh. I don't care for Sue, Suzanne, Susannah, etc.
According to this website, Helen was very popular in the early 1900s as well as being a VERY old name, whereas Susan peaked between 1940s-60s, which is why there are so many older-middle-aged Susans around. Not that there's anything wrong with that if you like it.
I like Helena as a variation of Helen, especially if it's pronounced HEL-en-uh. I don't care for Sue, Suzanne, Susannah, etc.
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Did you mean this in response to me? If so, and for future reference, when you want to respond to someone else who made a response rather than to the Original Poster, you need to be on the other responder's message, not the OP's, and click "Respond" there.
I know what you say about Helen's popularity vs Susan's popularity is true, and I mentioned that in my post. But it doesn't change my impression and doesn't change which name feels more dated to me. We talk about feelings and impressions a lot here, and they don't have to correspond to facts. After all, I know intellectually that not every woman named Helen is frumpy and that naming a baby Helen does not guarantee she will be a frumpy adult, but that's still my feeling about the name.
Also, Susanna / Susannah, from which Susan is derived, is as old or nearly as old as Helen.
I know what you say about Helen's popularity vs Susan's popularity is true, and I mentioned that in my post. But it doesn't change my impression and doesn't change which name feels more dated to me. We talk about feelings and impressions a lot here, and they don't have to correspond to facts. After all, I know intellectually that not every woman named Helen is frumpy and that naming a baby Helen does not guarantee she will be a frumpy adult, but that's still my feeling about the name.
Also, Susanna / Susannah, from which Susan is derived, is as old or nearly as old as Helen.
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No, I was responding directly to the OP, with reference to the other opinions that had been offered at that time.
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