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Help[Opinions] Re: It has been used for quite some time (m)
in reply to a message by Perrine
Okay, but no one in 17th-century England would have been named Amber, I'm sure. I'm also sure that someone would deem Amber a 70s/80s/90s name well before they'd consider it a timeless, historic name.
Of course, the name isn't intrinsically bad. I personally dislike it because I prefer names that aren't associated exclusively with one decade.
Of course, the name isn't intrinsically bad. I personally dislike it because I prefer names that aren't associated exclusively with one decade.
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I flipped through an old book whose main character was called Amber and it might have been this one. It definitely felt very dreamy and anachronistic and fantastical. Like someone today writing an 18th century character named Jade or something. But it gave me the impression of the name Amber as a whimsical name far on the edge of people's radar.
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I'm guessing in 17th century England it was more likely to be a nickname based on the person's hair color or something like that?
ETA: But I don't think the history really matters in this case. Tiffany has a long history, but it still sounds tacky because of how popular it was in the 80's and it doesn't feel like it has a sense of history. And there are some names that were invented within the last decade that sound very solid and feel like they have history even if they don't. Like Tiffany, which feels more modern than Amber even though it has more actual historical usage. The sound of Tiffany is more frilly so I think it seems more frivilous and superficial, while Amber has a deeper sound even if its usage is more "Tiffany" than Tiffany itself.
ETA: But I don't think the history really matters in this case. Tiffany has a long history, but it still sounds tacky because of how popular it was in the 80's and it doesn't feel like it has a sense of history. And there are some names that were invented within the last decade that sound very solid and feel like they have history even if they don't. Like Tiffany, which feels more modern than Amber even though it has more actual historical usage. The sound of Tiffany is more frilly so I think it seems more frivilous and superficial, while Amber has a deeper sound even if its usage is more "Tiffany" than Tiffany itself.
This message was edited 8/2/2020, 10:01 AM
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In "Forever Amber", the heroine is conceived out of wedlock by two lovers who are torn apart because their families are on opposite sides during The English Civil War. The male lover has amber eyes. The female lover, upon learning that her baby is a girl, says she wants to name her Amber after the color of her father's eyes. And Amber inherits her father's amber eyes, which means that Amber has amber eyes.
So the name is a one-off based upon certain circumstances. I find it believable enough.
So the name is a one-off based upon certain circumstances. I find it believable enough.
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