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Help[Opinions] Re: Milton
in reply to a message by gigibee
There are names which have developed particular images because of their past use in the culture which counteract the fact that they fit in with presently popular sound patterns.
I think Milton is one of them. In the United States it has developed a "nebbishy" or "nerdy" image. This is shown by its use for a character in the film "Office Space", which though it wasn't particularly successful at its initial release in 1999 is now considered a cult classic. In that film the character Milton is a weird office worker with a special love for his red stapler. More recently, Milton was the name of a scientist character on the popular American television program "The Walking Dead." Milton will probably retain a sort of humorous unattractive image as those characters have until some celebrity gives it to their own son.
A link to show you what Milton in "Office Space" is like. This is the sort of image many Americans have of a Milton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93ApqwRp7L8
And here is a video clip showing the "Walking Dead" Milton, who although not silly like the "Office Space" Milton is a glasses-wearing scientist, which unfortunately screams "nerd!" to many Americans. And unless you identify as a "nerd" yourself, you don't want to give a name with that image to a son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EypaPj4ge2A
Another example of a name which fits in with "two syllables ending in -n" but which has not yet been able to overcome previous negative associations is Herman.
The "two syllables in -n" phenomenon is very interesting. Grant Smith, a professor from Washington state who has done research on names and voting patterns in the United States, has found that political candidates whose surname fits that pattern are more likely to win elections, especially when there is not an incumbent running.
I think Milton is one of them. In the United States it has developed a "nebbishy" or "nerdy" image. This is shown by its use for a character in the film "Office Space", which though it wasn't particularly successful at its initial release in 1999 is now considered a cult classic. In that film the character Milton is a weird office worker with a special love for his red stapler. More recently, Milton was the name of a scientist character on the popular American television program "The Walking Dead." Milton will probably retain a sort of humorous unattractive image as those characters have until some celebrity gives it to their own son.
A link to show you what Milton in "Office Space" is like. This is the sort of image many Americans have of a Milton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93ApqwRp7L8
And here is a video clip showing the "Walking Dead" Milton, who although not silly like the "Office Space" Milton is a glasses-wearing scientist, which unfortunately screams "nerd!" to many Americans. And unless you identify as a "nerd" yourself, you don't want to give a name with that image to a son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EypaPj4ge2A
Another example of a name which fits in with "two syllables ending in -n" but which has not yet been able to overcome previous negative associations is Herman.
The "two syllables in -n" phenomenon is very interesting. Grant Smith, a professor from Washington state who has done research on names and voting patterns in the United States, has found that political candidates whose surname fits that pattern are more likely to win elections, especially when there is not an incumbent running.
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