Name associations
October 23, 2006
Are there certain names that you connect with things, good or bad?
I have two names that I connect with certain characteristics, based on my experience(s) with them.
Mike
All the Mikes that I have known are good people. Not just “Oh, there’s Mike, he’s a good guy” but they’ve all turned out to be sweet, funny guys, which makes them perfect boyfriend material. If you are a woman and marrying’s your game, marry a Mike! They have a romantic streak, enjoy making you laugh, are usually responsible and gainfully employed and you can count on them to do the [at least] occasional sweet thing for you. And they are easygoing [sometimes too much so, which is my only complaint].
One Mike that I work with always notices if I’ve done something new with my hair and usually the changes to my hair are very subtle. He even noticed when another coworker got new glasses.
My best friend’s Mike [her husband] had me swooning early on in their relationship with his romantic plans for their anniversaries, Valentine’s Day and his marriage proposal.
My sister’s coworker’s Mike is that good guy, ever solicitous to her and always surprising her with ‘just because’ treats. Mike #4 is so patient I think he must be a saint, and he’s a really sweet guy. And we can’t forget the Polish Mike, who I call Misiu, who has helped me out so many times in the past couple of years.
Number of Mikes that I’m basing this on: 5
[Amanda, you are banned from commenting on your experience with Mikes.]
Sara(h)
Now the sample size for this claim is a lot smaller: 2. Both Sara(h)s that I have met through work have been free spirits and exuberant people. Both are perpetually smiling, often laughing and show genuine enthusiasm for everything they do. Both were(are) into dance, languages, and trying new things. Both have(had) chin length, short dark hair cut in a very pixie-ish cut. Both are disgustingly intelligent have unversity transcripts that every parent would hope to see from their own offspring. And both are well travelled and as a result, have friends all over the world. If there wasn’t a six inch height difference between them I’d wonder if they were clones!
When it comes to associating names with negative feelings, I can’t think of more than one person with a certain name whose company I don’t enjoy and that a trend does not make.
Edit: actually, I don’t like Natashas. They are always FAKE, catty and deceitful. ALWAYS.
Your turn: what names do you hear and immediately get a feeling about? Share what the feeling is too, if you’re so inclined!
i'm with you on the mike aspect. my mike is a lovely man and lives up to his name :) I'm not feeling you on the sara/h vibe though – the sara/hs i've known have been quite different…
as for names that instantly conjure up negatives, for me that would be the name Chad (i've never met a Chad I like) and Jason (although, if they go by Jay it seems they're not so bad…)
Have you forgotten another Sarah you knew (although not for very long). She was the complete opposite of your description. Have you forgotten the drunken lewd behavior and not to mention when she "disappeared" that time we went to the Vox.
So I think your Sara(h) hypothesis doesn't really stand.
Also the Mike thing is very subjective. While you might find someone super nice, they might not appear that nice to someone else. (I am not implying Mike's aren't nice :) Just talking about my experience)
Sorry, to rain on your parade… I think I have a case of the "Mondays" :)
I agree about the Mike. I've always had good Mikes for the most part.
I have plenty of name associations but I can't think of any right now. Hm.
Fine. I won't leave a comment about my experience with Mikes.
At any rate, I refused to call him Mike while we were dating. I only every called him Michael because I thought Mike was way too juvenile. (Sorry, Mikes of the world.)
So, your hypothesis might yet be true. Who knows. Although everyone else in the free world called him Mike. And King called him he Not-So-Cute-Boy.
(I'm naming my children after Biblical chapters in hopes that they will turn out to be holy, well behaved people, so I have to say I agree with you on the names thing. Here's hoping it has some basis in reality)
Toonses
my trouble buddy's name is mike
I heard that all Lee-Ann's are super good looking and extremely friendly!
Oh and I've met some good Mike's and not so good Mikes
BUT every Sara I've met have been fabulous and fun
I can pretty much go with you on the Mikes, all four I know fit your description with the exception of one whose been unemployed for over 2 years.
Sarah's I'd have to disagree. There's one I know that almost fits your description except for the perpetual smile thing and dance thing; the second is bitchy, but smart; and the other one is unilingual. I'd have to say they represent the general population of people I've met.
3 out of 3 James' I've met are charming. Melissa's (2/2) are creative, so are Jayne's. YEah I do make some name associations, and I think because of teaching there are certain names I would NEVER EVER EVER be able to call my child. Some examples include Damian (3/4 were too all over the place and defiant); McKenzie (4/4 had a strong, sharp, -read bitchy- personality – but they were all pretty intelligent so hmmmm.); Daniel (although most of them are pretty neat individuals, it took just ONE to ruin the name for me).
Oh yeah! I forgot about Roxanne's, 2/2 of them were kinda bitchy, ditsy, and somewhat selfish. Although they both had jobs dealing with people in some sort of leadership role, I would not really classify them as people people. :) If you know what I mean.
I have to disagree on the Mike thing. Both ones I know were a) an asshole b) a jerk.
Oh, and the Mike who notices hair and glasses. Gay. ;)
[...] And this is a picture of me and my best friend’s husband, Mike. He’s one of the good Mikes. You can click on the picture for a couple more pictures from the 2005 wedding. [...]