My daughter is named Tali'Zorah. I suppose I'm crazy : )

[CloudAtlas]

All that aside, a couple of people have told me that we're nuts for giving a child that name.

Yes, you are. Tali, Zora, okay, I'd imagine that are names regular enough for the US (Zora is a regular name where I come from anyway), but to go all the way to Tali'Zorah? No.

I like it a lot, I'm assuming she'll like it, and I don't think she'll get teased for it or anything like that.

And on what basis do you make this assumption? On none. Whether your daughter would cherish the fact that she was named after some video game character or not, you cannot know. The chances she dislikes it are just greater than with a normal name, and the same is true for her being teased for it.

And why has it be Tali, of all the characters in Mass Effect? Sure, the character is really sweet, but if you think about it, Tali is a very young, socially insecure, nerdy, hapless virgin, an incapable leader and damsel in distress (Shepard has to save her ass 3? 4? times over the course of the games, dammit). Is that really the kind of person you want your daughter to aspire to be?

Out of curiosity, am I totally off base about that? For further discussion value, this thread can be about the entire concept of video games being used to inspire names.

Naming a child after a video game character is the same as naming it after some celebrity or a character in some popular movie or book. If the name is weird, and the reference obvious, it's even worse. If you name your daughter Tali or Zelda or whatever, you have no right to laugh about all the Katnisses, Hermiones, Arwens or Bellas either.

Honestly, I think it's rather selfish to extend one's fandom to their children, who have no say in the matter.

 

[Verlander]

Father of three with 4th on the way. I doubt she'd get teased for it, unless you live in a place with hyper conservative troglodytes, like the middle east or the USA. I'd replace the ' for - though. Tali-Zorah. Or do the middle name thing.

 

[Crazy Zaul]

Just Tali and then Zorah as a middle name is fine. If Tali'Zorah is all the first name then that is a bit weird but everyone will probaly call her Tali or TZ anyway.

 

[INF1NIT3 D00M]

My dad told me he wanted to name me Dolph (after Dolph Lundgren). And my mum talked him out of it.

Fuck you mum. I could've been... the Dolphin. Dolphman. Dolphuck-U. Something amazing. Instead I got Andrew. What do you make out of Andrew? Andy. Or Drew, I guess. But man Dolph could be anything. So yes. Call your child an amazing name. Don't be another goddamn boring parent and rob your child of something incredible.

"Dolph" is actually a derivative of Rudolph. Considering the location and time period of his birth (1957 - Sweden), it's something of a normative name. Rudolph is itself a derivative of either "Rudolf" or "Randolph". "Randolph" traces back to Old Norse "Rannulfr" (meaning 'Shield-Wolf'), or the Frankish name "Rannulf" (meaning 'Raven-Wolf'). Meanwhile "Rudolf" is an Austrian name, common throughout northern and eastern europe.

Despite Dolph Lundgren having a normative name for his birth era and location, your mother likely chose to name you something else because eastern european names have never been especially popular in the united states. "Andrew" is and has been a common name in the United States due to its biblical origins. However, you can take solace in your name. Tracing the etymology of "Andrew", it is actually a derivative of Ancient Greek "Andreios", meaning 'Manly'.

As for myself, I'm happy. "Eric" comes from Old Norse "Eirikr", meaning 'Honored Ruler'. Alternate sources result in translations such as "Eternal Ruler", "Ever Powerful", or simply "Government".

Etymology is great for making you feel like a total badass without having ever done anything of note. Still, you can take heart in the knowledge that you too have a powerful name, just like Dolph Lundgren. Have people call you "Big Man", "Mann Manly", or "Andreios", because technically there's no more and no less reason for them to address you by any of those names than there is for them to call you "Drew" or "Andy". Since you have the choice between the two, I'd just as soon go with "Mann Manly".

 

[Palademon]

As someone called Jonathan, I assure you that having a common name does not cure you of stupid teasing revolving it.
Although, the difference is they most likely weren't teasing me because of my name. They just found a way to incorporate it.
Kids will mock anything if they want to. This is more of a choice about a risk than a definite.

My best advice is to think about how it'll look in a few years. How it'll feel to the child.
I like unique names. Luckily this kind of discussion with friends is usually people always wanting what they didn't have. People with rarer names wanting common ones, and people with common ones wanting rare ones.

It's possibly irresponsible to name someone something if you know they'll get mocked, but that's like avoiding your hobby because you get mocked for it, which is a clear path to sadness, but the difference is you're doing this for someone else who may not share your interests

Although I'm a bit tired of this whole 'normal name' thing. Every name was unusual at some point. Around the time of my mum's birth, no one had heard of Nina. And plenty of people have named their children after their favourite characters, and them become normal. My cousin's middle name is Caspian and no one cares.

I'm most likely to name any offspring I may be lucky to have with names referencing my interests, although anything too exotic I'll probably keep as a mild consideration of a middle name, because no one bothers to learn those.

 

[Jacques Joseph]

Another vote here for splitting the name into Tali and Zorah. As has been said before, together with the apostrophe is just too unusual for her not to have a hard time wearing that name, but Tali is an actual name even outside Mass Effect and, as I seem to be the first to point out, Zorah as well (variant spelling of the Slavic Zora, meaning "dawn"). I live in the Czech Republic and I actually know a couple of Zoras. So, there you go.

As for naming your child after a videogame in general, I don´t really see that much of a difference when compared to naming the child after a movie or a book. If that specific artifact of human culture is so important and meaningful to you that even after 5, 10, 15 years you´ll look back and think "If I could pick her name again, I´d choose the same", then no problem. And if the Mass Effect series falls into oblivion in a couple of years, who cares, if she´s called Tali Zorah, she´s got a great name regardless of "source material".

 

[lunavixen]

I think shortening the name to Tali would be more acceptable than the full Tali'Zorah. Kids in schools are extremely mean and need little to no reason (imagined or otherwise) to bully another person. But congratulations!

 

[Rastrelly]

If you wish to break your child's life - go for it.

 

[Skeleon]

I think it's kind of "nuts" to use your words, but more so it's short-sighted. She'll have that name for her entire life, long after nobody even knows Mass Effect ever was a thing.
Personally, I don't mind taking names from books, movies or games or whatever, as long as they are fine in their own right. They need to stand up as names with or without the "reference factor" to the source material, I'd say. In the end, you'll have to decide for yourselves whether Tali'Zorah is appropriate or not, but to me it's pretty damn bizarre, on its own, out of any context.
I also lack the emotional connection to Mass Effect, not having played it yet, so that makes it less appropriate in my eyes, I'd have to assume, whereas something like... I dunno... Redrick I'd consider alright for a boy. Yes, it stems from a fictitious source (Redrick Schuhart from Roadside Picnic), but it's a "normal enough" name as it is and it's a name outside of its fictitious source, also.
So I guess that's how I'd approach names from fictional sources.

 

[MrBaskerville]

It's sounds like something out of WoW, and it kinda sounds like something that should be said in an angry voice, that's not a good thing. But Tali or Talia is a good name, it's just the Zorah part that's kinda awful, like something a celebrity couple would call their kids. As many others here, i would rethink the Zorah part, but if you love the name, by all means, go for it. It's your decision after all.

 

[Mersadeon]

Ok, first off: I think you should change it to just Tali. "'" isn't a good thing to have in a name, and everyone who has played ME will consider you a not so great parent.


But also to all of the people here saying "a kid deserves better than be named after a videogame character" - there are pretty much two kinds of names: traditional names that change over time (and a lot of those are biblical) and names that have been newly invented - normally by some kind of media. How do you think new names get into the "name pool"? And implying that you could name your child after a character in a book but not from a videogame just shows that people still haven't understood that videogames are art, just like any other.

EDIT: Also, Zora or Zorah in itself isn't a bad name either. I've seen people called Zora - it's actually a semi-rare name over here, pronounced with a sharp "z" that isn't anywhere in the english language.

 

[Kyber]

Wow really? I can't believe you would do something like that... It's 2014 and you are not going to name her "The Matriarch"?
You are wasting a good chance here.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Yes you are.

Far be it from me to give anyone advice on childrens names, since I have none, but please don't treat your child as part of your nerd paraphernalia. If you wanna show you like the character of Tali, wear a T-shirt.

Don't subject your own child to a silly name for the rest of her life, just because you and your wife liked Mass Effect once. Add to that that she'll one day find out her parents named her after a videogame character you had the option to fuck. Talk about awkward.

 

[MorganL4]

Well, my aunt's name was Zorah, and she was born in 1946, so it's not exactly NEW just uncommon.

It's sounds like something out of WoW, and it kinda sounds like something that should be said in an angry voice, that's not a good thing. But Tali or Talia is a good name, it's just the Zorah part that's kinda awful, like something a celebrity couple would call their kids. As many others here, i would rethink the Zorah part, but if you love the name, by all means, go for it. It's your decision after all.

If they were still alive, I am sure my Grandparents would love to hear your opinion on that.

 

[JayRPG]

Coming from my perspective, which is: A guy who changed his name to a video game name FROM a perfectly normal, common name.

I don't think there is anything wrong with this, and I actually think it's rather cool.

Society is moving more and more towards wanting to be unique, it's not just celebrities with wild baby names.

My sister named her daughter Alora, her friends baby's are named Navaya, Tiga and Nalu.
My uncle named his son Xayden (pronounced Zayden).

It's more likely that when Tali'Zorah grows up and starts going to school it'll be the ones with 'normal' names that are getting picked on, I can't think of anyone who I know who chose a common name, because nobody wants anything that is common these days.

Tattoo parlors that specialized in flash sheets/pre-determined designs are almost non-existent because people want unique/custom designs.

Everybody is vying for uniqueness and soon names like these will be the norm.

If you and your wife both like the name, I'm sure your daughter will too

 

[Blow_Pop]

If you potentially want your child to hate you later in life, then by all means name them that.

My name is fairly common. I STILL get shit for it. I hate my parents for the name. And fucking despise my name. I can't figure out a name I like enough to change it to So for now I am stuck.

Tali is a good name but seriously think about the possible ramifications. Girls are evil, vile, vicious creatures from personal experience. Especially to each other (thanks hollywood and society you fucks) so be prepared for possible coming home from school in tears days/months/years. On the flip side, your child name her what you want. It could work out well. And could prevent her from gaining employment because employers are shallow assholes.

 

[AnnaIME]

1 - This kind of name marks you as a parent. Other parents and teachers will think just a leeetle bit less of you, and this will make things just a leeetle bit more difficult for you AND your child. Why stack the deck against your child?

2 - Names shape people's expectations of you. This works in both subtle and not so subtle ways. Will little Tali'Zorah even get an interview for that job she wants? You don't know who your child is going to be, what kind of life she will want. Don't you want to keep her options open?

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Sounds selfish, using your kid as a reference to popular media. I doubt they will appreciate it when they get older, especially if Mass Effect falls out of popular culture. Actually, she probably won't like it either way. The question of "why did you call me *name*?" is one question that you are guaranteed to be asked by your daughter. Suffice to say "It's the name of an outdated video game series character" as a response can lead to problems.

The point in time where it could become a serious problem between you and her is when she is a teenager... you know, that time where you are trying to find your own identity? I'm pretty sure having a name anchored to an antiquated piece of media with no depth or meaning beyoned "it sounded cool and exotic" might lead to some chaffing. Don't be surprised if they lash out as a result.

As others have said, Tali is fine (though I'm hesitant to say it sounds normal... it depends on where you live). It sounds exotic, but not alien. Tali'Zorah is too alien and obviously fictional.

 

[Blitsie]

Stick with Tali (or maybe even Talia, nice name), Tali'Zorah - as exotically awesome as it sounds - is just going to result in a hellish school life. Kids are freaking horrible unfortunately, I knew people in school with bog standard names like "Peter" that got made fun of for their names, I don't even want to know the possibilities with Tali'Zorah then.

But regardless, congratz man! Hope you guys have an amazing time ahead with the kid.

 

[mindfaQ]

I think you are punishing your kid with a name like this ^^. You as parents should probably be the last ones to want that.