Do you think the name "Rachel" is will be forever associated with the TV show FRIENDS?

[yurbud]

My wife and I are talking about baby names, and we both like Rachel, but she thinks it is too closely associated with FRIENDS, which would make people think we are vapid and cause the kid grief later.

What do you think?

[madinmaryland]

1. Rachel Maddow was on a TV show, besides her evening show after

Keith Olbermann?

:wtf:

[Bunny]

2. I don't know. Where I grew up, "Rachel's" was the name of the local brothel.

You would not have seen too many young girls named Rachel back in those days.

Rachel is a beautiful, dignified, ancient name. One of my daughter's middle names is Rachel. I like the name, it has nothing to do with Friends, and if you and your wife like it, then just do it.

[yurbud]

3. We're hoping she (if it's a she) doesn't go into the brothel business.

[NoPasaran]

4. What's Friends?

[seemunkee]

5. Never watched Friends, named our daughter Rachel

No one has ever mentioned the character to us.

[cyberswede]

6. It's a beautiful name!

If you like it, use it. Nobody will remember "Friends" in 5 years.

[MorningGlow]

7. Nah; I already associate it with the female lead on Glee

It's a beautiful name--timeless. I think it's already been forgotten in terms of Friends.

[soleiri]

8. It will only be a problem

If you name subsequent children Ross, Phoebe, Joey and Monica.
and force them to dance with umbrellas in or near water fountains.


I doubt that anyone under 20 even remembers the show Friends or thinks about it.
I guarantee it won't be a playground taunt 5 years from now.

[yurbud]

11. that was my secret plan. I'm trying to figure out how to have the kid come out ...

both holding the umbrella and clapping.

[rurallib]

9. Never saw Friends. To me there is but one Rachel.

Pretty hard to avoid Friends, especially when our kids were young. Tried to watch it a couple times, but lord it was awful.
BTW the one Rachel is the one I used to get up at 5AM to listen to on AirAmerica Radio.

[Deep13]

12. +1

[dogknob]

10. I never, ever watched "Friends" n/t

[RFKHumphreyObama]

13. Never gave a toss about "Friends" but I don't see anything wrong with naming your daughter Rachel

Don't forget that your child's generation will be growing up only seeing "Friends" in syndication so it won't have the same cultural and social impact that, for some reason that totally escapes me, it had on our generation

Remind your wife of all the other great Rachels-Rachel Corrie, Rachel Carson, Rachel Maddow -who have made great contributions to this world. It's a beautiful name and some stupid TV show shouldn't stop you from giving it to your child

[mitchum]

14. Ever since I was a little kid, I have always associated the name with...

a brunette woman of mystery. A femme fatale who smokes and drinks. I think it's a cool name.
I have a longtime pulpy tabloid mind.

[yurbud]

16. deep!

[mitchum]

17. You may call it deep...

but I'm afraid it may have been that there were just too many lurid paperbacks lying around our house :)

[kentauros]

15. I tend to think more about the origins of names

and their history. Rachel is an old name with a rich history :)

Given name entry.

[onlyadream]

18. Before I finished reading your question

I thought you were going to associate the name with Rachel Maddow! So, nope, I don't associate the name Rachel with any one person.

[LostInAnomie]

19. Nope. "Friends" will be soon forgotten.

You couldn't get anyone to admit to watching it back when it was popular. 10 years from now no one will remember it at all.

[Danger Mouse]

20. Nobody will remember 'Friends.' It has no lasting cultural significance whatsoever.

[Bucky]

21. Excellent point. Jennifer Aniston has totally fucked up the Old Testament for me now.

Worst part of it is that most of the Book of Genesis can be sung to the tune of that "I'll be there for youu...." song.

God should smite someone over this, but who?

[petronius]

22. Of all the Rachels I've known, across the age groups, not one has ever

made me think of Friends. I would say the same thing for Phoebe, Ross, Joey, and any other 'Friends'-related names...