Girl’s name: Kate v. Serena?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These two names are wildly different. I prefer Kate because I like traditional names.

Plus 1. There are not many Kate’s.

Maybe were you live there are not many Kates (no apostrophe) but where I live there are loads, in almost every age group.

While you may get accused of being the grammar police, I love you for calling out the erroneous use of an apostrophe to make something plural.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like nicknames as full names so even though I like Kate as a short form of any number of great names, I lean toward Serena.

I'm not a huge tennis fan but I'm confused by how many posts seem to think an association with Serena Williams is a bad thing.

We seriously considered Serena for our child. We are white. As we discussed it with others I found more than a few people had a negative reaction to the association with Serena Williams. Here I'd thought that was a good thing. I like Serena Williams. That was part of why I liked the name. Serena Williams is a polarizing figure. It's hard not to see people's reaction to her as a gauge of misogyny/racism, even if internalized.

I personally had more reservations because of the association with Gossip Girl.

What finally clinched it was when an insightful friend raised her eyebrow at this name in the context of our loud, emotional family and said "Do you think it likely your child will be serene?"

I have a daughter named Serena, and yes, I found the same reaction with regard to Serena Williams. It was eye-opening. I didn't name my daughter after Serena Williams but I thought the association was positive. I had some people tell me I shouldn't use it because it was a black name. Then other people would say things "but you know that it's going to make people think of Serena Williams!" with like a tone of horror in their voice. I'd just look at them and say with a flat voice "is there something wrong with that?" and I'd get all sorts of embarrassed muttering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like nicknames as full names so even though I like Kate as a short form of any number of great names, I lean toward Serena.

I'm not a huge tennis fan but I'm confused by how many posts seem to think an association with Serena Williams is a bad thing.

We seriously considered Serena for our child. We are white. As we discussed it with others I found more than a few people had a negative reaction to the association with Serena Williams. Here I'd thought that was a good thing. I like Serena Williams. That was part of why I liked the name. Serena Williams is a polarizing figure. It's hard not to see people's reaction to her as a gauge of misogyny/racism, even if internalized.

I personally had more reservations because of the association with Gossip Girl.

What finally clinched it was when an insightful friend raised her eyebrow at this name in the context of our loud, emotional family and said "Do you think it likely your child will be serene?"

This is depressing. She's a magnificent role model IMO, and the hate she gets is awful. For that to spill over onto her name, which means serene, is maddening. I love the name Serena, both on its own and because of the G.O.A.T.

[Anonymous]

I think both are nice but I agree you should give Kate a full name (if you are going to use Kate I feel like it should be Katherine or Kathleen or something else “K” because Kate for Catherine is mismatched somehow)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kate is a nickname for either Catherine or Kathleen. Please do not just name someone Kate. Give your daughter the option to use a more formal name someday if she chooses. Also, this name has been wildly popular for 25 years--there are lots and lots of Kates.
Know that the name Serena will always be associated with Serena Williams--I don't think it's stuffy.
These are very different names, each with a very different style. Are you sure there aren't any other names you'd consider?

My first association was Serena and Lily. Which conjures feminine, coastal vibes to me. I like it.

Ha! The first name that came to mind was Serena Van Der Woodsen from Gossip Girl. Then Serena Williams. Neither are bad references.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like nicknames as full names so even though I like Kate as a short form of any number of great names, I lean toward Serena.

I'm not a huge tennis fan but I'm confused by how many posts seem to think an association with Serena Williams is a bad thing.

We seriously considered Serena for our child. We are white. As we discussed it with others I found more than a few people had a negative reaction to the association with Serena Williams. Here I'd thought that was a good thing. I like Serena Williams. That was part of why I liked the name. Serena Williams is a polarizing figure. It's hard not to see people's reaction to her as a gauge of misogyny/racism, even if internalized.

I personally had more reservations because of the association with Gossip Girl.

What finally clinched it was when an insightful friend raised her eyebrow at this name in the context of our loud, emotional family and said "Do you think it likely your child will be serene?"

This is depressing. She's a magnificent role model IMO, and the hate she gets is awful. For that to spill over onto her name, which means serene, is maddening. I love the name Serena, both on its own and because of the G.O.A.T.

I just think she's ugly. Good tennis player, sure, but not at all pretty. Strong, sure, but not pretty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like nicknames as full names so even though I like Kate as a short form of any number of great names, I lean toward Serena.

I'm not a huge tennis fan but I'm confused by how many posts seem to think an association with Serena Williams is a bad thing.

We seriously considered Serena for our child. We are white. As we discussed it with others I found more than a few people had a negative reaction to the association with Serena Williams. Here I'd thought that was a good thing. I like Serena Williams. That was part of why I liked the name. Serena Williams is a polarizing figure. It's hard not to see people's reaction to her as a gauge of misogyny/racism, even if internalized.

I personally had more reservations because of the association with Gossip Girl.

What finally clinched it was when an insightful friend raised her eyebrow at this name in the context of our loud, emotional family and said "Do you think it likely your child will be serene?"

I have a daughter named Serena, and yes, I found the same reaction with regard to Serena Williams. It was eye-opening. I didn't name my daughter after Serena Williams but I thought the association was positive. I had some people tell me I shouldn't use it because it was a black name. Then other people would say things "but you know that it's going to make people think of Serena Williams!" with like a tone of horror in their voice. I'd just look at them and say with a flat voice "is there something wrong with that?" and I'd get all sorts of embarrassed muttering.

How the hell can a Spanish/Italian/Portuguese word be a “black name”? I guess William and Grace are “black names” too (Bill Cosby and Grace Jones).

[Anonymous]

I'm a Kate (not Katherine, Kathryn or Kathleen) and have always love my name - never felt deprived by lack of a "real name," so I'm biased. Didn't know many Kates my age growing up (most seemed to be friends of my grandmothers), but now there seem to be a lot - new hires at work, among university classes I teach, as well as at each activity my kids have (school, sports, etc).(My kids are in elementary, middle & high school). I also love Serena, so I say go with what resonates with you and works with your surname. Also, I wouldn't be overly focused on the meaning of the name, after all Katherine comes from the Greek word katharos which means pure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like nicknames as full names so even though I like Kate as a short form of any number of great names, I lean toward Serena.

I'm not a huge tennis fan but I'm confused by how many posts seem to think an association with Serena Williams is a bad thing.

We seriously considered Serena for our child. We are white. As we discussed it with others I found more than a few people had a negative reaction to the association with Serena Williams. Here I'd thought that was a good thing. I like Serena Williams. That was part of why I liked the name. Serena Williams is a polarizing figure. It's hard not to see people's reaction to her as a gauge of misogyny/racism, even if internalized.

I personally had more reservations because of the association with Gossip Girl.

What finally clinched it was when an insightful friend raised her eyebrow at this name in the context of our loud, emotional family and said "Do you think it likely your child will be serene?"

This is depressing. She's a magnificent role model IMO, and the hate she gets is awful. For that to spill over onto her name, which means serene, is maddening. I love the name Serena, both on its own and because of the G.O.A.T.

I just think she's ugly. Good tennis player, sure, but not at all pretty. Strong, sure, but not pretty.

Ugly is as ugly does.

She is all around amazing.

Love both names, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like nicknames as full names so even though I like Kate as a short form of any number of great names, I lean toward Serena.

I'm not a huge tennis fan but I'm confused by how many posts seem to think an association with Serena Williams is a bad thing.

We seriously considered Serena for our child. We are white. As we discussed it with others I found more than a few people had a negative reaction to the association with Serena Williams. Here I'd thought that was a good thing. I like Serena Williams. That was part of why I liked the name. Serena Williams is a polarizing figure. It's hard not to see people's reaction to her as a gauge of misogyny/racism, even if internalized.

I personally had more reservations because of the association with Gossip Girl.

What finally clinched it was when an insightful friend raised her eyebrow at this name in the context of our loud, emotional family and said "Do you think it likely your child will be serene?"

I have a daughter named Serena, and yes, I found the same reaction with regard to Serena Williams. It was eye-opening. I didn't name my daughter after Serena Williams but I thought the association was positive. I had some people tell me I shouldn't use it because it was a black name. Then other people would say things "but you know that it's going to make people think of Serena Williams!" with like a tone of horror in their voice. I'd just look at them and say with a flat voice "is there something wrong with that?" and I'd get all sorts of embarrassed muttering.

How the hell can a Spanish/Italian/Portuguese word be a “black name”? I guess William and Grace are “black names” too (Bill Cosby and Grace Jones).

I don't know, I'm just telling what was said to me. And what would it matter if it was? It just shows that people -- some of whom profess to be quite enlightened -- have a lot of internal prejudice. Sort of the name equivalent of "white flight" -- once it gets associated with black people, is not usable anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like nicknames as full names so even though I like Kate as a short form of any number of great names, I lean toward Serena.

I'm not a huge tennis fan but I'm confused by how many posts seem to think an association with Serena Williams is a bad thing.

We seriously considered Serena for our child. We are white. As we discussed it with others I found more than a few people had a negative reaction to the association with Serena Williams. Here I'd thought that was a good thing. I like Serena Williams. That was part of why I liked the name. Serena Williams is a polarizing figure. It's hard not to see people's reaction to her as a gauge of misogyny/racism, even if internalized.

I personally had more reservations because of the association with Gossip Girl.

What finally clinched it was when an insightful friend raised her eyebrow at this name in the context of our loud, emotional family and said "Do you think it likely your child will be serene?"

This is depressing. She's a magnificent role model IMO, and the hate she gets is awful. For that to spill over onto her name, which means serene, is maddening. I love the name Serena, both on its own and because of the G.O.A.T.

I just think she's ugly. Good tennis player, sure, but not at all pretty. Strong, sure, but not pretty.

Wow I am sure that she would think you were weak and poor, but would be too polite to say so.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a middle name picked already? I like Serena as first name and Serena Kate as first and middle sounds nice.

Also, there are going to be people who call Kate Katie. Is Katie going to bother you?

[Anonymous]

I grew up with or have known Kates and Serenas (older than THE Serena) and Serena is a bit lower status than Kate but tough as nails, she will find her way and claw her way to the top. She will not take crap from anyone. Kate grew up more well to do and has a tough confident exterior that is paper thin. She is a big cry baby underneath and somehow with all else being perfect has many personal hang ups and difficulties getting on with other girls. Kate will have support to help but she can be exhausting. Serena might make a few poor choices but will not make the same mistake twice. This is about a small sample of people but I know so many with the same name and very different so go with what makes your heart happy to hear.

[Anonymous]

I love Kate.

I really dislike the name Serena.

[Anonymous]

I love Kate but would also hesitate giving it as a full name.

I like Serena, too. Some alternatives to consider - Sabrina, Sabina, Sabine, Celeste, Cecelia, Celine. Celina, Carina.