Have you had this conversation?

“My name is—.” or “The baby’s name is—.”

“That’s a pretty name.” (Sometimes even “That’s a beautiful name.”)

Granted that the comment represents a personal opinion and not an objective fact, what, exactly, is a “pretty” name? Is this just an empty compliment, or does it mean something? Are you simply following the social convention for an automatic response because you have to say something?

What are the traits of a personal name you call pretty?

Is the perceived beauty of a name related to language, culture, social class, family history? Or is it more like a matter of purely personal preference, the same way you may like pink but I prefer turquoise?

Do we ever hear or make such a comment about a boy’s name, or only a girl’s?

Topics: words, aesthetics, names, compliments, social conventions