i was thinking that i wanted my sweet baby boy to have an awesome, unique, strong name. no, not after rage against the machine and no not after the tv music programme. it is powerful and awesome just like my now 7 n half year old son.
Ditto to Emily ... Rage is a music TV programme here, so here I would assume it was honouring the TV show (using rage in the sense of "have a great time, party, rock on") - possibly the parents of Rages are thinking of this meaning? Although it seems to have devolved into just meaning "drunk, wasted", presumably by people who can't imagine having a good time any other way.
Actually, I disagree. Rage isn't just negative; you can use it of the natural world too (I think there are few things more exciting than a raging storm). Rage, like anger, can also be righteous. Originally, too, “rage” was used of poetic, prophetic, or musical inspiration, as well as heroic spirit and valiant indignation...
That's true Kay - and Dylan Thomas said to "Rage, rage against the dying of the light", so it's life-affirming too.
Btw, when I say I would like to know what's going through the parents minds I mean that in a non-pejorative sense - when a name has this many potential meanings and associations, I would be interested to know which one inspired them.
Whereas if someone calls their child Sunny or Bliss, we can usually tell what they had in mind.
I can't help but wonder what was going through the parents' heads when they chose "Rage" for their sweet baby boy.
ReplyDeletei was thinking that i wanted my sweet baby boy to have an awesome, unique, strong name. no, not after rage against the machine and no not after the tv music programme. it is powerful and awesome just like my now 7 n half year old son.
DeleteDitto to Emily ... Rage is a music TV programme here, so here I would assume it was honouring the TV show (using rage in the sense of "have a great time, party, rock on") - possibly the parents of Rages are thinking of this meaning? Although it seems to have devolved into just meaning "drunk, wasted", presumably by people who can't imagine having a good time any other way.
ReplyDeleteActually, I disagree. Rage isn't just negative; you can use it of the natural world too (I think there are few things more exciting than a raging storm). Rage, like anger, can also be righteous. Originally, too, “rage” was used of poetic, prophetic, or musical inspiration, as well as heroic spirit and valiant indignation...
ReplyDeleteThat's true Kay - and Dylan Thomas said to "Rage, rage against the dying of the light", so it's life-affirming too.
ReplyDeleteBtw, when I say I would like to know what's going through the parents minds I mean that in a non-pejorative sense - when a name has this many potential meanings and associations, I would be interested to know which one inspired them.
Whereas if someone calls their child Sunny or Bliss, we can usually tell what they had in mind.