I’ve seen a second baby named Renesmee. This is starting to worry me.
The first was born in Scotland last year. The second was born in Plymouth, New Hampshire on New Year’s Day.
It’s time for an intervention. If you’re an expectant TwiHard who believes Renesmee might just make a good baby name, please stop and think about these questions first:
- “Renesmee” is rather inelegant, isn’t it? Yes it is. In fact, it’s a car crash. Stephenie Meyer was at the wheel, and she took out innocent bystanders Renée and Esmé. If you like the sounds in the name, why not untangle it and use Renée Esmé or Esmé Renée as a first-middle pairing? You could also hyphenate (e.g. Renée-Esmé) and use the combination as either a first or a middle name.
- What’s wrong with all the other female names in Twilight? Nothing at all. So how about Isabella/Bella? Rosalie? Alice? Heidi? Leah? Katrina/Kate? Esmé (on its own)? Renée (on its own)? These names weren’t invented for–and therefore won’t always be associated with–Twilight. And that’s a good thing.
- Is the name of a fictitious vampire/human hybrid baby in a poorly written YA book really more important to you than, say, a family name? I hope not. Try using the Renesmee formula instead of the name itself. If the baby’s grandmothers are named Anne and Isabel, for instance, try Annabella. If you’d like to honor Aunt Jennifer and Aunt Jessica, combine them to create Jennica.
Naming under the influence can be dangerous. Please forward this to anyone you know who, due to a Twilight addiction, may be considering giving the name Renesmee to a real-life, non-vampire baby.
(In the meanwhile, let me know if you hear about or meet any other babies named Renesmee.)
5 Comments
Right on. Awhile back, you had a poll about whether or not we would ever tell a friend that the name they were choosing/considering for their child was BAD. I voted that, no, I would never do that. My own children have ‘unusual’ names for my area, and I really would’ve been offended if a friend had shown their dislike for them. You’ve shown me the exception to my own rule. I would have to have a serious sit-down with a friend or family member considering ‘Renesmee’ for her child. ‘Car crash’ is right!
Well, someone needed to say it. I agree completley!
Jenica is an actual name. It’s Romanian, and I have a friend named that.
what really sucks if that I had named my 6 year daughter Ranessa may… which is close to the name renesmee. ( however I didnt even know about the name renesmee until later). So now i’ll have to constantly explain that renesmee is not her name..
I mean dont get me wrong, I like the name but not for my daughter…
STEPHANIE MEYER COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH BETTER, IF YOU REALY WANNA COMBINE THE NAMES WHY NOT DO IT IN A PRETTY NON STUPID WAY. RENEE+ESME: REESE. I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS WHILE READING THE BOOK, YOU DONT AUTOMATICALLY KNOW IT COMES FROM THE MIXING OF THOSE NAMES BUT ONCE YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT KINDA DOES.