According to the popular nursery rhyme, Monday’s Child it would seem that Friday’s
child is ‘loving and giving’ but the name Friday
itself is not being used by the modern parent even when other names such as
Wednesday, the child full of woe and Sunday are now being used by parents.
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| Frigg, Norse Goddess of Love that Friday is named after |
Since 2000, in every single year less than five
babies were given the name Friday to
possibly none at all. I like to think that someone out there has used the name
but you can never be completely certain. It’s surprising that not more people
are using this name as many people do look forward to Friday, being the end of
the typical school/work week and for those macabre folk and Addam’s Family fans such as myself, you
will know that Wednesday Addam’s middle name is indeed Friday.
Friday (pronounced:
FRY-day) comes from Old English origin
meaning ‘the day of Frigg’, which in turn is to honour the Norse Love
Goddess, Frigg. In turn, Wednesday Addams is not the only character to bear the
name, there is also a Friday (male) in ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and in the ‘A Series
of Unfortunate Events’ series, there is a female Friday who appears in the
final book and is the daughter of a man named ‘Thursday’.
However, in many cultures, Friday is seen as un
unlucky day of the week. For sailors, they believe it is unlucky to start a
voyage on a Friday. Also, Friday the 13th is seen as an unlucky day
in modern times and whenever one of these Friday’s occur, it may be called “Black
Friday.” However, Scottish Gaelic culture believes that it is a ‘lucky day for
sowing the seed’. Friday is also connected with the planet Venus and the
Astrological signs Libra and Taurus. Friday is also important in Christian
Religion as ‘Good Friday’ was when Jesus Christ was crucified and for anyone
who goes to work in an office setting, Friday is the best day at work as it is
Casual Friday!
Overall, Friday is just as plausible for a name as
Wednesday, Tuesday and Sunday are but I think the connotation with Friday the
13th and the doom and gloom brought about by it are turning parents
away. It seems like it is fine to be macabre, just not unlucky.
*
Note: I have skipped over Wednesday and Thursday but it was not on purpose,
life just got in the way, so they will be done next week.
Photo Source: http://chamakoso.deviantart.com/art/Frigg-118277426
In theory I like it, but in practical terms, the FRY at the start seems slightly comical. Perhaps because I read a lot of stories as a kid that made jokes about Friday being the day to fry things and so on.
ReplyDeleteUnlike most other days of the week, Friday is tied to a character (Man Friday), and the old phrase "girl Friday" for personal assistant makes it seem like a job title. It almost seems to be too masculine for a girl (because of Man Friday) and too feminine for a boy (because of Girl Friday).
I can understand why it's not as popular as other weekdays for a baby name.
The above comment's points are only valid for the person who wrote them. I personally have never read any amusing stories regarding frying and have no idea who this Man Friday is supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteI'm naming my daughter Friday. I love the name. "Friday I'm in love" - The Cure.
ReplyDeleteI'm naming my daughter Friday. I love the name. "Friday I'm in love" - The Cure.
ReplyDelete