What Does Spunky Mean to You?

[nomdeplume]

Often on the boards people will say a particular name is spunky. It's almost always a girls name :princess: and almost always a compliment :thup:. I know how spunky is defined generally, but I'm curious about it when it comes to names. So I thought I'd ask:

1. What does spunky mean to you?

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky?

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name?

4. What is your favorite spunky name?

TIA. :)

[JustCallMeJ]

1) Hard to describe! It's kind of like, cute, with a little bit of an attitude... but in a good way!
2) One biggie for me is that a spunky name is a name I wouldn't normally expect to hear on a little girl, but it just goes so well with her personality and she carries it off so well! Trudy comes to mind.
3) It's a positive association to me... cute in an offbeat way, I guess is what I meant in #1! It's different but not weird, just adorable.
4) By far, it would be Dorothy nn Dot. I think Dot is the spunkiest name for a little girl!

[lolasuga]

1. What does spunky mean to you?
I think it means a name that you don't expect to hear, but when you do, you love it! Not overly feminine, just really cute.

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky?
I'd say that really popular names are never spunky, because they are very expected.

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name?
If you want to stand out a little, and make people wonder what you are like- then spunky-ness is what you're going for!

4. What is your favorite spunky name?
Olive, Lola, Piper, Ruby

[KNY]

It's a name with that extra pizzazz! What we call that "wow" factor - the something fun and unexpected.

It's a name that you wouldn't picture on a quiet, demure girl - this girl is happy wearing a dress for tea, but she's also bold, daring, intelligent, creative, a trend-setter, doesn't follow the crowd. People will meet her and say "Oh, what a cool name!" and she's going to feel like she is a unique and cool person as a result.

I absolutely love spunky names.

[NannyElle]

1. What does spunky mean to you? Unique with attitude - not overly popular, but not really unheard of either ... :shrug:

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky? Boring is not spunky ... haha , best way I can put it. The name Anna is classic and beautiful, but not spunky.

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name? Stands out of the crowd.

4. What is your favorite spunky name? Lola/Leo

[Caitliin]

1. What does spunky mean to you? When I think of a spunky name I think different and out there and a person who will have a great outgoing personality.

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky? Think it has to do with personal opinion. But I guess the more different the more spunky.

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name?
I personally don't think it's a desirable quality for a name but I guess if you'd like to stand out.

4. What is your favorite spunky name?
Ruthie, Ebba, Moa.
Oswald, Rupert, Trig, Wrigley.

[cokabean]

1. What does spunky mean to you?
up-beat.
2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky?
some names are more dowdy than others. ex: Agnes vs. Lily
the sound of the names, one is heavy and the other light, so imo is spunkier.
3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name?
i think the illusion of fun and up-beat personality to them.
4. What is your favorite spunky name?
Kate, Sophie, Lily, Ellie, Hayley, Joy, Abbie,

[LaLaLalena]

I think Juliana describes it well - cute in an offbeat way. Soemthing unexpected. Dot is the perfect spunky name.

[JoannaMF]

When I think of Spunky I think of Piper as teh quintessential name. I think its a different name that is "cute". I think Dempsey/Demi is spunky personally, but its def person to person, I don't think Dot or Juliana are spunky at all..

[dill]

1. What does spunky mean to you?
It means that it is full of character, life, personality, etc. It's not just a normal, everyday name...it's a name that is unique, a bit "different", but is amazing!

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky?
I think spunky is an uncommon name that's unique and fun; a non-spunky name is something that could be somewhat common, is generally accepted, or maybe even a little boring?

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name?
It gives personality to the name; it makes a name less common so there aren't 10 of the same-named kids in the same grade/class (I was one of 7 Amanda's, so it is important to me!), and helps spark individualism, imo.

4. What is your favorite spunky name?
I think spunky names are: Penelope, Lola (have to agree!), Eden, Harlow, Ireland, Lark, Oceana, Octavia, Sonnet, Sunday, Waverly, Wren, Winter... my list goes on, I love "spunky" names!

[lissakay]

1. What does spunky mean to you? Cute but with a little attitude. When I hear the word "spunky", the first image in my brain is Pippi Longstocking. So...spirited. You're right that it's almost always a girls' name. It's not a word I would use about a boys' name.

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky? Not super feminine, super classic, or super cutesy. I can think of both popular and non-popular names that I would consider spunky, so I don't think that's part of my definition. I can think of both trendy and non-trendy names that I would consider spunky. I usually picture a tomboy image when I hear the word, but there are some more feminine names that I would consider spunky. Spunky usually means short to me.

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name? I'm not sure how to articulate it, but I don't think it's a trait that everyone is necessarily looking for in a name.

4. What is your favorite spunky name? I think my favorite kind of name is something unusual, often long, and rather elaborate sounding, but with the possibility of a spunky nn. So I wouldn't call Bernadette spunky, but Brett & Bridie are. My favorite spunky name on its own is probably March.

[_Melanie_]

Spunky is a super cute name with lots of personality.

I think that calling a child by their first and middle names is cute and spunky.

It's endearing.

Audrey Jane. ;)

[IvyWild]

1. What does spunky mean to you?
Short and lively.

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky?
Brevity is one factor and the crispness and flow of the name is another.

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name?
I think spunky names don't take themselves too seriously. They have a sense of humor and make you smile when you hear them.

4. What is your favorite spunky name?
Ivy!

[SummerRain]

1. What does spunky mean to you? a name that has a bit of attitude, a name that isn't overly common. It's a name you hear and think "that's cool!"

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky? I find a lot of unisex names on girls to be spunky. There's just something about a female carrying what is sometimes considered a male name that's cool to me. Classic names or common names aren't spunky to me - they just seem ... typical. Which isn't bad, it's just not "spunky" imo.

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name? Because it's different

4. What is your favorite spunky name?
I think a lot of names I like for girls are spunky
Lux, Bliss, Juno, Ever ... even Vada, my favorite name!
And then unisex/some boys names for girls: Sawyer, Logan, Chase, Atlas, Cruz, Flynn ...

[tiffer23]

"Spunky" makes me think Anne of Green Gables. She fits spunky to a T for me!

[LindsayClare]

1. What does spunky mean to you?
A name that sticks in my mind, something different that maybe I haven't seen IRL before. A name that strikes my interest that I want to find out more about.

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky?
A spunky name to me is something that isn't common, but also isn't too far out-there. A lot of short names to me are spunky. Names I've heard a million times are not spunky at all.

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name?
Yes absolutely desirable to me!

4. What is your favorite spunky name?
Ever, Olive, Felicity, Gia, Lux. Cruz, Dixon, Rook, Nico.

[Brielle]

1. What does spunky mean to you? ~ To me I envision a spitfire little kid who has a bit of attitude and a bit of sass. So spunky fits that persona.

2. What is it that makes one name spunky and another name not spunky? Really, its the way I visualize a person with the name. For example Rachel (a favorite of mine) does not bring up spunky its more soft and traditional and sweet. Whereas Asha (another favorite) does, I see a little red-headed wild thing. :)

3. Why is spunky-ness a desirable quality in a name? ~ I think it brings out the feminist in me. By feminist I don't mean 'hate all men, men are inferior' but that I feel spunky names on girls allows them to be themselves, no matter what kind of personality they have. :)

4. What is your favorite spunky name? Asha Pandora Brenna