Some male names are thought of as nice, kind-sounding names. A man called something simple, for example, like “John†or “David†would, to most people, be considered to have a nice, common name.
However, there are also names that are considered more dark male names. These might be names that hold a bit of mystery, danger, or even intrigue. These are often thought of as “bad boy names.†And, while these names don’t really say anything about the person to whom they belong, they can affect the perception and initial feel that one gets when meeting a person.
For this reason, it’s important to consider the connotations of any given name.
So, What are Some Dark Male Names?
With all of that said, you would probably like some examples of dark male names. While bearing in mind that culture and a lot of other factors go into determining how a name is perceived, here are some names that are commonly considered dark male names:
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As you can see, there are a great many names that can be considered dark male names. A lot of different factors go into determining what makes a name “dark†or not.
The “Foreign Factor†Plays a Role in Name Perception
As you may have noticed, many of the names on the above list have a foreign or exotic quality to them.
In some countries and cultures, names like “Rodrigo†and “Miguel†are extremely common and elicit no more of a reaction than a simple “John†would for any American.
When you take a name common from another culture, however, and place it in American culture, you end up with a name that many perceive as dark, different, and mysterious.
That, of course, is all perception, but giving a person a foreign name can add in an air of mystery that many find intriguing.
How Pop Culture Characters Affect Name Perception
Pop culture plays a huge role in determining which names are popular at a given time and how names are perceived by others.
Did you know, for example, that when the movie The Exorcist came out, there was a huge uptick in the number of people naming their children “Reagan?â€
Because popular culture influences names and name popularity, it’s no surprise that it also influences how names are perceived by others.
Take the name “Dylan†for example. For any 80s kind, this name conjures up the image of quintessential bad boy “Dylan†on the show Beverly Hills, 90210. Now, for people from that generation, “Dylan†will always have a sort of dark quality.
As you can tell from the above example, a person’s age, where he or she grew up, and what that person was exposed to in terms of media will all play a role in influencing how individual names are perceived. With that said, though, it is obviously important to take popular culture into consideration when choosing a name.
Names That Defy Cultural Norms or Standards
Another easy way for a name to instantly be considered dark is for it to defy cultural naming standards or norms in some way.
Take the names “Taylor†and “Tyler†for example. While they are fairly common names now, when they first began being used as first names instead of last names, people found it a little odd. Now, though, that throwback to defying the cultural naming norms gives these names a dark connotation.
The same goes for names that may have once been thought of as female but that are now male or names that were once associated with one culture but now another. Basically, anytime that a name defies norms and standards in some way, the darker its connotation and perception.
Remember, It’s Not the Name That Makes the Man
As you can see, a lot of factors go into determining how a name is perceived and thought of by others.
At the end of the day, though, perception is just that: perception. It doesn’t actually mean anything or say anything real about the person who a name belongs to.
So, while you may want to think about cultural perception and name connotations when choosing a name, ultimately you should choose a name that you like regardless of what others think about it.
After all, who knows? You could be the next one to start a naming trend.