Dana writes:
I was hoping you’d be willing to open up a poll to ask your readers if they think that the name Rosetta has become unusable due to its strong association with the language learning company, or if it can still be used? My husband and I love, love, love the name, but I’m concerned/fairly certain that it’s off the market due to its strong, strong association with the Rosetta Stone company. I’d love to get more data points on this, though!
For me, the very second I saw the word Rosetta, the word “Stone” leaped to my mind—not from the language company, but from the Rosetta Stone the company is cleverly named for. The connection is so strong, I’m having trouble thinking of a connection that’s similarly strong. It’s as if someone said “The leaning tower of…” and I’d automatically and irresistibly think “Pisa” every single time. Inseparable.
On the other hand, the name fits RIGHT IN with the current interests in the names Rose and Etta. And if I knew a little girl named Rosetta, it would bring my Rosetta Associations Tally from 1 to 2, and that might make a tremendous difference quite quickly: the first time I encountered the name Brooklyn on a child, I thought only of Brooklyn, New York—but now Brooklyn also seems like a name.
Let’s have a poll over to the right to see what everyone else thinks. [Poll closed; see results below.]
Poll results for “The Name Rosetta” (542 votes total):
Unusable because of the stone – 123 votes (23%)
Usable only if a bunch of people use it – 60 votes (11%)
Usable – 314 votes (58%)
“What stone?”/usable – 22 votes (4%)
Can’t decide – 23 votes (4%)
Rosetta’s definitely usable. I know someone my age (25) with this name and she really pulls it off. Very elegant and a little bit whimsical. Rosie/Rose/Etta are all great nicknames, too. Go for it!
i actually didn’t think of rosetta stone, my mind went immediately to the disney fairies. (rosetta is the name of one of the garden fairies)
I instantly thought of the stone. I don’t know the company, just the stone itself.
I did not think of the stone when I heard this name, I actually thought “that is a beautiful name I haven’t heard in a while.” I like the names Rose and Etta separately, so I just thought of it as a lovely combination. I say use it!
I also immediately went to the Disney fairy. I do like the name, though. The thing is, most kids won’t know about the Rosetta Stone (or the company), so I don’t think you’ll get teasing. It’s a lovely name. I’d use it!
Rosetta is synonymous with the stone for me but I still think it’s useable because the association is neutral to positive.
Another one who thought Disney Fairy and not stone. This is a positive association and so I say go for it.
Think of all the kids who’s names are associated with companies, tv shows, or movies. If every association ruled out a name, there would be no names left. (For example, every Tom would be Toms shoes, every Gideon would be like Criminal Minds and every Edward would be like Twilight).
Rosetta is lovely and say use what you love.
I thought of the Rosetta Stone too, but the comments pointed out to me that I’ve known Rosetta the fairy for years now and never once thought of the stone in conjunction with her name. So apparently when I am not analyzing the name, I just think of it as a name.
I think the Rosetta Stone definitely comes to mind, as in the actual stone which enabled the deciphering of languages, but I think it’s definitely a very POSITIVE association. Very alluring and brings to mind the mystery and excitement of archaeology, and being the key discovery that allowed something to be deciphered and a code to be broken… good stuff!
You and your daughter might say, “Rosetta, like the stone!” a lot, but I think it’s a fun and an easy way to clarify the name and to ensure that everyone can always spell it.
So, all in all, I think it’s definitely a-okay as a name for a person (it was originally a place name), since the Rose and Etta names have us primed to hear it as a name, too.
Enjoy!
I love the name Rosetta. I do think of all the associations listed but I’ve always had it on my short list for a girl in spite of them. If you want an alternative, Rosella is very pretty. Rosette instead of Rosetta is an option too. But it sounds to me like you just needed some assurance, and I’m giving you yet another thumbs up on Rosetta! Such a great name!
I immediately thought of the Disney tinkerbell fairy Rosetta and then heard the stone thing and can’t get it out of my head.
I have a very strong association with the Stone (not the company, the actual historical object), But its a good association and a beautiful name! Definitely usable!
I know a 40-something with the name. It’s a great name.
I had a student in my class with that name. It seems totally normal to me.
It is a lovely name. I only think of the Tinkerbelle’s fairy friend. Your little girl will undoubtedly be compared to her. But, that isn’t a bad association at all for a little girl. I had a student named Aurora, and she got compared to the Disney princess, not the dawn or the city.
I automatically thought of the stone (the actual stone, not the company) also. I do think it is a beautiful name, and as long as you guys are ok with there being a lot of references to the stone, then go for it!
I think it’s a great choice. Familiar but unusual, and it isn’t as if the Rosetta Stone is a negative connotation. Besides, once people get to know your Rosetta, that will be their new connotation. You should definitely use this name!
I just had a look at how the Rosetta Stone got it’s name: “Discovered at Rosette (Rachid)[Nile Valley] in 1799, by Napoleon’s army” the Rosetta Stone proved the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.” And “The town of Rashid came to be known in the West as ‘Rosette (Rosetta)’, the name by which it was referred to by the French during Napolean’s campaign in Egypt.”
“Oxford” says of the name Rosetta: “Italian pet form of Rosa, occasionally also used in the English-speaking world.”
Here are two interesting comments on the name from behindthename.com:
–This name has been used from the 1880’s to the 1960’s. Its most popular year was the 1930’s which ranked 291.
–Actually it’s been in use in the UK for longer than that. It’s a family name in my family, and the first one was born in 1806. I imagine it became popular after the Rosetta Stone came to England in 1802.
Although the association of ‘Rosetta’ with ‘Stone’ may be well known, I don’t see that as a reason for not using it. That’s a positive association and may be why the name entered the English language name pool in the first place.
Rosetta is a pretty name with an interesting history, a rare name today, yet similar to Rose and other Rose-names that are rising in popularity. I think you’ve found a winner!
From britishbabynames.com:
1845 birth records for England and Wales:
Rosetta Cordelia
…1850:
Rosetta Laurina Sarah
…1852:
Rosetta Sarah Thalia
1880s siblings:
Rosetta Caroline
1890s siblings:
Rosetta Selina
“Victorian Darlings” …Rosetta
I have the impression that Rosetta may have been more popular as a middle name than a first name during the 19th century, as Rose is now. And it seems that the name Rosetta came into use not in spite of the Rosetta Stone but because of it.
Regarding the rise of Rose and Ros- names: in 2001 there were 3 such names in the SSA Top 1000: Rose, Rosa and Rosemary. By 2006 Roselyn had been added to the list. In 2011 there were 5 Ros- names in the Top 1000, with the addition of Rosalie, which except for Rose ranked higher than all the other forms of the name.
Beyond the Top 1000 in 2011, six other forms of Rose or alternative spellings of one of the five in the Top 1000 were each given to at least 100 baby girls. Although there were only 25 baby girls named Rosetta, the name can be seen as one of many Ros- names now gaining in usage.
Rosetta fits in with the many Ros-names being used today, yet also stands out because of its rarer usage. Rosetta has an interesting history that includes both a Victorian interest in the newly discovered Rosetta Stone and the endearing Italian name Rosetta.
I thought of the stone, not the company. In fact, when I see commercials for the company I think of the stone (probably what they intended). A pp mentioned Rosetta is a Disney fairy, which should help a little if you wanted another association to mention to people, and I agree it fits well with current name trends. I say use it!
I have no clue who / what Rosetta Stone is! The name just made me think of prize ribbon rosettes. It’s so close to the name Rose that I think it would be fine as a name.
It might be strange if your last name was Stone, but it’s not, right? It also seems like it’s a nice company, focusing on education? It’s not some scandalous company. Go for it!
Thanks, everyone! I’m so glad to hear so many other people like the name too. I agree that the association with the Rosetta Stone itself is positive and will check out the Disney Fairy Princess! Thanks again.
Like you, I thought of the language company first, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that (unless, as someone else mentioned, your surname actually IS Stone). My second association is the rosetta design often made in latte art. But my husband works in coffee.
If I met a Rosetta Johnson or a Rosetta Meyers, that would become my new association. You have the power! Go for it!
I’m another person who thinks Rosetta Stone is a strong association, but that you should use the name if you love it! It’s not a bad association by any means, and as I love language and history, the ties to that are rather a bonus! I think the connection to Egypt and hieroglyphs is so cool! Without it, hieroglyphs were a forgotten (and indecipherable) language.
I also thought of Tinkerbell’s friend Rosetta. She’s a lovely little fairy, no negative association for me!