Atticus, is it too much?

tammytoby l didn't word that well. He didn't mean by the family, he meant by the kids up in Manchester.

Ah yes. The annual Atticus thread. We look forward to these. It's always amusing to be told what a pretentious wanker you are!

OP has disappeared, yes. I've always half suspected these threads are started by frenemies of the mothers of Atticuses, as a lure to discover their user names. There can't be that many of us. With the added benefit of perhaps causing humiliation by stealth, by stoking a predictable onslaught of group scathing. I reckon some of you would feel very at home in Maycomb.

Obviously, I have an Atticus. He was born well before GSAW (published without Lee's compos mentis consent). He has experienced exactly zero negativity or bullying about his name, unless you count my own mother's and MIL's reactions before he was born - should have referred them to MN for support). Though once, while rifling through the clearance rack of damaged items at a garden centre, I thought I heard several of the uglier ornamental trolls sniggering at him.

If you are real, give your baby the name you love most. Just don't tell anyone before he's here!

But Go Set a Watchman isn’t a sequel, it’s an early draft of what would become To Kill a Mockingbird — that’s why publishing it with only possibly partial consent from the elderly and unwell author was such a betrayal.

The publisher to whom Lee sent the first version thought the flashbacks from the adult Scout to her childhood were the best parts, so she reworked it all from a child’s eye POV, and changed virtually everything, including the character of Atticus Finch. So segregationist Atticus actually evolves into admirable Atticus.

This thread has led me to start calling my cat Catticus Finch. He is looking quizzical. 😼

i haven't read the Mockingbird sequel but I thought there was some chat when it was released about 'horrified parents who named their sons after Atticus Finch find that in the sequel (prequel?) he's actually a racist'

Might be worth looking into (You probably have, but just in case ;-)

My friend's dog is Atticus. I wouldn't personally use it for my child, but if you really like it then why not.

It's my cat's name. We adopted him with it. I wanted to change it but he alsready responded to it so it stuck.

Guess the OP's flounced off cuz we weren't all impressed with their clever name choice.

I feel conflicted. I adored Atticus and it was very high on my list but the way that TKAM has been reinterpreted now would make me too uncomfortable. This is a great article and sums up why I wouldn't call my child after Atticus Finch. It's worth a read. www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/17/the-contested-legacy-of-atticus-finch

"When l take him back home (visiting family) he'll get a massive amount of piss taken."

I think that says more about the family: how sad that they are so judgemental.

My cat is called Atticus too; but his name was chosen after a philosopher rather than Atticus Finch. I think it's a great cats name`

For a child I don't think it's too bad and prefer it to many modern names. If you love it OP then use it!

wineymummy Exactly this. My OH is a Manchester lad who's lived in London for due to the nature of his work. When the little un was born, his then missus wanted to call him Sebastian. My OH put his foot down very firmly and said more or less what you've just said. "When l take him back home (visiting family) he'll get a massive amount of piss taken."
He prevailed and little one was given an lrish name with the lrish spelling (lrish surname, too).

(Not Daniel O'Donnell, though)

My Siamese cat is called Atticus, it suits him down to the ground.

I don’t know any human Atticus’ but I think it’s a lovely name and not at all pretentious. If you like it OP, you should go for it.

It's a great name

Sounds like the name for a company one of the candidates on the apprentice would make up. Sorry

My granddaughter goes to pre school with a little boy called atticus

Very pretentious and naff. If you cant think of anything decent then stick to a traditional name.

Heard someone calling their little Atticus over to them in the garden centre this summer, it caused at least two separate families to snigger -made me feel sorry for the boy-

Actually makes me feel sorry for the sniggering families! What narrow mindedness and how rude! Their poor children have great parent role models.

I love it.

My DS who is 10 is called Atticus. He's never been bullied. It's just a name. Lots of unusual names in his school and also in the area we live in. Only ever had positive comments about his name.

Use it if you love it, it's a lovely name!

I know two dogs called Atticus. No humans though.

Heard someone calling their little Atticus over to them in the garden centre this summer, it caused at least two separate families to snigger -made me feel sorry for the boy- so for that reason I’m not keen.

You should never share a name before you’ve given it, it saves someone ruining it for you.

My cat was called Catticus (now anyone who knows me will know who I am)

I LOVE it but don't know if I could ever use it. Maybe for a middle name?

The most important thing is that you two like it. Don't change the name to something you like less because you're worried about what other people think.

Fancy kids in state schools having 'out there' names- hilarious!

What will they think of next?!

Not keen on Atticus, sorry op.