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Baby names

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Original poster

Opinion on the name Rawdon

114 replies

Booklover137 · 23/05/2021 16:14

I’m very strongly for this name and have loved it ever since I first read Vanity Fair in my teens. I just want to gage reactions before announcing it to family and friends as I’m aware it may sound a little too old-fashioned or even pompous for some (or perhaps I’m overthinking it!)

We would use the nickname Rory, and middle names would be Michael John.

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Chamonixshoopshoop · 23/05/2021 18:47

Rawdon is a surname and a place name, not a first name.
Rory is nice!

UpTheJunktion · 23/05/2021 18:40

I know it as a suburb of Leeds.

Doesn't grab me as a name, but if you love it, use it.

But don't be surprised if at school it got shortened to Raw, Rawd or Rawds, all of which are horrible, IMO.

Bumzoo · 23/05/2021 18:36

It's got an ugly sound to me

Cornettoninja · 23/05/2021 18:36

I just don’t like it. Some of the reasons given here provide some explanation for that but I think it’s just not one that appeals to me on any level.

That said, if you love it and it feels like the one go for it. People like me will get over it and associate it positively with your ds quickly enough.

DamSky · 23/05/2021 18:35

I'm not z fan of Sunday names and then a nickname as the normal name. Just give him a name that can stand up on its own. Rory is a very nice name. Just go with that.

If you want a posh boys name beginning with R go for Randolph or Rupert.

Ginger1982 · 23/05/2021 18:31

Why would you call him Rawdon but use Rory on a day to day basis? I don't understand folk who do this. If you don't like the name enough to use it as his name, what's the point? Rory isn't even a natural nickname.

PastaLaVistaBBY · 23/05/2021 18:30

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I’m so sorry, but it’s truly awful. It sounds like ‘rawed on’ for a start, which is slang for unprotected sex. It’s an ugly sound. The word ‘raw’ at the start looks bad. It’s pretentious.

Normally I take a ‘do what you like’ attitude to most things but I would have to implore you to reconsider with this one - it’s such a shocker.

Manteo · 23/05/2021 18:24

I've not read Vanity Fair nor heard of the town. It just sounds like a made up surnamey type of name to me, not posh or pompous in the slightest.

Atalune · 23/05/2021 18:24

Nope.

YanTanTethera123 · 23/05/2021 18:22

Poor kid.
Why, if you’re going to call him Rory anyway?

BinocularVision · 23/05/2021 18:21

@cheeseismydownfall

OP, we very nearly called DS1 Rawdon - like you, inspired by VF. I thought/think it is an amazing name and have occasionally felt wistful that we didn't go for it. I feel quite relieved we didn't now, given the hate it is getting on here! I'm quite surprised!
See, I quite like it, but I'm a bit puzzled as to why someone would give the character in Vanity Fair as a reason for liking it, when the character is a bit of a twit. And you would presumably have called him Rawdon, rather than an entirely unrelated nickname...?
BinocularVision · 23/05/2021 18:20

But Rawdon Crawley was a bit of a buffoon, from my memories of the novel -- he's a Jack the Lad dragoon, then Becky's loyal fool, and then he's porky and submissive and ashamed.

I don't mind the name, in fact, but it seems a bit mad to give your child that name and call him an entirely different name that is neither an obvious shortened version nor an accepted nickname or familiar version, like Jack for John or Harry for Henry. If you like Rory and want to call him that on a everyday basis, why not simply call him Rory?

cheeseismydownfall · 23/05/2021 18:04

OP, we very nearly called DS1 Rawdon - like you, inspired by VF. I thought/think it is an amazing name and have occasionally felt wistful that we didn't go for it. I feel quite relieved we didn't now, given the hate it is getting on here! I'm quite surprised!

eurovisionsparkles · 23/05/2021 18:03

Rory is cute though

eurovisionsparkles · 23/05/2021 18:03

I have never heard of it but it makes me think of dinosaurs- roar and don being the end of lots of dinosaur names.

Echobelly · 23/05/2021 18:01

Not a fan of sounds-like-surname type names. I mean, maybe if you want to name him that and call him 'Rory' on a day-to-day basis, but then there's not much point to that unless the full name has some personal significance. DS is named after a great grandfather and we're not big fans of the full given name, but he's known by a short version on a day-to-day basis.

Maybe just call him Rory instead?

SisterMichael · 23/05/2021 17:58

It might work better as a middle name? The polar explorer Francis Crozier’s middle name is Rawdon (if you’ve seen The Terror). His other middle name is Moira if you needed ideas?!

HoldingTheDoor · 23/05/2021 17:53

I'd say it's incredibly ugly but that's putting it mildly.

VenusClapTrap · 23/05/2021 17:52

Suburb of Leeds. It’s a no from me.

tentosix · 23/05/2021 17:51

No. Brendon?

Stevearnottsbeard · 23/05/2021 17:45

Love Rory, Rawdon sounds like a name out of GOT or similar, really don't like it sorry

partyatthepalace · 23/05/2021 17:38

I don’t remember a character called Rawdon in VF - do they have another name you could use??

It’s not great - sounds like a name for a dinosaur in a kids book. Use it as a middle name.

DinaofCloud9 · 23/05/2021 17:33

Raw meat. Doesn't sound posh to me.

Rory is nice though.

Gucci1961 · 23/05/2021 17:29

Awful. REally weird. Sorry.

I like Ruan though, There are a few nn you can eke out of it. Rory, Ruan, Red ? But Rawdon is awful! Raw. Don. No.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 23/05/2021 17:26

Dreadful