Forrest?

My first thought was Whitaker, then Gump. My kids have all seen Forrest Gump so would almost certainly make that association but it’s not negative. One of my DCs quotes films a lot and “life is like a box of chocolates” is one of his favourites.

I was 11 when the film Forrest Gump came out, I remember watching it and thinking this is the dullest film ever, I have no idea why people love it so much! But he was a good guy wasn't he? Tenacious, selfless, determined, kind, thoughtful, just a bit 'peculiar'. I did not think of it when I saw the title of your thread.

Forrest Gump will always be a classic and people through multi generations will have heard of it, but it will almost certainly not be his peers first thought if any thought at all, it'll be about 40 years old by the time he is 10, and still as dull! But it was not my first thought or any thought until reading the comments. My first thoughts were, he'll have earthy spiritually parents, or trendy west/north London parents (or which is the trendy and vaguely wealthy bit these days?!) and I thought of Forest Whittaker.

I also think I really like it! I know it is spelled differently but forests are wonderful, healing and sometimes seem magical places, so I think it's a great name!

OK so having looked at Behind the Name, it's not very common at all, but I've heard of a few of late so I guess it's just coincidence! But I do think it's one of those that'll become popular because it's uncommon, therefore making it more popular, if you see what I mean.

I think its a nice name, I like it. It does remind me of Gump though, pretty much immediately. Also I don't think it's that uncommon. Everybody wants an uncommon name these days so they basically become less uncommon.

I quite like it.

Yes, my first thought was Gump, but my daughter has a name that draws first thoughts as although not unusual it was quite rare at the time.

I also have a George but he's pushing 30 now. It was so common then that he'd come home signing everything with our surname.. Just so I knew 🤣

The kids won't have a clue and there's probably some teachers that wouldn't either.

I like it. Go for it.

I have teens.
They’ve never watched Forrest Gump but know the quote “Run Forrest, run!” I imagine that the name is fine if you’re sporty and run fast.

Neither - apologies I should have explained.
I must be the only person on MN who associates the name Forrest with Forrest Mars 🤣
He was the son of the founder of the Mars confectionary company, and the person responsible for the Mars bar factory on the Slough trading estate.

Fine as long as you feed him a diet of Mars bars and live in Slough.

Forest Whittaker only has one R.

Forrest (from Forrest Gump) is named after Nathan Bedford Forrest (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest) which is not an association I would choose.

But most people would probably not assume you were celebrating the KKK.

I really like it OP. I of course know who Forrest Gump is but that’s because I’m mid 40s.

If I asked my children about the name/character (aged 8 and 11) they wouldn’t have a clue what I was talking about, so I doubt very much that any children that your son will grow up with will have any idea or make any associations with the name.

It’s a great film and Forrest is a very inspirational character.

I quite like it! Run forest run isn’t a bad association really it’s just a famous line from a film it’s not negative I don’t think. (Though I did only see the film once years ago and don’t know it very well)
i think day to day he will just be forest, and the association will quickly fade for those who know him

His mother dying is not the central storyline, just one of things that happens to him. He somehow gets caught up in all sorts of big US historical events of the second half of the 20th century. You could probably just fast forward through the scene where his mum is dying if you wanted to see the rest of the film. Or just read the plot on Wikipedia.

They’re just a bit hippy-ish. It’s a hippy-type name.

I know a forest aged 6 and he really suits it! It’s not a name anyone can use but the Family is very edgy and middle class and just fits!

Interesting. Young army officers are known as Ruperts.

No, the main character in Forrest Gump is not a bad person. He does however have a cognitive disability. The film is about how he navigates big events historical events of the 20th century as well as big personal events (his mother dying, falling in love, his wife’s traumatic past, her death from illness). Some people love it and find it heartwarming but frankly I found it weird and kind of disturbing because of the whole love story with an intellectually disabled character - I saw it as a teenager and it’s weird trying to decide whether or not it’s morally ok for the female lead character to start a relationship with someone with quite an obvious cognitive disability. He’s vulnerable because of that. Weird film.