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Baby names

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Original poster

Reuben or Edgar?

56 replies

Lovage · 01/10/2008 13:24

Pro Reuben:
I like it lots!
Meaning - 'behold a boy!' apt for various reasons
Like 'Rube' as shortening
Our (godly) families will like it because biblical (we're not godly)

Anti Reuben:
He'd have to spell it quite often, which is an issue as already have surname he'll have to spell every time.
A bit posh? Surname is double barrelled, although each name only single syllable

Pro Edgar:
Seems practical and useful sort of name, easy to spell
Like 'Ed' as shortening
Nicely classless, go-anywhere-name (to my ear, although DP doesn't agree, he thinks it sounds similar to Reuben in class terms - upper middle ish)

Anti Edgar:
No particular reason for choosing it, apart from we like it and it might be better than Reuben
A bit macho? Important to us both not to have very traditional masculine name, would rather have neutral or slightly feminine name (which could describe Reuben as).

Any opinions? On class / macho-ness especially welcome.

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noddyholder · 11/09/2009 20:50

Def Edgar is my middle name so biased but i love it!

oldspeckledtam · 11/09/2009 20:47

I have an Edgar and I love it. My son is not weak, or feeble or upper class or any of the other ridiculous connotations you've all come up with. For the record, I've also got an unhorsey Anabelle.

My boy is 6 months and I've had nothing horrid said about his name. You lot have given the only negative (and bizarre) comments! And it's only been misheard once. (My colleague heard Elgar, which, as I'm a music teacher, wasn't beyond the realms of possibility). No one has ever called him Edward. He also goes by Ed, Eddie and EddieFreddie. (Bet you can't guess his middle name...)

Choose a name YOU like. What the heck does it matter what others think anyway?

southernbelle77 · 11/09/2009 13:29

Rueben is nicer imo.

diddl · 11/09/2009 13:27

Why would hehave to spell it often?

crumpette · 11/09/2009 13:27

Re class I'd say Edgar has the edge over Reuben as Reuben is probably more widely used (imagines Edgar Hugo and Quentin Lazarus as best friends at russian afterschool class)

Machoness Edgar is more macho, but Eddy is not

I definitely prefer Reuben anyway...

diddl · 11/09/2009 13:26

Reuben.

crumpette · 11/09/2009 13:22

I'm not too keen on Edgar....

Pingpong · 11/09/2009 13:07

I dislike Rueben and Edgar.
Much prefer Robin and Edward but then maybe I'm a bit boring.

BonsoirAnna · 11/09/2009 12:26

Reuben

SamiBee · 11/09/2009 12:25

What did you go with?
I've just had an Edgar, 3mths old and I'm sick of people saying
Edward?
no Eddar
oh that's unusual

grrrr!

berolina · 04/10/2008 22:34

Oh, definitely Reuben. It does not go at all with our surname, otherwise we would have seriously considered it for dses. Sorry, but I really do not like Edgar. How about Edward? Much nicer.

AbbeyA · 04/10/2008 22:33

I don't like either but Reuben is much the better of the two. I agree that Edmund is nice or even Edwin. Edward is lovely.

turquoise · 04/10/2008 22:31

I like Reuben, it's rather cool and completely classless, goood for a small boy, lad and man.

Edgar is a bulldog for me I'm afraid.

Edmund is one of my favourite boy's names.

FreakyLadyFrightALot · 04/10/2008 22:27

Reuben is gorgeous...not keen on Edgar..however, like Edwin, for some stange or not strange reason

SBMJLJ · 04/10/2008 22:12

Reuben definately for me. I know a little Reuben and just think it's original without being too unusual. I don't think of it as upper class at all .... Unlike Edgar ... I would definately associate this with an upper class, and probably middle-aged, man.

I can spell Reuben to, so not sure how much of a problem that would be?

wheresthehamster · 04/10/2008 20:36

Prefer Reuben. Edgar a bit bookish. Also the snot in old comics

Liffey · 04/10/2008 20:26

Reuben is lovely. Edgar is a bit too dainty.

sasamax · 04/10/2008 20:23

You have to go with the 'eldest of the children of Israel' - beautiful name!

Ellbell · 04/10/2008 20:11

PMSL @ 'great Belgium buttock painter'

This is Edgar.

Mammina · 04/10/2008 11:07

Love Reuben, not very keen on Edgar I'm afraid

ShadyBunch · 03/10/2008 22:48

Reuben is lovely name.
Edgar is awful....makes me think of a man with a big head for some reason.

stephla · 03/10/2008 22:43

When I think of Edgar, I think of the character in Wuthering Heights. He was sort of safe and colourless, lacking in passion and conviction. I think this is where the "wet" comments are coming from.

Reuben on the other hand brings to mind that great Belgium buttock painter Rubens (OK different spelling) or maybe Reubens Barichello, impetuous Brazilian F1 driver. Maybe a bit too much in the other direction?

NotAnOtter · 03/10/2008 22:35

4 year old boy called edgar - i would like him before we had met!

ThinWhiteDuchess · 03/10/2008 22:34

Sorry, but neither imo. Not keen on Reuben. My brother's middle name is Edgar, passed down through the family (my father has Edgar as a middle name too). My brother kicked/thumped me to bits when I revealed his middle name to his school friends when he was about 11 years old (he always told them he didn't have a middle name). Hurt like hell, but worth it!!

annasmami · 03/10/2008 22:07

Edgar is easier to pronounce in other languages, whereas I find the spelling of Reuben even in English unintuitive...

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