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Baby names

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Original poster

Dorian for a boy?

57 replies

telleport · 06/09/2009 15:26

We don't know what we're having yet, this is our boys choice. Middle name will be a family name.
What do you think? I know there's the film out at the moment and that made me worried enough to check. Typical!

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anniemac · 09/09/2009 13:35

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akamummy · 09/09/2009 11:37

Ghastly. Drippy.

louymanse · 09/09/2009 09:57

Our vicar is called Dorian and it didn't cross my mind to think anything about it. Also my friends husband's name and the name of a local artist, I think living in wales helps! Popular in America too I believe. I think it's a lovely name.

therealbanksy · 09/09/2009 08:16

The character Dorian isn't gay in either the Wilde original or the Will Self re-production; he sleeps with anything that moves. The point is that he's physically beautiful and unblemished while his soul is filth-ridden and damned. He's just a horrible character.

Cortina · 09/09/2009 07:07

Perhaps one of the most gorgeous & bright men- well he was around 22 at the time - I have ever known was called Dorian. Blond hair, green eyes, chiselled looks of a model. Well, he worked part time as a model.

Lived a party life in London last time I heard from him.

I still remember the name and the person with affection. He'd be pushing 40 now.

I'd go for it in a flash, getting DP to agree perhaps another matter!

NotanOtter · 09/09/2009 00:21

i knew a dorian at university and the book ( and i had read it ) was so not an issue

beautiful name use it

LastTrainToNowhere · 08/09/2009 23:00

I'm a bit at the suggestion that the name shouldnt' be used because the character is gay. I understand the OP's dilemma because the character has an evil taint. But to deem it unsuitable because the character might be gay???

In that case, the following names cannot be used : Andrew (Tom Hanks in Philadelphia) ; Sebastian (Little Britain) ; Susan (Ross' lesbian wife in Friends) ; Erica (Gray's Anatomy) ; Jack (Capt Jack from Torchwood). The last example is actually more likely to be known by children than any of the others, so should we now ban the name Jack???

chickbean · 08/09/2009 22:06

Dorry in 'What Katy Did' was short for Theodore (just for information - doesn't stop it being short for Dorian too).

mumtojohn · 08/09/2009 21:26

Dorian is my favorite boy's name too. I wanted it for DS but DP vetoed it and we went for John. I am going to try again to get it through next time though!

I snogged a Dorian once and he was very cool. I also love the book.

LovelyTinOfSpam · 08/09/2009 21:07

As I remember it the chap who paints the picture of dorian gray is openly in love with him, but dorians sexuality is less blatent - he drives a young woman who he has an affair with to suicide IIRC. I always imagined he was stoned all the time and up for anything personally.

Yes agree that playground insults will have to be quite advanced if referencing the book

pranma · 08/09/2009 19:01

My ds is Guy and was called Gay at school[comp]until he thumped someone who said it and made them cry[siiigggghhhhh].He is nearly 40 now and doesnt mind it but I wouldnt do it again tbh.

hellomc · 08/09/2009 15:37

excellent name

mrswoolf · 08/09/2009 14:19

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FanjolinaJolie · 08/09/2009 14:09

Would worry about being teased as 'Doreen', maybe??

Not a bad name but a bit girly for me.

LovelyTinOfSpam · 08/09/2009 12:53

I know someone called dorian gray

TheChilliMooseisasmadasahatter · 08/09/2009 12:43

The character in the book is gay, and although I am in way homophobic, I wouldn't use it for that reason as you could be opening your child up to being teased.

curiositykilled · 08/09/2009 12:37

Not sure why it matters to you what other people think? Other people will always have an opinion about someone else's name choices but it only matters what you think.

Bullying is hardly a consideration, bullies will pick on anything trivial at random and make it big. People's names, hair colour, facial features, weight e.t.c. The best ones I had during my school years were the length you wore your tie at and the supermarket your mum shopped in.

prettybird · 08/09/2009 12:31

youngsters no apostrophe

EyeballsintheSky · 08/09/2009 12:30

I really like it. I like it slightly more for a girl as I also like Birds of a Feather but it worrks well for both. It's only along the lines of Lucien or Adrian isn't it? All lovely names.

AnneLancaster · 08/09/2009 12:10

Its very effeminate, imho.

bunjies · 08/09/2009 11:45

I think it's a lovely name.

It is quite popular in France where we live, there are two of them in ds's class and there are only 20 of them

My BIL is called Damian and no one thinks anything of it.

If you like the name then go ahead.

Takver · 08/09/2009 11:19

I've run into (adult) Dorians, never thought anything of it, perfectly good name IMO.
As someone else mentioned, I very much doubt that small children in the playground will have heard of Dorian Grey

slyandgobbo · 08/09/2009 11:08

The Dorian I know is at state school and has never to my knowledge been teased abotu hsi name.

anniemac · 08/09/2009 11:06

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therealbanksy · 08/09/2009 11:00

I agree with ButtercupWafflehead. There is also a novel by Will Self called Dorian which is an even darker, more repugnant modern take on the Oscar Wilde original. It's a shame, because it's a nice name otherwise.

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