Phoebe - girl, Branwell - boy

[Emily01]

Phoebe from Catcher in the Rye and Branwell as in the Bronte brother. Nobody likes Branwell, they all say it sounds like a name for a dog or a type of old-fashioned biscuit. What do you all think?

Phoebe is fine - but people will think Friends instead of Catcher in the Rye.

Branwell - an incompetent, adulterous, alcoholic opium-fiend. So what attracted you to this name?

Phoebe has always appealed to me. It's a great name.

Branwell (even without considering pip's very valid points above) is woeful.

I clicked on this thread assuming that you had never heard of Branwell Bronte - but you have so I cannot for the life of me imagine why you would have positive associations with the name? And yes it does sound like an old fashioned biscuit!

How about Holden from Catcher in the Rye?

Branwell does not sound like a doggy biscuit to me but I always associate the name with a sad disturbed alcoholic which Branwell Bronte was.

Phoebe is sweet.

[small squeak] I think Branwell is a great name ... isnt there a Branwell in the Jane Hissey books?

I like Phoebe but not Branwell.

I love Phoebe but Branwell sounds like an over the counter product to keep you regular. Not diggin' it.

Patrick is an excellent name. Please pick Patrick instead.

I love Phoebe.

Branwell - not so sure on.

Got to agree, the Bronte connotations are just too bleurgh.

Bramwell, otoh, rocks.

Branwell is a no, but I'm with you on literary names. If you love the Brontes, how about Heathcliff? Hareton? Hindley? Linton?

I know a Branwell and he hates his name. Insists on being called Bran, which I think is v dull name.

Branwell is either a surname or a breakfast cereal. Don't do it!!

And don't use Heathcliff either whatever you do!

Heathcliff - does anyone know a Heathcliff?
Are they handsome, dark, moody but you still want to snog the pants of them?

Too much to live up to with a name like Heathcliff.

The only Heathcliff I know is a cat and his name was shortened to Cliffy.

I like Phoebe but Branwell sounds like a cat's name.

I remember my gran telling me Branwell Bronte had had "intercourse" with his sisters... Don't like it much as a name anyway.

Phoebe is quite nice.

To me:

Branwell = Branwell Bronte = spoiled son, failure, disappointment, general uselessness

Branwell is awful, but I love love love Heathcliff! What a brilliant name! Heath for short.

I agree, Branwell isn't great.

I know a Heath (which is about as near to Heathcliffe as I would be prepared to go) and no, he isn't dark, but yes he is attractive. Although you'd risk people thinking you'd named your baby after Heath Ledger.

Phoebe is fab. I have one.

Branwell sounds like a serial/digestion aid.

Heath was on my list.

Yeah, I would wonder about the parents of a Branwell. And really hope that it wasn't because of the Bronte brother.

Phoebe is lovely.