If you already have a Theodore...

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Just how moronic would it be to call the second boy Franklin (or just Frank)?

I mean, I don't have an obsession with American presidents or anything. But will people go 'hmmm'?

How common a name is Frank right now, anyway? Anyone know any little Franks born in the last year?

(Shortlist is:
Edwin (Eddy)
Joseph
Frank(lin?)
David. I like but DH not so sure.)

Frank can also be a nn for Francis which wouldn't have the same association. I don't know any little Franks, no.

Having said that, it wouldn't bother me, although I'm not so keen on Franklin personally.

If you call your Theodore Ted, I'd steer clear of Edwin, though. Ted and Ed is a bit much.

That is one link that really does stand out I'm afraid!

from me.

Our Theodore is just Theo (most of the time) and he never got called Ted, though I like it. I think Edwin would be Eddy rather than Ted, tbh. It's an issue, though!

Yeah Hedwig, it jumped out at me after we'd considered Frank/Franklin for a few days. It's such a shame. I wonder what percentage of people would spot it?

We were considering Theo - but after seeing how many have been born recently (and I know of 2 at DD's tiny school) I think I will stear clear now.

But we already have a Joseph (Joe/Joey most of the time). And, yes, it is popular - more popular than Theo, I know, - he's named after his grandfather.

I like Frank, too. But our surname begins with 'F' (and would sound like one of the Krays' henchmen!) and we already have a Nancy (I would think people would assume we had a 'Sinatra Thing').

Looking on the bright side...

Joseph and David don't seem to have any issues!

Do you like them enough?

I really like David, it's classic and very underused at the moment (probably because everyone of our generation can count about ten Davids or Daves among their friends! also I think I read on MN that most people have had an ex and a boss called David. I've had an ex...). DH needs some more convincing though. And though my ex was a long while back, I suppose it's a bit odd, isn't it...?

Joseph was DS's alternative name but he came out looking like a Theo! Have gone off it a bit since, tbh.

Theo is moving up the charts rather than down, which is vexing. We decided we liked it as a name back in 2006, I think. Were looking at Greek names that weren't poncetastic-mythological or too religious, went through the Greek cast of My Family and Other Animals (DH and I were in a daft mood) and hit on Theodore Stephanides in the book! DH liked it because Theodore was a polymath scientist and I liked it because it was my favourite book as a child. And obviously we both liked the name.

(I trot this out every time someone tuts and says 'Oh, another Theo?' )

Oh Franklin is lovely! I love Theodore too .

What is the link though? I don't get it [thicko emoticon]

I don't know any Franks born in the last year but at some groups I used to take DD to there was a little boy called Frankie. He's probably about 5 now. I'm not sure whether it was short for anything though!

Oh sorry just read OP properly! I understand now - see I wouldn't have twigged, but that's probably just me!

Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt? (Though I know jack about American political history and only just realised, after googling, that they weren't father and son as I'd always presumed. More like 5th cousins. )

I like Frankie too.

David is a good strong name in my opinion and very underused.

Are there any Davids that would inspire your DH to like it more?

Do you like Francis? Could that be an option?

There are now 3 Franks in DS2's primary school and there was only one until last year. The oldest is 9, the youngest 4.

You could call him Frank for Francis and then I don't think the link is so clear.

Just voting for David too, my son's middle name is David, i have 2 uncles called David and the 3 of them are all really lovely people and you don't hear it so much these days

Not keen on Francis. But to me, Frank is enough of a name in its own right (ie. doesn't really sound like a nickname) just to bypass the Franklins and Francises and go for Frank.

We must know 15 Davids between us! TBH, that might be the problem with DH - he sees it as a very mundane name, a bit boring.

I think that Frank is fine as a name in its own right. My Grandad and my great uncle were/are both Frank. My Grandad was Francis and my great uncle is just Frank!

They're not brothers btw my Great Aunt just happened to marry someone with the same name as her brother!

Yes I think Frank(lin) would be too much of a link. I like the others on your shortlist better.

I know several adult Franks who are just Frank, too.

I prefer Francis to Franklin