Gray for a boy?

[AvrilsAtonement]

i love it but DH thinks it's too unusual. In fairness I've never met a Gray so that does make it unusual. I don't mind an unusual name so long as it doesn't result in him being hugely made fun of in school.

What do you think?

I like it.

I really don't like it. It's such a bland colour that it doesn't work as a name imho.

Thanks 33 and LTBR

I like it in theory though.I like the way it sounds,rather dignified, if not on an actual person,but I agree that it doesn't work terribly well with your name.

I'm wavering a little, but still clinging to the name, can't let go!

Are you American or do you think it's cool to use the America spelling instead of the English?

Grey if you must.

Hello Slambang, Gray is a boy's name of Old English origin. I'm not naming him after my favourite colour.

It's not a dead cert' for misery in the playground, but it's not "safe" in the way that a Jack or Edward would be either. A lot would depend on if he was outgoing and resilliant or, er, a bit grey (pardon the pun).

It is a name identical in sound to a word in the English language used to mean it's going to rain, something is boring and/or depressing, unclear moral minefields and the colour of dead people. I still think if he's a real firecracker of a kid he'll pull it off, but can you be sure he will be?

I think you need to think this through very carefully.

The actor who played Tony Gordon in Corrie is Gray O'Brien. I've come across a few here in Scotland, all grown ups though, but I would go for it. To me it doesn't sound like Graham with your surname, but I suppose thats is all to do with accents.

I agree with SaffronCake -- it's such a dull and colourless non-colour, one that signifies blankness, blandness and bloodlessness.

Whether it's an old English name or not, the image of the colour 'grey' is what is going to pop up first and foremost in the minds of people who hear it.

If you like the sound of gray, would you like Clay?

I really like it. While I do think of the colour immediately (you'd be hard pushed not to!), I see the colour, and therefore the name, as really strong, bold and shiney. Think like grey steel.

Does the name have a meaning that you know of? Or did the OE name come from the colour?

I like it.

could always be a nn for Greyson. (cougar town)

Greyson McNally

i like it. x

It's a family name on my dad's side

When dgs4 was named [Finn] dgs1 who was 8 said 'I dont know anyone called that but it's not a teasing name.'Thats what I feel about Gray-I really like it.

I think it sounds like a nn for Graham.

I quite like it as really unusual, but also really like Grayer.. what do u think of that? Its the name of the little boy in the book the Nanny Diaries.

I know a Grayson, nicknamed Gray. I quite like it.

I like it, a lot. It sounds quite elegant, and would work well for a boy or man.

I like it a lot.

Grey, Greyer, Greyest.
It is a horrible name on it's own and not much better as an abbreviation for Graham, it also rhymes quite nicely with gay. I wonder what his playground NN would be?
Go for Duncan, you know you want to.

Why would you need a nickname for Gray - it is about as short as it gets .

Especially if it a nickname for Grayson.

I love Gray, fab name

Thanks to you all for replying. I can see there are some people who passionately hate the name but so far not enough to put me off I think.

I must check out the Nanny Diaries which a couple of you have mentioned.

Slightly off-putting that kittens has thought of Gay as an obvious nn though, I hadn't thought of that!!! Must mull it over.

glitter - apparently in England its mostly of Norman origin, and stems from a town called Grayes somewhere in France.

I think Grayson is a very nice name too, hadn't heard of it before. Instinct warns me though that my hard-to-please DH will not approve!