5 days until EDD and not sure on a name

[LAF77]

I had a list of criteria for our baby's name. I have a single syllable surname (ford) and didn't want a name that could be easily abbreviated to a single syllable nickname. Especially as names run together and sound like a place, frank ford, etc. I also wanted something a bit different, but not too out there.

I want to use Maxwell as the middle name as this is DH's dad's name. He lost his dad at a young age, so I thought it would be nice to make the family connection for him.

Jasper has been the name I've liked from the start, as it meets the criteria perfectly. DH is dead set against it.

We've toyed with the idea of Lawrence too.

We've been calling him Bob as his in utero nick name since the 20 week scan. I didn't want to ever name him Robert. I don't like Rob or Bob as an abbreviated name. It seems strange to think of him as a different name than Bob now although I would end up probably calling him Bobby. I would never have a NN on the birth certificate though. I want him to have the chance to have a grown up name when older.

However, Robert Maxwell? Does that immediately say to you disgraced business man who stole pension funds?

I'd just like to get some impartial feedback from people outside my family and friends circle. I never thought I would be so indecisive about something so important!

Thanks!

We too have a short one syllable surname and I agree with you that a 2 syllable first name goes well with it.

I'm not keen personally on Robert Maxwell (and do think of the pension fund issues) but I also think that Bob Ford doesn't sound that great.

How about
Oscar Ford
Quentin Ford
Reuben Ford
and I also like Lawrence Ford.

Lawrence Maxwell Ford has a very nice ring to it.

I love Lawrence as a name, it would carry him right though his life, lovely for a little boy and a good man's name too. It can be shortened to Lawrie but I know 2 Lawrences who have never been nicknamed.

Definitely think 'dodgy' in association with Robert Maxwell.

Oscar and Reuben are also good names.

Pity he's against Jasper, its awesome! Laurence is a great name too - it never gets shortened either really - my cousin's called Laurence and he is pretty much the only one of our (huge) family who's never got a nn. Oscar is my other favourite. Don't go with Robert!

Maybe wait til he's born and seee what suits him? I didn't name dd3 for 10 days because she didn't suit the names I had chosen when pregnant.

I agree that Robert Maxwell doesn't have positive associations...however maybe you can just add another name (my son has 2 middle names!)...even Jasper...Robert Jasper Maxwell Ford! You never know he might end up being called Jasper as some people eventually use their middle names. Good luck!

I love Robert. I know quite a few Robert's, though - they are all called Robbie or Bobby by their parents, but Rob or Bob by their friends.

I do love Laurence (although for me it is a girl's name - dd1's middle name - and Lawrence is a boy's name). I know Laurence's whose names are abbreviated to Lawrie (x2), Lenny, Renny, Larry, Lance, and two more who just stayed Lawrence.

Robert Lawrence Maxwell Ford and Robert Jasper Maxwell Ford are perfectly good names. However, I wouldn't worry about the pension assosciations - while it may raise eyebrows at the start, nobody will remember in a few years and, anyway, when are middle names ever used in a situation where eyebrows could be raised?

Why not Maxwell as a first name or is that too weird (not the name, the connection with FIL)

Thanks for your feedback, it gives me food for thought. I don't think I'd go for Maxwell as a first name c0smos Even though it was DH's dad's name, I don't like the idea of Max Ford. It kind of blurs together as one name.

I am warming to Bobby, but DH thinks more girls are using this as an NN than boys. I disagree which is why we have so many issues.

sonnie I know quite a few Oscar named babies in my circle, so that us out. I do like it though. DH has vetoed Quentin and Reuben. Maybe I can get my name choice of Jasper after going through birth!

Lawrence seems to be the only non-controversial choice. I prefer the spelling as Laurence though. Maybe we will wait until after he is born to really confirm our choice. I always thought we would have it sorted before the event!

Laurence is nice, but I would not go with Robert. I am with your DH on Jasper. I just see a Golden Retriever (sorry)

What about

Evan
Asa
Levi
Patrick
Matthew

Rupert
Edward
Thomas
Joseph

My issues with most of the names mentioned above like Thomas, Edward, Patrick are that people assume that that Patrick becomes Pat, Edward becomes Ed, etc. I don't like single syllable abbreviated NNs because if my single syllable surname. If I had my maiden name with 2 syllables, I wouldn't be so fussy.

I've got some left field names, like Harlan, Emery, and Stirling which have all been vetoed. I like Evan though.

Travis?

Evan is good.

One of my DSs is Evan. It is my favourite name ever

Also, if you like Evan

What about

Haydn
Leon

My favourite cousin's name is Evan, so I have a nice connection to the name. I'll have to try that one out on DH. He likes very traditional names and I'm willing to push the boat out. Alexander was another name we both accepted. I can accept Alex as a NN because it has 2 syllables.

It drives me nuts when people assume that names are to be shortened before they meet the person, so Michael is assumed to be Mike, Matthew is Matt. A cold caller even tried to abbreviate our CEO's name before they ever spoke to him first. It is something I am very sensitive to with my married name.

Evan is the Welsh variant of John, so if there's any Welsh, or Johns in your DHs family, that could be a negotiating point

Alex is nice

Or what about Adam?

I like both Robert and Laurence, and think that they both work fine with Ford as a surname, and Maxwell as a middle name. Bear in mind that middle names are very rarely used, and when they are they are used with the surname, so it would be Robert Maxwell Ford, not Robert Maxwell. ds had a best friend who was a Robert, known by his parents as Bobsie (I assume no longer though - this was when the boys were 8). Might Robin be a potential alternative?

DH seems quite taken with using Maxwell as a first name in the last 24 hours. I know it will be abbreviated to Max, but I am warming to it, as I know how happy it would make him. If that is the case, that we use Maxwell, we would use my dad's name, Andrew, as the middle name.

Maxwell Andrew. I don't want to commit though.