Is this too surnamey...?

[chummymummy7]

DC2 is due on Saturday and we're still stumped for a boys name. Frontrunner is Grayson, prob with nn Gray, which I like - but is Grayson strong or just a bit too surname-y?

I think it sounds pretty good with our surname, which rhymes with Mays. If you think not - can you suggest any good alternatives? To give an idea, we also like Daniel, Stanley and quite like Nathaniel (esp nn Nate).

We quite like unusual names if they feel right ie. are going for Indigo if it's a girl (and don't tell me not to!)

A bad day because I gave you my opinion when you asked for opinions? I think not.

Don't ask for opinions if you can't handle it when someone expresses a negative one. Evidently I'm not the one having a bad day.

And the reason I say it doesn't work with your surname,is the repetition of the 'ay' sound.

Anyway Daniel is lovely.Great choice.Nathaniel is great too. Stanley isn't.

Oh dear. It's awful really awful. Naff and not even attractive as a 'name'.

It makes me think of Grayson Perry. I think it's rather nice though.

I love Gray. Grayson and Grady are both great in my opinion. :)

I like Grayson, and Gray is a great nickname. I'm not a surname as first name fan (although my DB has Mum's maiden name as his first name) but I really like it.

Gray Hayes Mays on the other hand is not good.

By the way, I don't think anyone has been rude on the thread. If you ask for opinions, you will get them, and that includes people who don't like what you're asking about. If you only want positive reactions, then just ask family and friends who will nod and smile. On here you will get honest answers, which is kind of the whole point. :)

I really dislike Grayson. I find the surname as first name a strange trend, think immediately of Grayson and Chumley-Warner (funny sketch but really not a good connotation). Plus it is very very American. Not that I have an issue with Americans (lived there for a while, met some lovely people) but I don't think it is a very good cultural fit in the UK. When we lived in the States my children had text books with a Grayson in them and it made me shudder sightly every time we read about him. Having said that I know there is a bit of a trend to the American/surnamy names, and of course you can (and should) choose a name you really like.

Plus I agree with TheUncannyValley. A Grayson is highly likely to be mostly called Gray, and Gray Mays does not sound at all good. Although I should probably say that I think Gray is in any case not an attractive name (it was my surname).

Why not Inigo for a boy if you like Indigo and more unusual names?

Would it be the end of the world if the first name rhymed with the surname? Seriously. I have a friend whose first name rhymes with her surname and she loves it! She didn't change her name when married solely for this reason as well (she will tell you that)

My first name also rhymes with my surname, have patience (through marriage) and I also really like it!

nooka cheers for the suggestion of Inigo. At the moment I have a bit of a block with it, as I just see it as Indigo without the 'd'. Will def think on it and see what dh thinks.

ps. I never said anyone was being rude on this thread. I was just hoping for constructive suggestions as well as opinions - of which there have been loads of great ones - thanks

I agree that Gray Mays sounds a bit too rhymey. I love the nn Indie for a girl - I wanted to just have Indie (no full version) but my OH wasn't keen

Oh how funny! I've never met anyone else with a rhymey one before :) I think if one has confidence and loves it, one can carry it off well. my friend doesn't give a toss if others say "ohh that rhymes!" she just says, "yes, it does rhyme and I love it!". So definitely don't let anyone who would judge it impact your choice :)

It reminds me of Grayson Perry - the artist

OP why do you think nickname plus surname will not be very often used?

If it is the name he is known by (which is usually what a nickname is) then it will be used all the time.

My DS2 is very very rarely called by his full name, he is always known as nn-surname. Similarly most of his mates (boys esp) - they are Sam Johnson, Joe Watson, Billy Biggins, Josh Timmins, etc etc (not their real names btw!). Their birth certificates I am sure say Joshua and Samuel etc but nickname+surname is pretty commonly used. Unless it's a really off the wall nn used only in the family and not pretending to be a name at all (my DD has one like that). But Gray for Grayson doesn't sund like that - it sounds like what everyone will call him, and Gray Hays is very odd IMO.

I like Dan and Stan FWIW.

I like it. Hard to say about ryhming as we don't know your actual surname.

Actually I do believe chummymummy7 didn't ask for opinions at all, she asked "is Grayson strong or just a bit too surname-y? I think it sounds pretty good with our surname, which rhymes with Mays. If you think not - can you suggest any good alternatives?"

not

"what is your opinion"

There is a diference.

I think it's too likely to be mispronounced (or deliberately changed to) Gracie.

Also, it's too surnamey and grey is a meh kind of colour, so both too surnamey and also not strong.

If your surname is Hays, then please don't do it.

Daniel, Stanley and Nathaniel are really nice. I think Nathaniel is my favourite of the three, and Nate is a great nn. Nathaniel Mays/Hays/Days/Lays/Bays or (whatever) sounds really good.

Gabriel
Isaiah
Raphael
Hayden
Adrian
Damien
Asa
Avery
Fraser
Fabian
Caleb
all have a long A sound that might sound good with 'Mays'

I prefer Grayden to Grayson. I know a Grayden (in his 40s do NOT of the Jayden/Kayden generation at all...and I don't see them as named of the same ilk anyhow). He's mostly known as Grady which i think is nice and sounds better with your surname.

gray sounds a very dull name and not to rhyme with May. griffin is cool, so is Merlin.

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions...just to update this post we had a beautiful little girl after all on 25 March. She's called Indigo Lyla and is getting on brilliantly.

Love Indigo! Congrats

Oooh i blummin LOVE IT! you have to use it! It's not popular but i can imagine Grayson as a young adult being very handsome, athleic, intelligent and popular!

I had a dream the other night and was pg and that name was somehow on my shortlist! It wouldn't go with our surname though!

Ha just realised this is an old post and you've had a little girl!

What a very unique name, really pretty CONGRATS!

I love Grayson, it is such a lovely sounding name. DH vetoed it for us though.

Just finished reading a book called Indigo's Star! It is a boy in that book but I love it as a girl's name too.

I love Grayson. Dh would never go for it. Sigh.