A few boys name questions

[Cordial]

So if I say the name Fred what name do you think it is short for or is it a boys name in its own right?

Second question we are fond of the name Horace. Does anybody know any???

[nooka]

dh wanted to use Hector for our prospective ds (historian and classicist), but although I love the hero (despite him coming to a very sad end) I think it's a harsh name with no nickname possibilities.

I'm afraid that I think Horace whilst cool in principle is not at all a good name in practice. Better I think for a pet. Plus for me Horace is very definitely a bear (and one that eats his whole family, so not really a very nice bear!)

[mayanna123]

It may not be a bullying issue but why give your child a name that has an unfortunate meaning (depending on what newspapers you read the verb hector or hectoring is used fairly frequently) if there are so many names with lovely or no meanings. Isn't that the whole point of these threads, that people like the op can ask for opinions on potential names?

[anonymosity]

Wormcanner I'm afraid it does make a lot of difference, to many people. I have a friend whose Dad is called Hector and it never occurred to me to think that he is hectoring as a personality, or to relate it to the other term, because that well, would just be a bit stupid .

[KittenOfDoom]

It's not just about children though. I think of the unpleasant meaning first whenever I hear the name - and I had a classical education!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

But most children won't be familiar with the verb, 'To hector' so it's hardly going to be a potential bullying issue.

[PurpleStorm]

I know an adult Gay.

She's old enough to have been born when gay still meant happy and carefree and nothing else at all - but I did still have a [must keep a straight face] moment when I first met her and learnt her name.

But back to Hector - I fully agree with WormCanner's point about it not making a difference whether the name and the word mean different things. People will be far more familiar with the meaning of the word than the meaning of the name.

[WormCanner]

Doesn't make any difference if the name means something different - it's still the same word insofar as it's the same letters in the same order.

To those who think it does make a difference - would you name your child Gay?

[TomDudgeon]

First thought Frederick
Possibly Wilfred, Alfred etc

Never met a Horace though my mums Tortoise was called it

[anonymosity]

Yes, the meaning of "to hector" is correct, but that's not the meaning of the name Hector. Two different things.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

The name Hector means to anchor/hold fast - it's nice.

[PurpleStorm]

mayanna's correct about the meaning of "to hector" when it's used as a verb. It's right there in the dictionary.

Hector as a Greek name may well have a more positive meaning, but IMO that doesn't outweigh the meaning of hector as a word.

[mayanna123]

To hector means to torment, to bully.

In terms of bullying potential lots of more widespread names are much more likely to be teased - e.g. Will -Willy or Benedict - Bendy Dick or Gabriel - Gayboy. And I can't see anything teaseworthy about Horace. I think it's a strong sounding cool name!

[Cordial]

homebird how funny re your DM I could see my DH go the same way, getting him to think of non- Horace names is a battle . So much do I thought it might be easier if baby is a girl!! I think we need a longer short list and then a good look at dc to make up our minds!

[Cordial]

Horace is a very marmite sort of name I see. I don't see how such an ancient name can be silly but I more worry about him being picked on at school and/or taking offence if people so actively don't like the name.

[Snazzynewyear]

Hedwig - snap! I also had an elderly uncle Horace, who I genuinely thought for years was called Orris.

Fred = Frederick for me

[FuriousRox]

Horace - no, please. It's just a bit silly! Sorry.

Fred - short for Frederick in my book.

[Homebird8]

My DM had an imaginary son called Little Horace. He was perpetually 6 years old and perfect in every way. Very hard for DSis and me to live up to. However, I do still have a soft spot for the name and the little brother I never had. I still write his name in the sand on the beach like DM used to.

All this rambling gives no opinion on the name. Don't even know where DM chose it from. No family of that name as far as I know.

[anonymosity]

Hector does not mean "to hector" - its a Greek name which means "to hold, to possess"

[mayanna123]

Hector has a very unfortunate meaning (to hector = to bully, to torment) and would you shorten to Heck?

I love Horace and think it is cool and masculine!

[chesticles]

Had a great uncle Horace, who died last year at the age of 92. He was a lovely old man. However, despite him being a lovely man, I wouldn't call a child Horace. It's just not to my taste. His brothers were Walter, Wilfred, George. All of which have a similar feel in my opinion.

[Bibs123]

truly cruel... horace... really?

[lljkk]

Fred is a name in its own right.
I love Alfred; I worked with a lovely Fred (Alfred in full). Don't like Alfie, though and DH wouldn't like any of them. Frederick is ok.

Don't like Hector At.All.

I can think of a few cool Horaces though (eg. Miami CSI?). I like other names better, but I wouldn't cringe to hear it on a child.

Local painter-decorator called Horace Horis, how could you forget a name like that?

[BikeRunSki]

The Frederick I know is called Rick.
The Wilfred I know is called Bill.
The Freddie I know is a nn for Fred.
The Alfies I know or either just Alfie or Alfonso.

I like Frederick as a name, it would have been DD's name if she had been another DS.

[fussychica]

Horace - please don't do it.

[scrumpkin]

I think Fred is fine on its own. A really lovely name.

Horace just makes me think "horse" sorry