Talk to me about... surname names

[BraveLilBear]

Just that really... DP and I have finally managed something of a shortlist for our soon to be DC, and two of the names on there are surname names (ie taken from a renowned surname), and one is also an American place name.

I used to be quite 'anti' them, but really like at least one of these and think it would work well. But what's the consensus?

I'm thinking distinguished names along the lines of 'Newton' (from Isaac) rather than 'Smith'...

[squoosh]

Mmmm, I quite like Fletcher as it reminds me of Mel Gibson's character Fletcher Christian from Mutiny on the Bounty.

He was beeeyootiful in that film.

[usualsuspect]

Pure Chav?


Ugh to this thread.

[ShadowStorm]

I think it depends a lot on the name.

I used to work with someone who had a surname name as his first name, and then a surname that was more commonly a first name - so his name was along the lines of Harrison Thomas - and that was very confusing at first.

[Theonlyoneiknow]

As long as surname is an obvious surname ie, i know a Campbell Scott and everyone gets his name muddled up. I like surnames as first names ie, Jackson, Harrison, Campbell, Murdoch, Cameron etc

[Trishstar]

We called our DS Hunter, a fair few people on here flamed it!

But we love it and everyone we meet comments on it and say how much it suits him. In the hospital and scbu everyone kept saying how much they loved it cos its different but not silly different!

[PattieOfurniture]

Some horrible snobby, shallow and judgy people on this thread.
Let's all name our children 'proper' names shall we?

I like surnames as forenames Op. What have you got on your list? :)

[LalyRawr]

My daughters middle name is my dads aunt's (who adopted him) maiden name. Still with me? :p

But really, who the fuck cares what a bunch of randoms on the Internet think? Call your baby what you like and screw everyone else!

[Panzee]

Do some of you also disapprove of forenames for surnames, e.g Heather Graham, John Terry?
Although now wondering which category Cole fits into. Cheryl Cole or Cole Porter? Guess its not that easy to pigeonhole after all

[MortifiedAdams]

Is it Darwin?

[HenriettaChicken]

Middle name for ds is mil's maiden name. Second choice was my dm's maiden name. But they are both in top 100 boys names. We considered them because they were perfectly reasonable! I say go for it.

[Catlike]

OP specifically asked for people's opinions on surname names. She gave the impression that she wasn't necessarily expecting everyone to be enthusiastic.

In that context, it seems perfectly reasonable to say "no I don't like them and this is why". If OP had posted a thread saying she loved surname names and wanted more suggestions then it would be rude to say you don't like them. I really don't see the problem in this case though.

[BraveLilBear]

I am genuinely interested in the viewpoints here as what we're looking at is a little out of the comfort zone and I am pretty sure my mother (at least) will disapprove hence why it's difficult to gauge reactions in real life before we produce DC and say... ta-da! This is Surname Surname

Names we like include:
Newton
Darwin
Edison
Faraday
Washington

[pickledginger]

I'd avoid Darwin because of the Darwin Awards.

Edison sounds nice.

[MonkeyingAroundTown]

I like Edison

[MonkeyingAroundTown]

Harrison is cute too

[HorryIsUpduffed]

I really dislike them on girls. They are more successful on boys but I don't choose them myself.

That said, DH, both DCs and I have first names that sometimes get used as surnames so I guess the distinction is less fixed than I thought.

My objections to your list would be how practical they are for everyday wear IYSWIM rather than their intrinsic surnameness.

[Catlike]

Well, if you like distinguished sounding names then how about:

Irving
Lincoln
Nelson
Wellesley
Franklin
Jefferson
Boswell
Hamilton
Kennedy
Fleming
Cromwell
Raleigh

[squoosh]

In descending order, these would be my preferences

Edison
Darwin
Newton
.
.
.
.
.
.
waaaaay down the list
.
.
.
.
down the lost some more
.
.
.
Faraday
Washington

Edison lends itself to lots of good nicknames and I can imagine a Darwin to be very brooding and handsome.

Faraday and Washington are a bit more out there and I?m definitely not as keen. You?d get lots of people asking if he was conceived in Washington. And people saying 'fara...what? faraway?'.

[squoosh]

I know a little Irving, he is so gorgeous and really suits his name.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

I like them (not Faraday though! Sorry)

And they are very popular here in our very middle class rural town.

I am leaning towards one (Archer) if DC3 is a boy.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Edison is my favourite of yours I think!

[ItsYonliMe]

Edison is the only one I would remotely consider. Mmmm it's not bad actually.

Can't fathom why anyone would call a son Darwin or Faraday.

[ItsYonliMe]

Actually, Edison is growing on me.

[LinghamStyle]

I'm in Scotland and have my grannies maiden name as my first name. It's not really considered a surname these days though and there were a few people in my class at school with the same name who weren't named after their granny.

[BraveLilBear]

Thanks everyone - some cracking ideas there, especially Cromwell and Raleigh.

Faraday is probably off the list as we may have named a hamster that already and I agree about Washington... we are neither North-Eastern nor American and there is zero chance of our DC resembling the great Denzel!

Plenty to think about here, so thanks