Ferdinand

[SandraClegane]

After my previous suggestion, Wallace, was met with, ahem, mixed emotions here on MN...
What do you think of Ferdinand? This is my absolute favourite at the moment, though DH doesn't agree to it (yet). Opinions? Associations?

Ferdinand makes me think of Rio, the footballer (not a great association) but I like "Ferdi" as a nickname.

Oh gosh, I hate saying it but I'm not a fan of that. Sorry. I do actually quite like Wallace though- I knew a Wallace and he was bonkers!! In the best possible way :)

Franz Ferdinand as in te band. I think they are pretty cool, but if you not then be prepared for everyone o think it's a bit fanboyish.

No, go ahead and speak your mind; I don't think anyone could actually put me off that name! Just interested in people's perception of the name.
Oh, and: Ferdi, Ferdie or Ferdy? Is there a 'standard' spelling?

The middle one looks good to me.
As an aside was there a Ferdie in Queer as Folk?

Not keen, sorry. First thought was he's being named after the footballer. I hate football but still thought it.

If that doesnt bother you though then go with what you like

I love it. Have tried suggesting to DH a couple of times but he just dismisses it on the basis that we are not Spanish.

I agree with the footballer association. Dont like it at all sorry as it feels like 'trying too hard'

Anothet association, Ferdinand the Bull.

Wonderful children's book but might put you off the name.

I think of the footballer too.

And I prefer Rio :)

I like it. Dd has a Quentin Blake book that ends with "and when Ferdinand decides to make a chocolate fudge banana cake, what do we do for goodness sake, we all join in."

I don't like names that I presume are surnames, being used as first names - I just think it's going to cause confusion for the poor little chap saddled with it, throughout their life.
I know there are some that have become popular.... 'Thomas' for example, but there are lots of 'Thomas's around so people will expect that to be either, but that wouldn't work with either Wallace or Ferdinand.

I think Ferdi from This Life

Ferdinand is a great name. It wouldn't cross my mind that it was a surname (but neither would Thomas).

Not if your last name is Bloggs or Higginbotham.. but Ferdy is cute. I think it would make a great and unexpected middle name too, if your DH won't entertain it as a first.

I instantly think "and Isabella". If you have Spanish connections, great - if not, I'd avoid.

I also think it's cute on a baby and could work well on a grown man (although "Ferdy" sounds a bit undignified for an adult) but he's probably going to have a tough time at school when he's 14. I'm a secondary teacher and honestly, their tastes in humour haven't got any more sophisticated since we were at school...

I like it :-) I know of an 8 year old Ferdinand. With the nickname Ferdi :-)

Great strong middle name.

Yes, I also immediately thought Ferdinand & Isabella.

To be honest, I think it's a bit like the male equivalent of Tabitha a great name for a cat.

Sorry!

Nice name, and I knew a couple of baby Ferdinands in London, and one very cool elderly Jamaican when i was a student. I think the only drawback is nicknames, if you don't like 'Ferdy'.

Ah it was This Life I was thinking of!

I like it.

Much better than Wallace!

Interesting - I didn't realise it was perceived as 'Spanish' by many. I like it because it is a Germanic name (think Ferdinand Porsche) and baby will be 1/4 German.
Also didn't know it was so common as a surname! But oh well.
It seems to be much more agreeable than Wallace though ; now all I have to do is try and get DH on board!!