Ronald

[Redblackcar2]

Thoughts on this please?

[Zzzzmarchhare]

I like it-I think in a few years time it will be back in fashion/ be considered cool. Looks like I'm the only one though.

[Rhubarbgarden]

MacDonald or Reagan. No.

Gobbolino's suggestion of Roald is v good though.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Ronald = hideous
Roland = brilliant :)

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Nowt wrong with Ron Weasley though. :)

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Noooooo

[exoticfruits]

No

[Lovemynailstoday]

I knew a Ranald once and always liked the name.

[Maud2011]

Lovemynailstoday (and I could do with taking your advice) - How weird is that, Ranald is actually a lovely name. I did hear it long ago but had forgotten all about it. What a difference a vowel can make!

[Anjou]

I'm usually not bothered by associations/connotations of a name but I agree with other posters; McDonald, Reagan, Kray & I'll throw 'The Two...' In there for good measure. Not good!

Aside from that, it's just not a nice sound. I agree that Ranald is much nicer (nn Ran could be quite cool?). Roland to me should only be preceded by "oh come on ..." a la Grange Hill in the mid eighties. Roald is the nicest one in my opinion!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Grange Hill Roland :)

Ranald sounds like a baddie's name to me.

[Lovemynailstoday]

The Ranald I knew was very classy and very handsome, so it has good connotations for me!

[fussychica]

Hate it. FILs name - enough said!

[PeriodMath]

DH calls his erection a Ronnie.

[rockybalboa]

McDonald. Sorry...

[DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper]

Interesting thread.

I think the McDonald connection has killed it for a lot of people, but it's not my connection, so I like it as a name.

My Grandad was Ronald, but everyone knew him as Ron, which I think is a good, solid name. He was also movie-star handsome in his prime.

The problem with 'good, solid' names, is that that's not where the current vibe is for boys' names. Too many people are still caught up in the other end of the spectrum; cheeky chappy names - Alfie, Archie, Charlie, Harry, etc.

I'd say you're just ahead of the curve. If you like it, go for it. The Archie, Alfie names are definitely on their way out.

Also, a thought re a similar name... Donald.

Of you ask people about Donald, they'll inevitably say, 'no way, don't do it', 'Donald Duck', etc, etc, etc.

But, Don Draper (the real one, not moi ) has added a whole lot of caché to that name, or the abbreviation of it, at least. And it also goes to show that once someone (in this case your old child) comes to own the name, any other associations go by the wayside.

Sorry for the essay, but just something to think about.