Art - as a stand alone name... thoughts?

[BoyInTheOven]

Art - I came across this as a stand alone Irish name (we're not Irish). I like the meaning. And o like that it's a real name but not common but also not strange.

However a stumbling block would be having friends and family in Essex dropping the 'T'... thoughts?

MEANING: In Ireland a seperate name from Arthur it comes from an ancient word for “”a bear,”” used in the sense of “”outstanding warrior”” or “”champion.”” A pagan High King of Ireland, Art’s rule was so honest that two angels hovered over him in battle.

That being Art I mean!

Art Garfunkel's real name is Arthur

None of my nephews and nieces know who Art Garfunkel is. He’s 76, don’t think he’ll feature highly in any Art’s life born today lol!

Great name.

I wonder of those of us in Ireland who know only one Art all know the same one (I also know only one, a friend of DS's).

MY dc are 20 and 22 and know who Simon and Garfunkel are

I can’t imagine Art Garfunkel being very widely known to anyone under 25 or 30. His real name is Arthur though.

I have an 8 year old cousin called Arthur/Art. I think it’s very cute, but would be wary of accents that make it “aaarr”.

I'm not too sure why it matters if people relate the name to Art Garfunkel?!

If a boy is called Freddie you would hear Mercury or if a boy is named Vinnie you would think Jones. Art may not be everybody's cup of tea (I oersonally prefer Arthur) but no need to try and put OP off.

I don't think that people associate names with famous people very often. I've only heard two names that made me think of other people, and in one of those cases, a boy named Cash, he had been named after Johnny Cash so it was a deliberate association. Even then, once I'd met him a few times it just became his name alone.

Thanks all for your opinions. I'm still very keen but OH has some of the reservations that some of you have raised... so we will see! (He had reservations with our DD's name too at this stage in pregnancy but we both couldn't imagine her being called anything else now.) We both also like Arthur but I feel like I'd prefer just to use 'Art' as a stand-alone - may be a good compromise. But I far prefer Art and it's meaning.

I'm not put off by the Art Garfunkel connotations - seems like a hugely talented man... and as pp said, he's an Arthur.

I'm also not put off by 'F'art... I think if that's as bad as it gets it's not terrible. The diminutive of my name could rhyme with a not so nice nickname but I was never called it.

@Bea1985 No haven't heart of Arto at all - may be a bit left field for us though.

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar Thanks, I wonder if you do all know that same person! How old is the Art you know if you don't mind me asking? How do you find the 'reception' to his name?

The Art that I know is early teens. I've never seen anyone react in any way to his name, it's just as if he said any common name like Liam. At least it's 'easy' in that it's a word that they will definitely have said before.

People are generally polite though IME, my DD has a difficult name and people do comment sometimes, usually to ask where it's from. I think they need to process it further in some way to be able to remember it, often they will repeat the name back to her/me and then say it to themselves quietly.

Thank you for your reply @BlackAmericanoNoSugar that's good, what I was hoping.

OH is feeling more on board with Art as a name... I'm feeling cautiously optimistic that bump may nearly have a name 😊

Art, like the subject, like the well-known play.

I also think it's like claiming that he is a work of art, or embodies art - so potentially interpreted as massively pompous and pretentious. 'I am Art'. (But what is art? Is it art?)

I do think it's a bit like calling him Music or Drama too. If he was a girl, you could move to names of the Muses e.g. Clio, Thalia, Calliope but that won't work for a boy. Though there are plenty of other classical references if those appeal.

Makes me think of self-referential works like Anthony Gormley's sculptures, all of his own body. 'I am art, my art is me'.

How about Ant, short for Anthony?

@lottiegarbanzo mmm drama or music? Now they do have a certain ring to them...

I don't expect him to suddenly change sex (at least not before birth) but if he does I'll keep your suggestions in mind. If not he'll have a massively pompous life to look forward to 😂

Just don't. Your child will thank you one day.

Arthur. Call him Art, but he might want to be an accountant.

He could be an Artist, Art the Artist!

@moredoll you wouldn't want someone with the name Art to handle your accounts?

I like it

There was also Art Tatum, the jazz pianist (less well known than Art Garfunkel obviously! But a great musician!)

Thanks @NameChange30 great reference there. My OH is a musician and knew I was playing him immediately when he heard me playing a video of Art Tatum on YouTube. I love the name even more now!

Art Tatum was Arthur .

@bruffin all the Art's that have come up seem to be Arthur - I'm not sure people would expect that to be their full names though. I'd love to meet a real life 'just' Art 😂

I would use Arthur nn Art