Help! Can I get away with this name or should I forget it and move on?

[Welikethemoon]

Birth of our second baby is imminent, we don't know the sex. We have decided on a girls name but have been struggling with a boys name. The other day we suddenly decided upon "Stanley Oliver". We both loved it, it works well with our surname, the initials aren't a rude word or otherwise enbarising acronym. We can yell it easily when he's naughty and shorten it to Stan when he's older. For 5 minutes we had it cracked. Then I remembered they are Laurel and Hardy! So we immediately vetoed it. Now we can't think of anything else. We loved that name. But neither of us are particularly fans of L&H and I don't think I can do it. He would be constantly asked about it wouldn't he? Could you name your child that?

No, just no!

I used to watch Laurel and Hardy growing up and wouldn't have made the connection. Also how often will you use both names together? I doubt even close family can remember my children's middle names.

If you like the names, go for it.

I’ve heard of Laurel & Hardy but didn’t make the Stanley & Oliver connection. I think maybe only people of a certain age would! If you love the name then go for it.

Yes I could, without a doubt. It’s a good solid name. Even if people did make the connection they aren’t serial killers.

Wouldn't have made the connection. I'm 40 if that is of any help.

Stanley's awful. Forget the Laurel and Hardy connection, just ditch Stanley.

I am 30, have never really watched L&H but would never have made the connection. I'd be stunned if many people mentioned it to you, and there's very little chance of there being enough L&H lovers the same age as your son for him to be asked about it much at all.

I'd use it without a second thought if you love it.

(I'm 29 it's been a long week!)

Hideous name.. sorry
All I can think of is L&H

I watched a lot of Laurel and Hardy as a child and did not make the connection at all.

I've watched plenty of Laurel & Hardy in my time, and saw the Stan & Ollie movie quite recently, but I didn't twig! They're known by their surnames anyway so it's not like calling him Laurel Hardy or Morcambe Wise.

Go for it, OP, it's a nice name and if people do pick up on the coincidence it's only worth a brief chuckle.

I know a couple of Stanleys. Both lovely boys.

You can definitely use it.

Stanley Oliver sounds like a 1920s chimney sweep, a rascally chap with a cockney accent

Not keen on either names, but especially dislike Stanley which will become Stan. If you want to use them both maybe use Oliver Stanley which is a bit better.

I'm in my 50's and grew up watching Laurel and Hardy and I didn't make the connection at all.
Use it, no-one is going to make a connection, and even if they do who cares!

Lovely name. Stanley is gorgeous. I wouldn't make the connection.

Stanley is just bloody awful, bin it and find something much nicer!

It's a great name. Don't worry about L&H.

Stanley is not a name I like - reminds me of Stan Ogden and Norman Stanley Fletcher!

I didn't make the connection till you said it. Most people will never know his middle name.

I think it's fine.

I quite like the name, but something to consider ,I have teenagers and Stan (from the eminem song) is what they call a stalker or a weirdo,something to consider.

I didn't make the connection at all.

(But my eldest DC has a not-unusual but not-top-50 name and my husband initially vetoed it because it's the same name of an older actor. I promised him no one would make the connection or ask us about it. Moments after he was born the midwife asked us his name and when I told her she said "oh, like [the actor]! How lovely." Fortunately DH liked the name enough to not push for a shame at that point.)

If you like it, do it!

Let's just hope you have a girl.

I wouldn't have made the connection save for that film that came out last year. I expect in another couple of years most people won't male the connection again! Laurel and Hardy are so vintage now that it will become a less known connection all the time.

Love it