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?

I made the connection immediately but then I can’t abide Laurel and Hardy . I’d also just ditch Stanley it’s awful as is Stan .

I immediately thought of Laurel and Hardy, but I love them.
Stanley is a great name.

Stanley is horrible. All the Stan and Stanley’s were I live, are the rough, crime, Asbo men/boys. Not one nice one at all. People say to their children when they misbehave ‘you are gonna turn into a Stan if you carry on’.

That was the first thing that came into my head when I read the first line of your post. I couldn't do it tbh.

Reminds me of Stanley the Guinea Fowl!

I don't think the connection is a problem, OP. Middle names are hardly ever used, anyway.

If you're worried about the Laurel and Hardy connection, what about using Oscar instead of Oliver?

Really like Stanley

I never would have made the connection, and how often do you use a first and middle name together anyway?

If you like the name then go for it!

What's the girls name you like op?

Great name! Only got the LandH connection because you mentioned it.

If that worries you how about Stanley

Stanley Joe
Stanley James
Stanley Ray
Stanley Matthew etc

I wouldn't have made the connection!

I used to watch Laurel and Hardy as a child and didn't make the connection. I'm not keen on Stanley. It reminds me of Stan Collymore or a man from the 1920's wearing a flat cap.
At the end of the day, if you like the names then go for it. Whatever name you choose there will always be someone who is not keen on it.

A few points.

You'll never use the middle name
No one will make that connection
Stan is awful (reminds me of that Eminem song)

Wouldn’t have entered my head. It’s a cool name.

Stanley Baxter.

You might need to look him up but those flow well together.

Can't stand all these old fashion names sounds like an old man.Alfred ,Albert .Reggie my niece called hers Sidney and people calling their daughters names like Elsie Edith OMG

I understand your dilemma.
I always think of Laurel and Hardy when I hear the name Stanley,but that's my age.
But for sure some idiot at some point will start pretending they are wearing a tie.
Choose a good old fashioned name.
Ive always liked traditional names,Samual Benjamin Alexander James Stephen ETC. Good luck OH and by the way,when he is born he wont look like any name you choose.
I had that experience,was going to be James but didn't look like a James,so David it was.

I knew a Stan(ley) through a job I had and loved him to bits . It’s a great name that will always have happy associations for me . I’m smiling whilst typing this :)

Lovely name. I'm 50 and didn't think of Laurel and Hardy. Go for it.

I would never have thought of that. I would go ahead for several reasons.

People generally don't give a toss what your child's middle name is tbh. They never remember! A couple might comment on it initially and you'll say, oh yes! And that'll be it. It's hardly like his name is actually Laurel Hardy. I actually know a couple of kids whose names (ie first and surname) are exactly the same as an old movie/tv star and it's just not an issue after the first noticing of it. And their names are much much more recognisable.

He will hardly ever have to say his whole name out loud and even if he writes it mostly computers will read that for those types of purposes, not a person. So no one will need to comment.

Plus, laurel and hardy will be so ancient by the time he is an adult it will be totally irrelevant.

Don't over think it!!

I made the connection straight away as soon as I saw it.

@SmiledWithTheRisingSun
The name we have if it's a girl is Eleanor Mae.
Oscar instead of Oliver is an interesting idea. I don't like it as much as Oliver though. My DD1 would love Olaf, but she is 4 and made about Frozen! I can't use that name!

Go for it. I got the connection and I’m not a L&Zhou fan but I didn’t think anything of it.

Middle names are quickly forgotten and I’ve been asked what my children’s middle names are about three times if that.

Oh and I like Stanley and he can always be known as Lee as a teen if he doesn’t like Stan

suzy2b
My DD is Edith