Naming your child after someone famous - not on purpose!!!

[icantthinkofaname2001]

So I have a little boy on the way and really like the name George..

problem being is our last name is Lucas.

For anyone who doesn't know, he made the star wars and Indiana Jones films..

1. Did you know this fact?
2. Will anyone know/remember this when he's at school?
3. Does it really matter?

xxxx

Yes, that immediately made me think of George Lucas the film director. I think those films are here to stay as classics, and both franchises are still going, and I would say his name is widely known. Surely it's personal to you whether it would bother you or not? It wouldn't be something I would do, personally. It was important to me that DS's name had minimal associations, and that the name/surname combination had never been used. If I google, there's nothing.

But you may feel entirely differently.

Most people who encounter him are going to ask if you’re big Star Wars fans, for sure.

He was also involved with Game of Thrones op - I recognise his name from that, couldn't have told you about the other things he's done though.

Personally I wouldn't. Although he's less well known, its similar to naming your child something like Steven Spielberg - for anyone that recognises the name they'll either think you're a massive fan or may chuckle and think you were unaware/made a blooper in your choice - either way I wouldn't risk the reaction x

@SmidgenofaPigeon

Most people who encounter him are going to ask if you’re big Star Wars fans, for sure.

Yep, I'm pretty sure most people will think this even if they don't directly ask. I'm not even a fan of star wars and know who George Lucas is.

I wouldn't. He'll have his whole life being asked if his parents were star wars fans.

Thank you everyone, that's all I needed was a few replies to back up the doubts I was having!

Should have picked a different bloke! hahaha

I know an Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible), a George Harrison and a Jack Frost. All say yes, people comment on it endlessly.

I was at school with a John Lewis. I lived next to a Tom Jones.

What these names all have in common (both first and surname) is they are relatively common. Unlike for example Benedict Cumberbatch.

So it's a Known name, but wouldn't be out of place in normal life.

I went to school with Margaret Thatcher and Adele Adkins !.

I don't think it matters. It would be different if it was someone with a weird/controversial/shocking reputation. As far as I know, George Lucas isn't very controversial, and is quite low profile for someone that successful. And neither the first or surname is very unusual, so I don't think people will assume he's named after the famous GL. Just choose the name you like. GL is in his late 70s anyway, so I doubt he'll still be making films by the time your son's old enough to know who he is.

My neighbours surname is Murphy and they called their son killian 😂😂 I dont even think they made the connection until someone pointed it out

I think something to be conscious of when giving the same name as a famous person is what may happen with that person in the future.

For example, I used to work with someone - no joke - named James...last name Saville. Apparently his parents discussed it when they named him (in the mid-80s) but reasoned nobody would remember Jimmy Saville by the time he was grown up. And now he's stuck with that!

Yes, yes and yes.

I am friends with a Steve Irwin and the comments he gets are endless.

I knew a Thomas Cruise, in his 20s. Parents must have heard of Tom Cruise!

@romdowa

My neighbours surname is Murphy and they called their son killian 😂😂 I dont even think they made the connection until someone pointed it out

I think the difference is that both are very common names, and there will be lots of older Cillian and Killian Murphys who predate the actor's fame. On the first page of Google there's a musician called Killian Murphy whose Twitter hand is '@Not the Actor', there's an academic, a web designer, a GAA player, a rally driver, someone studying Sports Science, a guy who opened an Irish pub in Jakarta.

There's also an actor called Killian Murphy on IMDB. (Come to that, I know another actor called Colin Farrell, not the famous one -- I think he uses his middle name professionally.)

Yes sorry..

Do you like James?

I taught an Eleanor Rigby.

I personally would just come to the conclusion that it's coincidence. You can't help (to an extent) what your surname is) and George is a pretty generic name.

Mind you, my mum had to take me to A&E once as a youngster. In the waiting room, staff called for a Michael Jackson. My ears pricked up thinking THE Michael Jackson was in the building.

@HumunaHey

I personally would just come to the conclusion that it's coincidence. You can't help (to an extent) what your surname is) and George is a pretty generic name.

Mind you, my mum had to take me to A&E once as a youngster. In the waiting room, staff called for a Michael Jackson. My ears pricked up thinking THE Michael Jackson was in the building.

I know two Michael Jacksons, come to think of it. One of them was my college chaplain and is now a bishop. I imagine he's around the same age (early to mid-60s?) the singer would be if he'd lived, so obviously MJ wasn't famous when his parents named him.

Double barrel your surname?

After several decades of genealogical research and observing names given to children in England over the past 5 centuries it is obvious that certain Christian names “go” with particular surnames. The obvious is John Smith. I think if you ate able to find the correct site you’ll find that there have been literally thousands of George Lucases over the years, many of them in your DS’s father’s family tree. In fact, if you care to do so you could go to Ancestry.co.uk or Find My Past etc and do a little easy research, find a great grandfather or uncle called George and then claim it as a “family name”.
In my King Family tree the most common name is Francis, whereas it is not a greatly popular name. The 2 names just sound balanced to the English ear.
Good luck

My 24 year old daughter has the exact name as a pop star who was unheard of when she was born.

Personally I wouldn't do it.

@Cindie943811A

After several decades of genealogical research and observing names given to children in England over the past 5 centuries it is obvious that certain Christian names “go” with particular surnames. The obvious is John Smith. I think if you ate able to find the correct site you’ll find that there have been literally thousands of George Lucases over the years, many of them in your DS’s father’s family tree. In fact, if you care to do so you could go to Ancestry.co.uk or Find My Past etc and do a little easy research, find a great grandfather or uncle called George and then claim it as a “family name”. In my King Family tree the most common name is Francis, whereas it is not a greatly popular name. The 2 names just sound balanced to the English ear. Good luck

They really don't, you know there was just a far smaller pool of names used, a tendency to call children after their parents and other relatives, no apprehension that uniqueness or unusualness was necessary or desirable for instance, no compunction about giving a child the name of a dead older sibling etc.

I think if you ate able to find the correct site you’ll find that there have been literally thousands of George Lucases over the years, many of them in your DS’s father’s family tree.

But how would you know whether the OP's husband's family tree contains George Lucases or not?

And I don't think the OP minds whether there have been Lucases with the name George in the family or not. All she's asking is whether people will associate it with the film director.

Of course I've heard of of Geroge Lucas, and thought of him immediately when you said the surname Lucas!

Could you use it as a middle name instead?