Conrad

[FartnissEverbeans]

Hi all. I’m currently pregnant and finding boys’ names a lot tougher than last time round.

Last night I started thinking about Conrad and I think I quite like it. I’ve only ever met one, which I like (I teach a lot of students so I’d rather avoid more popular names - I get bored of them quickly as I come into contact with so many) and I think it just seems like quite a cool, strong name? I can imagine a Conrad being the hero in a romance novel Also, I quite like the shortening Con.

I did a search on here and, while some people see it as posh, others see it as chavvy! I found all sorts of weird and random associations.

I’d like to hear more up-to-date opinions as a lot of the threads I looked at were years old.

Thanks

I don’t see it as posh or chavvy. Maybe it seems too European to me for that. I’m picturing Conrad as a business titan (perhaps I’m thinking of Conrad Hilton and Conrad Black - although Black spent some time in the clink so maybe not too like him ), someone who’s quite suave and alpha. And I think it's a name that would travel well which is always helpful.

I really dislike it, sorry, and I really hate "Con" as a nickname. "Con" is a very negative word. To con someone, con man, etc. It's awful.

We called our son Conrad - he’s now 25 and a lovelier young man you couldn’t meet. We’ve never called him Con - although I’ve been known to call him Conny. Good strong name.

Minds need on Conrad Knight socks.

Sorry OP.

Sorry - reminds me - not minds need.

Sorry OP but that comes across as pretentious and would make me cringe like I've never cringed before. Maybe find something similar?

Very lovely name .I don't like Con as a NN, but I think the name is short enough to use the full name :)

I like it though I wouldn’t go for the NN Con - especially if he ever intends to deal with French speakers (means “cunt” in French)

I hate to say this as I know it will trigger all the faux-shock & outrage but I genuinely think it actually depends on the ethnicity of the child...

Whether it's pc to say this or not, I believe some names suit some ethnicities and not others.

I don't think Conrad would work for many Caucasian children but may work well for a child of an ethnic minority?

I love it! It reminds me of a dashing British Victorian explorer who returns to London for a fancy dinner party and charms everyone in the room with his tales of adventure and heroism and his witty yet gentlemanly character. Very specificly.

I quite like it, but I do get stuck on the word 'Con' - it means to trick or cheat someone, so all names that have it have undertone to me. Same with Conor or Connie.

I see the reviews are just as mixed as they were in the previous threads! Some saying it sounds like a British Victorian explorer, some saying it sounds European, others saying it won’t work on a Caucasian child... ftr we are very Caucasian!

I felt it would travel well @Classica which would be helpful as we live overseas. However @Bionicname has me a bit worried as he’ll definitely come across some French speakers...

@Aquamarine1029 and @Cowbells - I see your point about Con, although I kind of liked the name Conn as well!

@PerciphonePuma I’m open to any other suggestions you have. I like Cormac as well, for example, but it doesn’t have an obvious nickname and I’d rather have the option

I like Conrad a lot.

There's a Diana Wynne Jones character called Conrad.

Cormac could be Mac, or Cor.

I knew a lovely German man called Conrad known as Cord.

I named my youngest dc Conrad and had very, very positive feedback from people. I have 2 other children with nice, fairly popular names which most people seem to like but with Conrad people have been noticeably more enthusiastic about what a nice name it is.

We are white and upper middle class and our other 2 children have classic, popular names. If you look back at old mn threads some of them are very enthusiastic about it so I think it just depends what day you post on as to what responses you get!

Other names we considered were Samuel and Leo.

I like it.

Similar names:
Conleth
Jared
Conroy
Cameron
Lorcan

I love it. It was on my list. Other names on my list were Otto, Gus, Erik and Magnus, if any of those tickle your fancy.

I love this name! I think it's a great choice and a strong name. I know one who's in his 30's who's a nice guy.
How about Caspar too or Lance?

It's a great unique name! I'd go for it!

I really like Conrad - I find it very handsome. I'm not keen on Con/Connie/Cad though.

I also really like Cormac.

Other suggestions I find similar: Alaric, Calvin, Jonas, Everett, Ludovic, Magnus, Jared (nn Jed), Casimir, Ellis, Bennett.

I don’t like it - it sounds quite hard. That might be because the one I do know comes from the kind of family you’re very glad you don’t live next to, so it spoils the name for me.

@MaMelon I hope we’re not that type of family!

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. I love a lot of these suggestions as well (if only we could get away with Casimir - what an awesome name). I’m surprised by how much I like Everett actually - I hadn’t considered that before. Jonas, Otto, Magnus, Caspar, Gus - I like all of these a lot.

@Happenchance how would you pronounce Conleth? Is it like Con-la? Do you think you’d need to be Irish to pull it off? We’re Scottish

My grandfather’s name. But quite timeless IMO. Very dignified! I find Con quite sweet as a nn. English Con is pronounced very differently from French con which is a nasal sound with silent n.

I really like it but my partner thinks it’s too German and wants something British!

I like it and it was on my list, but sadly DH us not a fan. I would use a nn at all.

Also pp saying it doesn't suit a Caucasian child? It's a popular and classic continental European name, also appearing in European romanticism literature, I suggest you read up a bit more before making comments that are entirely incorrect.