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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Matthew Lewis

29 replies

SirNicholasDeMimsyPorpington · 15/12/2021 22:43

DH and I have been discussing names and one of the few boys' names we both like is Matthew. However, the only potential problem is that our surname is Lewis, and Matthew Lewis instantly makes me think of the actor who played Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter. I know it's not a bad association, but I'm a bit put off by a name that is the same as someone well known. DH thinks I am massively overthinking it and most people wouldn't make the connection, and doesn't see it as an issue anyway. Did you immediately think of the actor when you saw the thread title, and would your baby name being the same as an actor/singer/etc put you off?

I am a Harry Potter fan so may have made the link more quickly than the average person would on hearing the name, so he may be right that I am overthinking it and a large proportion of people may not have heard of the actor!

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Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 15/12/2021 22:46

Sounds lovely, I can't here Matthew Lewis "a successful director from Mayfair london (I don't know where you are from) who own several accounting firms in the UK..."

CouncilHousedAndViolentBaby · 15/12/2021 22:46

I thought of Martin Lewis money saving expert tbh would never have made that HP association

Nikki305 · 15/12/2021 22:48

Yes sorry, made me think of Neville

CrispAndFrosty · 15/12/2021 22:49

Don't recognise the actor's name, but I have a vague notion that the Neville Longbottom actor grew up to be a bit of a hottie, so I wouldn't worry. Anyway, Matthew Lewis is a real everyman name. And he will probably be called Matt anyway.

SickAndTiredAgain · 15/12/2021 22:50

I thought of the actor when I saw the thread title but I’m also a big Harry Potter fan. I don’t think he’s a household name and even if he was massively famous, the two names are normal names so it won’t seem like much a connection, as opposed to a celebrity with a more unusual name that I think would give a stronger association to them specifically.

jackstini · 15/12/2021 22:50

Didn't make the association at all and expect fewer people will as time goes on

Palavah · 15/12/2021 22:51

You're over thinking:
Matthew Lewis is a v common name
The actor isn't very well known
He's not a bad person to be compared with.

theAntsareMyFriends · 15/12/2021 22:55

I thought of the author of 'The Monk' but then I've never seen Harry Potter.

Synchrony · 15/12/2021 23:01

Not a problem

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 15/12/2021 23:07

Nope. Nice sensible name though.

MatildaJayne · 15/12/2021 23:09

I had forgotten the actor playing Neville’s name completely. I think you’re all right.

Singalongsingsong · 15/12/2021 23:18

I’ve seen all the films, haven’t got a clue who played most of the characters apart from the ‘main’ ones and those who were previously well established actors or who went on to major roles. No idea anyone called Matthew Lewis was in the films or is even a well known actor. It’s a solid sensible name. Nothing to dislike!

Cakepig · 15/12/2021 23:20

I did think of him but it's not an unusual out there name so easily a coincidence! Plus, I thought of Matthew Lewis, not Neville, and that's a good thing.

DramaAlpaca · 15/12/2021 23:23

It's fine, I didn't make any association with the name.

Pieceofpurplesky · 15/12/2021 23:27

A friend has a Matthew Lewis and I have never passed thought since the first time I heard it.
Gratuitous photo attached

Matthew Lewis
LumosSolem · 15/12/2021 23:30

Well if you wanted to call your baby Daniel and your surname was Radcliffe then it would be an issue 😁

Matthew Lewis is absolutely fine though 😊

Foxglovers · 15/12/2021 23:32

I didn’t think of that at all

Kite22 · 15/12/2021 23:37

I've never heard of the actor.
It's not like you are naming him Brad Pitt or something.

Matthew is a common enough first name and Lewis is a common enough surname, so I don't think many people will suddenly think of an actor who is hardly a world superstar when they hear his name read out.

lottiegarbanzo · 15/12/2021 23:53

Really nice, normal name. Matthew is underused at the moment.

I vaguely think of Martin Lewis, MSE.

Original poster
SirNicholasDeMimsyPorpington · 16/12/2021 07:30

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful Smile It looks like majority opinion is that it isn't an issue so I think Matthew can stay on the list!

OP posts:
VanillaAndOrange · 16/12/2021 17:50

I knew I'd heard the name Matthew Lewis before somewhere but honestly couldn't have told you where.

I think it's the sort of name that is common enough that lots of people are likely to have met one or two before, but not so common that everybody knows three or four at the same time. Also lots of people have the same names as actors who haven't got outlandish names - I know a Jack Davenport for example. It would only put me off if it was a famous and unusual name, e.g if my last name was Jacobi I'd probably avoid Derek.

BiscuitLover3679 · 16/12/2021 18:06

I did but I'm a Potterhead. I'm sure his generation won't know or care though.

Elisemum · 16/12/2021 18:24

This association wouldn’t even come to my mind and I do like Harry Potter.
Matthew is a fab name for a boy and Matthew Lewis sounds great!

delshell · 19/12/2021 21:15

Nice name but, sorry, I immediately thought of Neville and thought the thread was about the actor! I am a big HP fan tho. Hubby had never heard of him.

Abraxan · 19/12/2021 21:18

Dh made no connection whatsoever.

As a HP fan, I thought of the actor, but I don't think that's an issue at all. It's not like his HP character is a bad one, and ends up being one of the really,positive characters in the films.

I really don't think it's a problem.