Thoughts on the name Austen - U.K. VIEWPOINT

[Mintygrey]

Hello, I’m having triplets and slightly undecided on the name Austen. Personally we both love it. We also love it spelt ‘en’ as a literacy reference. I don’t know any Austen’s (or Austin’s) either but understand from the tracking charts that it’s been popular.

Has this name has its heyday and could it be ageing to call a Baby that now or is it one of those names that stays relevant?

Interested just from a U.K. perspective.

Thank you xx

Austin Healey. I've always liked it. Not Austen though.

Same I just think of a car. I knew an Austin growing up and I still think 'car' if I ever see him.

If you mean for a boy, their mates will call them Jane from the age of 14-97!

I would consider Austin a boy and Austen a girl. Use Austin.

Really?!!!

I don't think so! Most of the guys in my family wouldn't make that connection even though all of us ladies are Janeite's!!!

I think it's more likely he'll be nicknamed 'Ford' . . . . .

We know an Austin aged 5. I thought it was one of the cool, slightly unusual names, not dated at all.

Agree with others to go for Austin for a boy instead of Austen. Jane Austen reference is very female and everyone will mispell anyway.

Do you know any 14 year old boys?

DS1 is aged 14 and there are three Austins in his class of 16. (Independent school with SEN annex so tiny classes) Never made the 'Jane' reference myself at all. Or indeed the car. To me it is another surname that has become popular as a first name.

I think people would default to the 'in' spelling though.

I pronounce Austin and Austen slightly differently.

I agree with other comments that it might be a bit confusing with Austin being the standard spelling for boys, yet Austen being strongly associated with a woman.

Yes, and maybe my school was weird but 90% of the boys had stupid nicknames, many with far more tenuous links than that.

Oh please 🤣

It would make me think of Austin Powers tbh

I've only ever heard Austen as a surname e.g. Jane, and the boys version in the UK is usually Austin.

If you're having a girl, I wouldn't give her a surname as first name.

If you're having a boy, I'd stick to the conventional spelling or he will be forever having to correct people for something that is really quite unnecessary (switching the usual i for e).

How about adding another e for a girl Austene

NO!!!!!

It will get pronounced Awst-een which sounds awful. Also, it looks like the name of a cleaning product or something 😂

Austin is fine as a first name for a boy. Austen will be a lot of correcting the spelling. Austen for a girl is awful.

Austene looks like a typo for Austere, and looks like a plastic or ointment brand name.

I'm American and from Texas and I haven't encountered an Austin here. Which is interesting that my son knows an Austin from Ohio.

However, I know two Austin's and they are both English. One is 57 and the other around 30.

I do like it as a first name but I'm not sure how I feel about Austen. But, if you like it OP, do it.

This. Austin for a boy - yes. Austen - not under any circumstances. HTH

Austin isn't actually a surname name. It's a mediaeval shortening of Augustine so closer to a name like Charlie than McKenzie.

Definitely not modern either.

My cousin's little boy is an Austin :)

Austen, as in the surname, will never be the default

Depends where op lives. Austen has always been the default spelling in Kent, which is where Jane's family originated. As pp said, it's from Augustine, the first Abp of Canterbury.

(Personally, I like Austen, but dislike Austin.)

Default spelling for the surname in Kent doesn't mean default spelling for the first name everywhere.

The Austin spelling of the surname is far more common.

Love Au~ names. Audrey, Aubrey, Austin, Aurelia,

And I love Austen.

OP people will get used to your child's name and spelling. I have older children and I remember people saying to my contemporaries: people will never be able to spell that, pronounce that won't like that.....

I gave my children 2 syllable/4 letter names that are misspelled and lengthened to the wrong name often. They correct them and everyone moves on.

If you like Austen, go for it. It's not way out there and people will get used to the spelling.
Oh and my 54 yo brother had a friend called Austin way back when they were kids so it's not a new name in that sense.

I would say Austen for a girl - after Jane Austen- and Austin fir a boy.
I’ve only ever met one Austin. He was a boy who would be a teenager now.
I quite like it.

I know a baby Austen and he’s gorgeous! I think it’s fine

Oh yes that combo is perfect 🤣🤣