Can we use Miles David?

[GreenDoves]

Hello,

We’re currently expecting our first baby and the due date is getting close! It’s a surprise, so we’re trying to prepare both a boy’s name and a girl’s name.

For a boy, basically the only first name we can agree on is Miles. But we’d been planning to use the middle name David after a much-loved family member.

Is ‘Miles David <surname>’ usable or not? I’m worried that too many people will connect it with a particular reference.

Thank you in advance 😊

No idea who Miles David is and have googled to no avail. I don't see anything wrong with those names together, they work fine.

I have zero idea of the reference so think it's fine! Also noone calls them by both names, after the birth announcement ni one is likely to think of the middle name again imo!

I also googled and found nothing. I'm intrigued, what am I missing?? 😆

Well do you like jazz or not? Because you will be asked.

PP, it's Miles Davies.

Miles Davis?
No issue in my opinion. As pp said middle names are rarely used.
You could spell it Myles to differentiate a bit more?

I would assume Miles Davies.

I have a friend with a son Miles David. Never had any negative comments to my knowledge.

because of the American (dead) jazz player???

or is there a mass murderer I've not heard about?

I mean, it sounds a tiny bit like Miles Davies, but not ridiculously so, and anyway surely it's a positive association?

Go for it! I would guess you are unlikely to introduce him to one and all using his first and middle names. Even if people do make the connection to the jazz legend, he is a most talented and illustrious namesake.

David is the middle name not the surname, so rarely used and therefore not likely to be associated with Miles Davies (I didn’t make the association anyway).

Because it sounds like Miles Davies?

It's fine and a normal name.

You're overthinking. If your surname was Davis it might seem a little odd picking Miles, but even then it's not a bad association. It's not like you're calling him Michael Jackson!

Day to day he'll be known as Miles or Miles Surname though. Only a handful of people will even know his middle name is David (which I would definitely keep as I like a middle name with meaning).

The jazz musician was Miles Davis.

Day to day he'll be known as Miles or Miles Surname though. Exactly, unless the surname is a common one and there's another Miles with the same surname.

Really helpful, thanks everyone! My husband was convinced the Miles Davies connection made it a no-go

Why did he think this? Everyone who names their child runs the risk that someone, famous or notorious, will arise during their child's lifetime. You can't avoid every single connotation forever.

At least Miles Davies is an aspirational name, You're not calling him Jimmy Savile (surname) are you?

Miles Davis not Davies

Miles Davis is ultra cool, so if that's your reference, go for it.

I actually know a Miles David [insert unusual surname]. He's only ever known as Miles, or Miles surname. Absolutely fine!

Do you mean because it looks like you've misspelled Miles Davis?

I think it's absolutely fine, it's a positive reference (I'm sure he wasn't perfect but I don't know of any bad associations with Miles D). If anyone snottily goes 'you do know it's Miles DaviS', tell them So What? It Never Entered My Mind! Then just say it's after a relative.

Same. He will hardly ever use his middle name anyway.

I thought Kind of Blue but that’s not a negative link and it’s not exactly the same.

Avoid. You risk people thinking you're dyslexic jazz fans. It's too close, and falls into the uncanny valley of just wrong enough not to appear deliberate.

David Miles, and using Miles as his everyday name wouldn't have the same problem.

Will he be 90% great at jazz?