Forrest?

[xOlive]

Good morning all,

What are your opinions on the name Forrest for a boy?
Both me and DP really like it.
We have two girls already with uncommon but pretty names.

Now, I imagine those who prefer the traditional “George/Oliver/Thomas” names are going to think WTF are we thinking but for those of you who appreciate a more unusual/less common name, is Forrest too out there?

I love the film forrest gump so that wouldn't put me off, but in the film I think he is named after a white supremacist or member of the KKK if I remember correctly?! So that connection (even if it is made up) certainly would!

I think it would be worth watching the film if you're thinking of using the name

Very true, can’t beat a bit of Mary Poppins.

I think the issue seems to be there’s only one famous Forrest from what I can tell.
For example, how many baby boys have been called Edward? Despite there being several serial killers called Edward/Ed.
Or if I’d have picked Thomas, nobody would say “oh like Thomas the Tank Engine” because it’s such a commonly used name.

Whereas if you called you son Homer, there’s only one famous Homer 😂
Interesting!

Gump. Obviously.

I agree you should watch the film. He’s a lovely character but then you will know what everyone who’s watched its associations will be. It’s a classic film so it’s not accurate to think future generations won’t watch it. If you understand this and are cool with it then crack on!

Why would you spell it with two Rs? That will surely be forever associated with Gump.

Names like Willow, Ocean, Sage etc., are all lovely 'nature' names as would be Forest with one R!

My 5 yesr old loves Forest Gump

She hasn’t watched it, but says she’s heard her dad talk about it because they got him a classic movie scratch-off poster for his birthday.

That’s a cool present!
I hope Titanic’s on the list!

I’ve only ever seen the name spelt with two Rs in and a forest with one R.

No, the main character in Forrest Gump is not a bad person. He does however have a cognitive disability. The film is about how he navigates big events historical events of the 20th century as well as big personal events (his mother dying, falling in love, his wife’s traumatic past, her death from illness). Some people love it and find it heartwarming but frankly I found it weird and kind of disturbing because of the whole love story with an intellectually disabled character - I saw it as a teenager and it’s weird trying to decide whether or not it’s morally ok for the female lead character to start a relationship with someone with quite an obvious cognitive disability. He’s vulnerable because of that. Weird film.

Interesting. Young army officers are known as Ruperts.

I know a forest aged 6 and he really suits it! It’s not a name anyone can use but the Family is very edgy and middle class and just fits!

Oh thank you for that, I’ll avoid the film as dying Mums is a sensitive subject for me 🥲
I can see why you’d find the film weird/uncomfortable in that case.

They’re just a bit hippy-ish. It’s a hippy-type name.

His mother dying is not the central storyline, just one of things that happens to him. He somehow gets caught up in all sorts of big US historical events of the second half of the 20th century. You could probably just fast forward through the scene where his mum is dying if you wanted to see the rest of the film. Or just read the plot on Wikipedia.

I quite like it! Run forest run isn’t a bad association really it’s just a famous line from a film it’s not negative I don’t think. (Though I did only see the film once years ago and don’t know it very well)
i think day to day he will just be forest, and the association will quickly fade for those who know him

I really like it OP. I of course know who Forrest Gump is but that’s because I’m mid 40s.

If I asked my children about the name/character (aged 8 and 11) they wouldn’t have a clue what I was talking about, so I doubt very much that any children that your son will grow up with will have any idea or make any associations with the name.

It’s a great film and Forrest is a very inspirational character.

I don’t know any hippies or home educators so I can’t comment but it is definitely a less traditional name.
I could never have a “Charlotte” or a “Victoria” for a child because it just wouldn’t suit me 🥲

Forrest (from Forrest Gump) is named after Nathan Bedford Forrest (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest) which is not an association I would choose.

But most people would probably not assume you were celebrating the KKK.

Thank you @Bowling4soup and @SoConflicted0126

I agree, he wouldn’t be in school until 2030 when he’d be 4 so I think the teachers (depending on their age) would be the only ones to link to the film.
My daughter started Reception with a Woody and made no link to Toy Story at the time.
I find people’s opinions on names so varied, there was a thread about the name Jade being chavvy/trashy which baffled me as I always thought it was a lovely gemstone name 😂

Just as I wouldn’t assume anybody naming their son Nathan also isn’t celebrating the KKK 😬
I wouldn’t be naming my son Forrest after the film so anybody associating a baby boy born in England in 2026 to the KKK would seem odd to me.

Forest Whittaker only has one R.

Oh wow, completely forgot about him! He’s a great actor, thank you 😁

Fine as long as you feed him a diet of Mars bars and live in Slough.