What about the name Preston?

Lgrant0714

So we are expecting our third child and hoping for a boy. Finally my husband had the prospect of a name-sake. Problem is my husband hates his own name enough that he doesn't even use it (he goes by his middle name). So we settled on a similar sounding name, Preston. I love the meaning, it goes with our daughters names and it's the first name I suggested that he finally agreed to. Now it's a month or two later and all of a sudden he thinks that maybe Preston sounds too nerdy! We really like names that sound sophisticated, intelligent, and are not overly common. Do you think the name sounds too nerdy? The middle name would be Anthony (my husband's middle name).

nittanyllama

I love it and I don't think it's nerdy! I think it's preppy and cute, and could fit just about any kid. There is a toddler from my birth month board named Preston and he's adorable, sorta spunky. Goes well with Anthony

LovetoLive614

I love Preston. I know a 10 year old Preston who is very outgoing and sporty - not nerdy at all.

sunflowermama42212

I have no real good reason I just don't like this name.

TheMrs820

I love it!! I think it sounds cute! I am also biased because it is my nephews name!

==N==

I love it. A lot.

Esbi25

It's DS1's name - love it! I think it has a little preppy vibe to it, but in a cute way.

WestIsleFlower

I really like Preston! Doesn't sound nerdy at all, and pairs well with Anthony

Lgrant0714

What's wrong with golf and polo shirts! thanks for the feedback...much appreciated. I still love it and it sounds like it has just the vibe we're going for. Can't wait to share the feedback with my husband, Gladstone. (He's going to hate that I shared that!!)

bobcee

mjreilly2 said:

I really dislike Preston. I don't think it necessarily sound "nerdy." I think it sound pretentious, preppy, and snobby. I picture an annoying "rich kid" wearing a polo shirt and playing golf.

ETA: I should say, I have like MishaBelle, I have no "reason" to dislike the name...I just do. I have always just gotten the above vibe from it when I hear it.

It gives me the same exact impression, but even though i cant stand the image it gives me, for some reason I still like it.

TyrinM03

amoot890 said:

NMS but nothing wrong with it. Now I'm curious what YH's first name is, lol.

This. 

Zimger

I don't like this name at all. I don't see snobbery or polo shirts. I see the exact opposite.

I do like Anthony.

Zimger

Oops, double post!

rileymiller

Love

Luckyu317

Nms. There's a family friend on DH's side who has a huge Elvis Presley obsession. She named her son Preston and her daughter Presley. I cringe when I hear it due that.

femmepink

I love Preston.

apc1929

I really dislike it.  I don't get nerdy from it but definitely more a pretentious country-club vibe.  nms

capulet

Meh.  I feel about it the way I feel about any other random surname that isn't fugly but doesn't have any family or personal significance to the parents.  It's fine as such names go, but it seems vaguely aspirational and posing if you're using a surname that has nothing to do with you to sound sophisticated in the way most people who aren't from sophisticated backgrounds try to do it, which is to give their kids WASPy surnames as first names.   Ain't nobody trying to sound sophisticated by giving their kids surnames from my southern Italian and Russian Jewish families.

MrsMac613

I like Preston Anthony. I don't think its nerdy at all.

JuneRunner14

It is a very nice name. It is my MIL's maiden name. It is my BIL's mn. I would go with it. 

Lgrant0714

capulet said:

Meh.  I feel about it the way I feel about any other random surname that isn't fugly but doesn't have any family or personal significance to the parents.  It's fine as such names go, but it seems vaguely aspirational and posing if you're using a surname that has nothing to do with you to sound sophisticated in the way most people who aren't from sophisticated backgrounds try to do it, which is to give their kids WASPy surnames as first names.   Ain't nobody trying to sound sophisticated by giving their kids surnames from my southern Italian and Russian Jewish families.

Wow, Capulet. I'm a little perplexed about your comment. Particularly because it placed judgement without really knowing anything about us. I wouldn't try to choose a name that sounded a certain way if it wasn't reflective of who we are as parents (sophisticated and intelligent). I also would not choose a name without significance. Preston means "a spiritual place" which is representative of where we were in our family, relationship, and life when we decided to try for a third child. It is also English and a name widely used in West Indian culture, both of which are representative of our cultural backgrounds (In Jamaica, English surnames are often used as first names, as is my husbands, which is very similar to Preston- this can be traced back to slavery). Lastly, because we are multiracial, primarily of Caribbean and African American descent, sounding WASPy was certainly not our intention....I don't think anyone would mistake my children for that, that's for sure. A simple I like it or not would have done the trick.

capulet

Lgrant0714 said:

capulet said:

Meh.  I feel about it the way I feel about any other random surname that isn't fugly but doesn't have any family or personal significance to the parents.  It's fine as such names go, but it seems vaguely aspirational and posing if you're using a surname that has nothing to do with you to sound sophisticated in the way most people who aren't from sophisticated backgrounds try to do it, which is to give their kids WASPy surnames as first names.   Ain't nobody trying to sound sophisticated by giving their kids surnames from my southern Italian and Russian Jewish families.

Wow, Capulet. I'm a little perplexed about your comment. Particularly because it placed judgement without really knowing anything about us. I wouldn't try to choose a name that sounded a certain way if it wasn't reflective of who we are as parents (sophisticated and intelligent). I also would not choose a name without significance. Preston means "a spiritual place" which is representative of where we were in our family, relationship, and life when we decided to try for a third child. It is also English and a name widely used in West Indian culture, both of which are representative of our cultural backgrounds (In Jamaica, English surnames are often used as first names, as is my husbands, which is very similar to Preston- this can be traced back to slavery). Lastly, because we are multiracial, primarily of Caribbean and African American descent, sounding WASPy was certainly not our intention....I don't think anyone would mistake my children for that, that's for sure. A simple I like it or not would have done the trick.

You're right, I don't know anything about you.  I was giving my impression of the name, not you, because I thought you were asking people's opinions about the name.  I told you honestly what I think when I hear the name Preston.  I was not passing judgment on you personally.  My response to the name may not be what you intend by it, but you cannot control what people think when they hear a name.  You can just take people's opinions into account and decide whether that is the impression you want to convey.

Lgrant0714

I appreciate your response...thank you.

Kmommy91

mjreilly2 said:

I really dislike Preston. I don't think it necessarily sound "nerdy." I think it sound pretentious, preppy, and snobby. I picture an annoying "rich kid" wearing a polo shirt and playing golf.

ETA: I should say, I have like MishaBelle, I have no "reason" to dislike the name...I just do. I have always just gotten the above vibe from it when I hear it.

Exactly this

bumpuser10194737

I like it.

brooksfam4

I like it. We are thinking about naming our LO Preston Thomas. Both are family names, so they have a special meaning to us. Sometimes when I keep saying it over and over again, it sounds weird though lol. I think every name is like that for us though!