Faulkner - too weird for a first name?

katlarissa

Here's the thing: my husband and I live in Oxford, which is obviously a complete shrine to William Faulkner. I'm also from a little (and by little I mean there's a PO and one gas station,) town several miles away called Falkner, (spelled the way the Falkners originally spelled their last name, not how William changed his when he went into the army,) and my family has lived there for generations. We are actually [very] distantly [read: illegitimately] related to William Faulkner's father. 
I really like the name, but I also don't want to saddle my son with a Special Snowflake name he will have to explain/spell as he grows up. 
I also like the nod to my old hometown, and the literary nod, since I was an English major. 
What do you ladies think? 

von1976

I would think it better suited to a middle name, especially if it's a last name with family significance. However, your child, your choice!

CopperBoom86

Definitely better suited for a middle name. 

OrangeEv

I am all for doing what you want to do because this is your baby but personally, it just sounds too similar to f*ck. I also vote middle name. I love unqiue middle names!

AshleyGemini24

I like it for a unique middle name

strickland8052

I love it as a first name! I think enough people know Faulkner to where spelling won't be too much of an issue. Also, I think it is becoming more popular to use last names as first names (think Lincoln).

kmolleltz

I would also say middle name

jarethinafrock

OrangeEv said:

I am all for doing what you want to do because this is your baby but personally, it just sounds too similar to f*ck. I also vote middle name. I love unqiue middle names!

*Lurking*

What @OrangeEv posted is what I thought of instantly. Personally I wouldn't pick it as a first name. Maybe I'd use it as a middle name.

SuperNerd42

I hear Matthew Broderick saying it over and over.

I vote middle name also, but I definitely would not side eye it as a first name. I like that it has significance to you.

coffee89

It doesn't seem like something children will take lightly to with mean nicknames (and every child gets a mean nickname at some point). It's also a bit over the top for the transition into a professional adulthood. It could work as a middle name.

kelliott09

I echo everyone else. I know a guy whose last name is Faulkner. It was always Focker or F*cker in school. I would pass. 

kmvisioli

OrangeEv said:

I am all for doing what you want to do because this is your baby but personally, it just sounds too similar to f*ck. I also vote middle name. I love unqiue middle names!

I like that it has significance to you, but this was also my first thought. Use it as a special middle name!

queen_frostine

It seems on trend with other names people are using. I'm a lit prof (hated Faulkner, but still) so maybe I'm biased. I think it sounds sophisticated, maybe in a slightly douchey way like guys with roman numerals behind their names, but not bad.

katlarissa

Thanks for the input, y'all! I really appreciate it. My husband suggested John Faulkner last night, (John is my dad's name, and he passed away when I was 13.) I don't love how common John is... I think we have 6 Johns in our church alone! ... but I do really like the name as a whole. 
This is our first strong "maybe" since we nixed Theo, so I am excited to just have a possible name right now! 
He also suggested James Faulkner, and I knew the most awful James years ago, but I'm trying not to let that matter, because I know it really doesn't. Ha! Isn't it weird how our name aversions stick with us long after the people associated with them are out of our lives? 

F47

I like it, however I'm picturing my two-year-old saying it and it would totally sound like, "F*cker." So, you might have that issue for a year or so when LO is growing up. haha

Michi1382

I agree with using it as a middle name! I'm an English teacher so I love and get the literary allure but I'm thinking middle name would be best, especially because--as others stated--some children will inadvertently call him focker or fucker aaaaaand we don't want that.