Unusual Family Name?

UOduckBride2be

So my husband's grandfather was a remarkable man and the patriarch of a wonderfully close family full of intelligent and interesting folks.  He was a pioneer in the legal community where we live and had an outwardly obvious love for his wife that was well know in the community at a time when many men of means did not display their affection openly.  When he died and his will was found it was basically an open love letter to his wife that, as a lawyer, he intentionally created so that once it was found it would be a matter of public record once executed. My DH is the eldest grandchild, they were very close and DH followed in his footsteps, (as did DH's dad), and became a lawyer. 

If we have a boy we are considering naming him after DH's grandfather, Valen, (pronounced Vay-len).  It is not short for anything, (like Valentino).  In our discussions our only concern it that it seems like a made up name with the Braden/Caden/Jayden trend. Or that it is too unique and he would get teased.  Honestly what do you think?

fwbflutegirl

I only like it because of the family significance.  I do think it would appear to be a made up name to most people.  IMO it would work better as a middle name, but if you love it and it works well with your last name, use it!

KearaD

fwbflutegirl:

I only like it because of the family significance.  I do think it would appear to be a made up name to most people.  IMO it would work better as a middle name, but if you love it and it works well with your last name, use it!

This exactly.  

526SadieSadie

I think it would fit in perfectly as a middle name.  Kids would probably call him Val, or even Valerie just to be mean.

We can't contemplate every mean nickname an imaginary bully would call our children-to-be, but I think in this case, Valerie is very likely to be his name in middle school.

KZBurnworth

I like it! And the fact that your child is being named after such a great person and family member is more important then what anyone thinks of the name. If you and your DH like it then go for it!

PrincessFiona9

I think it would make a great middle name!

MarxieVonTrapp

Middle name.

DawnJM25

fwbflutegirl:

I only like it because of the family significance.  I do think it would appear to be a made up name to most people.  IMO it would work better as a middle name, but if you love it and it works well with your last name, use it!

 This!

couliegirl

Use it!

sagoon

I may be revealing just how nerdy I am here but my first thought was of the character Valen from the old sci-fi show Babylon 5.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valen

I'd use it as a middle name if I were you.

bethanyfaye

Who cares if it is close to those names. It is important to your family.

MaybeMore

Valens is probably the source--a Roman emperor.  That's pronounced Va-lens, though--short A,

I don't think he'd be teased, but the pronunciation would def. make me pause.

sleeping5beauty

I  like the name. I think people are going to pronounce it Val en. Not Vay len.

My son's name Orion (like the constilation) gets mis-pronounced all the time as

OrEon.

HattieLove

Reminds me of Van Halen

kim1989

I think its great to use tributes for a middle name