Common LN, would this bother you?

queenbone

Plunderb's post got me thinking about the issues with having a common LN. If this baby is a boy we have narrowed it down to 2 names (if you don't include DH's GP name.) One of the names, when paired with our LN, is the same as a tragic character in a novel that every American reads in hs.

He isn't really a 'bad guy', but he does make a bad decision at the end of the novel, and is a tragic character before that. I'm probably over thinking it, but would you worry about how his classmates will react? Potential teasing? Would this deter you from using a name?

stargazer08

For me, I guess it depends on how strong the association is. I'm not grasping the connection, so I'll just throw out examples. If it were like Holden Caulfield then I might think again. If it were like Peter Nielsen then I wouldn't bat an eye.

JayJay1212

stargazer08:

For me, I guess it depends on how strong the association is. I'm not grasping the connection, so I'll just throw out e

kriskell

My maiden name was extremely common (Taylor).  My aunt, who married into the family, had always wanted a daughter named Elizabeth, but decided not to go that route after she became a Taylor.  My mom, on the other hand, named my brother after

queenbone

DaisyBlinks:

I don't think it would bother me. If it's truly a book that isn't read until high school then I think that's past

lifeonthehill

Joy2611:

Well, now I'm racking my brain on tragic characters :-)

Me too! I really want to know ha

BlindysWife

I think for me it would depend on how well known the character is, and how negative the association with the character's choices. 

In general, most associations don't bother me. I named my son Linus regardless of the incredibly strong link w

JayJay1212

It's SodaPop Curtis, isn't it wink face. Though I guess he isn't tragic.

I am so curious...

CalicoBelle

I'm mentally reviewing all my high school reading and the only truly horrible character I would stay away from is Dorian Grey...aside from that I think you're okay.
And, on a side note...as girl in HS I would've dated any boy named after an "Outsider"

msmerymac

Honestly, I might wonder if you'd never googled the name and were maybe just ignorant to the fact. Like, I once knew someone named John Milton. Like the poet. And I thought, "That's weird that his parents would give him the SAME NAME as a famous writer

queenbone

msmerymac:

Honestly, I might wonder if you'd never googled the name and were maybe just ignorant to the fact. Like, I once kne

plunderb

Ug. I feel you. We really are leaning toward Sam, but I'm just not sure I can get over the fn/ln combo. Maybe because my maiden name is way, way less common ? I'm hesitant about ever posting my siblings' names on here because I'm pretty sure that all o

hmp1

I think I know the name going off of your son's name as the author and a name you have talked about for this LO. The name is not a strong connection with that book and I do not see it being teased/bullied. The fn and ln are so very common, I don

kaylynne

I teach high school English.  We have a couple of times read something where there was a kid in the class with the same name.  Usually they giggle/snicker and somebody makes an obnoxious comment, but by the next day they've forgotten about it